How do most Frenchmen pronounce the "th" sound, when speaking English?

Answer 1

as 'z'.

Answer 2

It depends on how well they speak English, and how well the person who taught them to speak English can speak it.

When a French exchange student was staying with us he pronounced it like you would pronounce the letter "Z"

so "this and that" became "zis and zat"

this rule does not apply to everyone though, depending on how fluent in English they are and also what accent they have when speaking English. Often you'll find that if a Frenchman has learned English from a Briton, or has spent a lot of time in England they will have an English accent.

When I was in France I went to a bar and the bartender had an American accent...when I asked him if he was American, he said "No, I am French, but I've lived in America for a few years when I was younger." Since I am Australian I could not tell the difference between his accent and and that of someone from America, maybe an American might have been able to detect some Frenchness in his accent, but to me it sounded identical

Answer 3

I'm French! I think I pronounce those sounds quite well, except when I'm dead tired, but then again, I don't spend my time recording myself to check if I get it right. Arrogant, you'll say!

Anyway. Most French people will pronounce:
"sink" instead of "think"; or sometimes "tink", but that's more unusual, I think.
"zat" instead of "that".

It's difficult at the beginning to remember (and to know) where to put your tongue ALL THE TIME!!! So that people who haven't lived in an English-speaking country for a while will of course tend to mispronounce the words.

Answer 4

The closest French sound is a voiced fricative sibilant, somewhat like the second 'g' in the word 'garage.' So this is what they usually use in substitution. On the other hand, they have rounded vowels which English speakers have trouble with such as the 'oe' in 'oeux' (eye). So we sound just as dorky to them (or more so) as they do to us.

Answer 5

Most Frenchmen do not speak English!!!

Answer 6

In the Berlitz phrasebook for French speakers in English places, I know they have "z" for at least the "th" in "that"--so "zat", and it's a pretty good approximation of a (bad) French accent in English.

I think for the "th" in "think" they're more likely to say "t" though. ("S" sounds more like a German accent.)

(Interestingly--or not, whatever--Quebec French speakers use "dat" for "that" and definitely "tink" for "think".)

Answer 7

Teachers always told me to put the tip of the tongue between the teeth. Now I'm used to doing it each time but its' true that this sound is weird for us.

Answer 8

Z? Do you mean the "th" as in "those" or the "th" as in "think"?

Answer 9

sssssssssss

like "sank you" for thank you, sometimes on purpose.