French Steps - Pronunciation - Pronouncing '-c'

Pronouncing '-c'

The letter c has two sounds in French.

It's 'soft', like in English 'centre', when it is in front of e, i or y.

C'est où? l'Hôtel de Nice La place de la Bastille Merci cette rue Cinq CD

It's 'hard', like in English 'cat', when it is before a, o, u and all other letters, or when it comes at the very end of a word:

Combien? Comment?

une carte un sac un cadeau

It is always soft if there is a little hook underneath ç (called a cedilla):

How's it going?
How much does it come to?

C'est combien, ça? Ça va? Ça fait combien?

How much is that?