in french, how exactly is the letter A pronounced?

Question

In french why are the pronounciations of the as in "Paris" and "Calais" different when they are both the same A?
why does the a in paris sound like the way british people pronounce A, and in Calais the as sound like the way americans say their As.

Answer 1

It is because in "Calais" one is looking not at a single vowel, but a diphthong -- a combination of vowels. For example, in English the "a" in "treat" is not pronounced the same way as the "a" in "state" or, for that matter, "example". In the name "Paris" there is a single "a" which is unaccented and pronounced in the normal way at the back of the throat, like the first "a" in Calais.
Here are some links for you. http://www.howtopronouncefrench.com/
http://french.about.com/library/pronunciation/bl-pronunciation-vowels.htm

Answer 2

Ahh, bay, say, day, ee, eef,

Incidentally, in both Paris and Calais, it's the same "ah" pronunciation as is "Pah-ree" and "Kah-lay"

The French wouldn't understand you correctly if you said it like you claimed above.

And, a word of caution, just the smallest change in pronunciation makes it a different word which may have very embarrasing meanings!?

Bonne chance!

ST

Answer 3

Technically it particularly is phonetic, whether you may in all probability make sparkling that it particularly is thoroughly phonetic. English isn't phonetic in that arduous and by way of have an analogous spelling on the tip yet thoroughly diverse sounds, jointly as French, Italian and Spanish are phonetic in that the spelling without delay correlates to the sound. So there is not any be conscious that thoroughly encompasses what you're speaking approximately.

Answer 4

A=Ahhhh

Answer 5

Ah. the first letter is stronger than the second. The (H) is very subtle.

Answer 6

like ahhhh

Answer 7

A = A(ahhh, (Like "Open wide!")