The Sounds gn, ill and r
Learn The Sounds gn, ill and r for GCSE French with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style practice with worked answers for AQA GCSE French (8652). Gn, -ill- and the French r have no direct English equivalent and need practice.
Free downloads
These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA specification. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.
Topic overview
Three more spellings give sounds that have no direct English equivalent.
The letters gn give the sound in the middle of English onion. Montagne, campagne and espagnol all contain it. It is a single sound, not a g followed by an n.
The letters ill usually give a y sound: famille, fille, travailler. There are exceptions such as ville and mille, where the l is sounded normally. The French r is made at the back of the throat, quite unlike the English r made with the tongue tip. It appears in rouge, très and parler, and it is the sound that most marks out a French accent.
Revision notes
The sound gn
As in the middle of English onion.
Montagne, campagne, espagnol, gagner. It is one single sound, not a g followed by a separate n. The tongue presses against the roof of the mouth.
The letters ill
Usually give a y sound: famille, fille, travailler, briller.
The main exceptions are ville, mille and tranquille, where the l is sounded normally. These few exceptions must be learned individually.
The French r
Made at the back of the throat, not with the tongue tip.
Rouge, très, parler, France. It is closer to a gargling sound than to an English r, and it is the single feature that most marks out a convincing French accent.
Key points
- Gn sounds as in English onion.
- It is one sound, not g plus n.
- Ill usually gives a y sound.
- Famille and fille contain it.
- Ville and mille are exceptions.
- The French r is made at the back of the throat.
Worked examples
Example 1
State the sound made by gn in montagne. [2 marks]
Working
Example 2
State the sound made by ill in famille. [2 marks]
Working
Example 3
Explain how the French r differs from the English r. [2 marks]
Working
Common mistakes
Pronouncing gn as two separate sounds.
It is one sound, as in onion.
Applying the y sound to ville.
It is an exception with a normal l.
Using an English r.
The French r comes from the back of the throat.
Sounding the l in fille.
It gives a y sound.
Exam tips
- Treat gn as a single sound.
- Learn ville and mille as exceptions.
- Practise the r at the back of the throat.
- Read ill as y in most words.
Key terms
- Gn
- A spelling giving the sound in onion.
- Ill
- A spelling usually giving a y sound.
- French r
- A sound made at the back of the throat.
- Exception
- A word such as ville not following the ill rule.
Related topics
Written and reviewed against the current AQA specification. Spotted an error? Let us know.