French E With Accent (Rules And Tips)

As fascinating as the French language is (or any language for that matter), there is no easy way to learn it. From grammar to pronunciation to studying it in the context of French culture, the language of love is as complicated as it is interesting. 

We have heard how each word is said, or have tried to read French – but do you know that even individual letters should be paid attention to?

The letters in French do not just form the words, they also guide readers and speakers on how each word should be said.  French vowels, in particular, are sometimes topped by accents. 

Take for example the most frequently used letter and vowel in the French language: e. How is it even pronounced in French?

That depends on the accent you’ll see on top of the letter. What’s the purpose of these accents, then? 

That is what we will discuss in this introductory guide on the French e, and its different accents. First, let’s get to know this letter in detail. 

French E With Accent (Rules And Tips)

When and how did the e accent begin?

The letter e comes from an Egyptian hieroglyphic, therefore it has a long history.

The letter e has appeared in several alphabets along its evolution into the letter we know and use today. The Phoenicians invented one of the first known alphabets around the 15th century BCE.

In many languages, including French, the letter e is the most frequently used letter.

Apart from expressing sounds that occur in words, there are other reasons why the letter e is the most commonly used letter in French:

• For ordinary -er verbs, the e is the past participle ending (letter).

• It is also a manner of indicating the feminine version of a word, an adjective, or other elements of speech that modifies a feminine word, or a female entity or job in the case of some names and nouns.

As for the origin of these accents, the earliest recorded use of these marks is said to have been traced back to the 16th century CE.

This means that these accents were discovered and used much later than the letter that they adorn. 

What are the types of French e with an accent? 

In French, four accents are used on the letter e, and these are ë, è, é, and ê. There are different rules and pronunciations for each.

First, let’s get to know how they differ from each other. 

1. e with acute (aigu) accent – é

The aigu accent is only seen above the letter e, and it points right and upward.

Only the vowel e has the aigu accent (acute accent). It affects how the word is pronounced.

2. e with grave accent – è

The grave accent is pointing upward and to the left. Any vowel can have this mark.

The grave accent emphasizes the need to pronounce /ɛ/ , as the “e” might otherwise be a different sound or silent.

3. e with circumflex – ê

Appearing over vowels, the circonflexe resembles a small pointed cap. L’accent circonflexe (circumflex) modifies the pronunciation of the letter e when it is added to it.

4. e with dieresis, le tréma – ë

The tréma is represented by two dots above a letter. It’s frequently positioned over the second of two vowels in a row.

The tréma (diaeresis) is used to demonstrate that two vowels must be uttered independently.

How is each French e with an accent used in words and pronunciation? 

The diacritical markings (accents) are used to indicate cases where the pronunciation of the letter “e” differs from that defined by the conventional rules.

Here are the accented French es and how they are used.

1. É with the acute accent

This accent signifies the /e/ sound (as in “hey”; somewhere between “e” in “set” and “ee” in “see”).

It’s used when the pronunciation calls for it, but if there’s no accent, the rules would dictate otherwise.

When the pronunciation is already established by the rules, such as French words ending in “-ez” or “-er,” avoid writing “é.”

For example: 

carré – square

école – school 

cheminée – chimney

2. È with the grave accent 

This accent indicates the pronunciation /ɛ/ or the ” open” e like the one in “set”.  This is used to show that an “e” isn’t silent and isn’t shortened to /ə/ (uh). 

For example: 

ère – time

dernière – last

frère – brother 

In verb conjugation, the letter “è” is also frequently used. To indicate correct pronunciation, the grave accent is used.

For example: 

célébrer – to celebrate

espérer – to hope

gérer – to manage

3. Ê with the circumflex accent

The circumflex accent in this e is frequently found in words where a letter next to e (usually S) was once present but is no longer there in its current spelling.

Therefore, “ê” is essentially just a form of writing “es,” which closes the syllable, “ê” is commonly pronounced /e/ (like “e” in “bell”).

For example: 

arrêt – stop

forêt – forest

quête – quest

4. Ë with diaeresis

From all the e with an accent, this is the easiest to understand. The diaeresis (two dots) indicates that the underlying “e” is pronounced as /ɛ/ (as “e” in “set,” i.e. the open e), regardless of what comes before it, and is used in groupings of vowels that would otherwise be pronounced differently.

For example: 

aiguë – acute

poële – stove

Scaë – a commune in the Finistère department of France

How Do You Pronounce Every French e With Accent? 

As someone who is learning French, you should be able to pronounce French e with accent and all of its variations (accent marks – aigu, grave, circumflex, and diaeresis) to sound natural.

Here is a pronunciation guide for each e with an accent. 

1. e with acute accent

The letter é sounds like the English word (bay) but without the second portion of the vowel sound, which is the letter y.

Listen to a sample:

Cheminée 🎧

2. e with grave accent

The letter è should be pronounced like in the English word (wed).

Listen to samples:

frère 🎧

espérer 🎧

3. e with circumflex

The circumflex e (ê) is pronounced the same as the è. It has the same sound as the word wed in English.

Listen to a sample:

forêt 🎧

4. e with diaeresis –

When each vowel is pronounced separately in French, a diaeresis is added. To “break” the letter combinations, diaeresis is used.

Listen to a sample:

poële a fiere 🎧

Want to learn more French phrases? Check out our language guides below:

• Une And Un in French: Tips and Guide
• The Five Accent Marks In French
• Basic French Words And Phrases
• La and Le in French: Tips and Guide