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French speakers wrestle with TH, the English H (French drops it), the English R, and stress — French stresses phrase-ends evenly where English punches one syllable per word.
Stress one syllable per word HARD and swallow the rest. English rhythm is the biggest French-accent fix — bigger than any single consonant.
Why it happens: H is silent in French, so it drops ("appy") or appears where it shouldn't ("h-egg").
The fix: Breathe audibly before the vowel: fog an imaginary mirror.
Full guide to /h/ with practice words →Why it happens: TH becomes S or Z: "think" → "sink".
The fix: Tongue between teeth — physically impossible in French, so use a mirror.
Full guide to /θ/ with practice words →Why it happens: "This" becomes "zis".
The fix: Same position, voice on. Drill: this, that, these, those.
Full guide to /ð/ with practice words →Why it happens: French R is uvular (back of throat).
The fix: Bring the R to the front: tongue curls up, throat stays silent.
Full guide to /r/ with practice words →Why it happens: CH softens to SH: "chip" → "ship".
The fix: Start with a hard T touch, then release into SH.
Full guide to /tʃ/ with practice words →Why it happens: Ship/sheep merge to the tense French I.
The fix: Lax and quick for short I — no smile.
Full guide to /ɪ/ with practice words →These pairs target exactly the contrasts above. Tap to hear each word.
🎧 Train these pairs in the listening game →