14. OPEN AND CLOSED SYLLABLES For 'e', 'o' and 'eu' the sound of the vowel changes depending on whether that vowel is in a closed or open syllable. A syllable is open when the last element is a vowel sound.  A syllable is closed when the last element is a consonant sound. Listen carefully to the difference of the vowel sound from the left column to the right column.  In some words, spelling can help you identify open or closed vowels. When you have finished listening to all the examples, click on Pratique at the bottom of the page.

Courtesy of Jennifer Shaf, M.A.

Open	Closed
né, thé, et, est, chez, les	mère , nièce, fête, elle s'appelle
l'eau, beau, au, faux pas, pas d'eau	porte, botte, bonne, grosse, stop
le, je, me, bleu,feu, je, cheveux, yeux	fleur, oeuf,leur soeur, elles veulent, la Meuse

Glossary

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