Last updated on June 25th, 2026 at 11:03 pm
There is something curious about French: two words spelled exactly the same way are not always pronounced the same way. To say them correctly, you need the meaning and the grammar. These words are called homographes non homophones (written the same way, pronounced differently).
The essentials
- Homographes non homophones are spelled identically but pronounced differently.
- The meaning and the grammatical role tell you which pronunciation to use.
- Common examples: les fils, couvent, portions, est, plus, tous, fier, président.
- Context is your best clue, and a teacher helps you hear the difference.
What are homographes non homophones?
They are words with the same spelling but two pronunciations, each tied to a different meaning or grammatical role. French has many of them, which is one reason the language can be tricky to read aloud.
8 French words to watch
| Word | First pronunciation | Second pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| les fils | [fis] = the sons | [fil] = the threads |
| couvent | un couvent [ku-vɑ̃] = a convent | elles couvent [kuv] = they hatch |
| portions | nous portions [pɔr-tjɔ̃] = we used to wear | des portions [pɔr-sjɔ̃] = servings |
| est | il est [ɛ] = he is | l’est [ɛst] = the East |
| plus | ne… plus [ply] = no more | plus [plys] = more (in maths) |
| tous | tous les jours [tu] = every day (adjective) | nous tous [tus] = all of us (pronoun) |
| fier | fier [fjɛr] = proud (adjective) | se fier [fje] = to trust (verb) |
| président | elles président [pre-zid] = they chair | les présidents [pre-zi-dɑ̃] = the presidents |
Three sentences to test yourself
Can you pronounce each pair correctly? The word in bold is spelled the same but sounds different in the two sentences.
1. Les fils de Mme Durant sont très polis.
Les fils des marionnettes sont presque invisibles avec ce décor.
2. Les sœurs vivent dans un couvent.
Les poules couvent leurs œufs.
3. À l’époque, nous portions l’uniforme à l’école.
La cantine a prévu de servir plus de 100 portions à midi.
How to know which pronunciation to use
Two clues guide you. First, the meaning and the context: in « les fils », sons and threads need different sounds, and the rest of the sentence makes the meaning clear. Second, the grammatical role: in « couvent », the noun (a convent) and the verb (they hatch) are pronounced differently, and you can rely on the rule that a verb ending in -ent for « ils/elles » is silent. In « portions », the verb porter for « nous » keeps a /t/ sound, while the noun ending in -tion is pronounced /sjɔ̃/.
Watch: more examples in this video
Here is a short video with more pairs to practise.
Tip: read the whole sentence before you say the tricky word. The meaning almost always tells you which pronunciation is correct.
Frequently asked questions
What are homographes non homophones?
French words spelled the same way but pronounced differently, with a different meaning or grammatical role for each pronunciation.
Why do some French words have two pronunciations?
Because the same spelling can be a noun, a verb or a different word entirely, and each reading has its own sound.
How do I know which pronunciation to use?
Use the meaning and the grammar of the sentence. The context almost always makes it clear.
What are common examples?
Les fils, couvent, portions, est, plus, tous, fier and président, among others.
How can I practise these?
Read aloud, listen to native audio and get feedback from a teacher who can correct the small differences.
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