Please see the following for introduction and citation information:
http://moi-alizee.us/forums/showthread.php?t=1101
Final Consonants that are Pronounced
We have considered final consonants that are silent in French and final l, which is pronounced. We say in French:
vas (vah)............ val (vahl)........... et (ay)
Final r in the ending er is not pronounced; the er has the sound of ay. But other combinations with r – ar, our, ir – need the r pronounced. Try:
tour................... autour................ courir................. finir
par.................... avoir................... ouvrir................. Loir
char................... Maur.................. salir................... savoir
pour................... loisir................... manoir............... car
vouloir................ soir.................... fournir................ pouvoir
Did you say wahr for the oir words?
Like the final r that is pronounced, final c, final f, and final p are pronounced.
lac..................... chef................... cap
chic.................... bref................... parc
pic..................... pouf................... sac
tic-tac................ soif.................... talc
bivouac............... canif.................. bar
avec................... actif.................. bal
Some teachers suggest that consonants of the English word CaReFuL are the ones that are pronounced in French when they end a word.
Every rule, of course, seems to have exceptions. The final c in tabac and estomac are not pronounced, remember. The final p in gallop is not pronounced.
In proper names the final consonants are more often pronounced than not pronounced, especially when the consonant is c or r, sometimes d, and very unexpectedly s.
Doir................... Croisic................. David
Victor................ Maroc
As a family name, and there are several French writers with the name, Paris or Pâris is pronounced pah-riss. The name of the son of King Priam of Troy is also pronounced pah-riss. The capital of France, however, is pronounced pah-ree, remember.
the letter r
The sound of the letter r separates the French language from practically all others. English has nothing like it. Its French sound is something like a gargle, back in the throat.
It will take practice to get a good French r. There are several hints; here is one to try. Say:
kuh....... letting the air be pushed out between the lips and teeth
guh....... letting the air hit the roof of your mouth
ruh........ letting the air roll back in your throat.
kuh.. guh.. ruh........................ kuh.. guh.. ruh
Now say:
kuh.................... guh................... rame
kuh.................... guh................... route
kuh.................... guh................... rhone
kuh.................... guh................... bras
kuh.................... guh................... froid
................................................. Moreau
................................................. Charles
................................................. Richard
................................................. Robert
................................................. Paris
Work on it!
Another hint:
Say a breathy W. Keep the opening in your throat set to say a breathy w in whone. Now change to an r instead of a w. Say:
WHONE – RHONE
bois – bras