Key learning points

1. The sound [eu] can be pronounced as an open or closed vowel sound, like in 'peur' or 'un peu'.
2. The closed [eu] is pronounced like 'un peu'; your tongue is near the top of your mouth.
3. The open [eu] is pronounced like 'peur'; your tongue is near the bottom of your mouth. The mouth is more open.
4. 'Il' is he and 'elle' is she. 'They' is 'ils' (a groups of boys, or boys and girls) and 'elles' (a group of girls).
5. We can also use 'il' and 'elle' to mean 'it', and 'ils' and 'elles' to mean 'they' referring to both people and things.

Keywords

• Closed [eu] - closed vowel SSC (sound-symbol correspondence) pronounced as in 'un peu'

• Open [eu] - open vowel SSC (sound-symbol correspondence) pronounced as in 'peur'

• Ils - French pronoun meaning 'they' used for masculine nouns

• Elles - French pronoun meaning 'they' used for feminine nouns

Common misconception