solution3407

[steep shuttle]

Please be patient

Our volunteers look into many questions every day; sometimes it takes them a little while to answer.

Pro tip: you can rename the thread title with `.tr <thread name>`

Make it descriptive, including relevant context, but also to the point. This way you improve your chances of getting a more relevant and specific answer.

[inland sorrel]

"en" and "an" represent the same sound
"on" is a second sound
"in" is a third sound
This video is helpful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CpEjM9KISU&t=123s

[hasty star]

I think <en> sounds like <in> when preceded by a front vowel like « mécanicien »

At least when the front vowel is part of the same syllable

[inland sorrel]

true. "en" generally sounds like "in" when it's at the end of a word, (like literally the last two letters), and it's also pronounced like "in" in random exceptions like "pentagone"

though the exceptions can be regional

[coral remnant]

Ohhh i see thanks

Does an and in sounds the same then?

[hasty star]

Different

In terms of tongue position, it’s like a triangle

<in> is front and down
<an> is back and down
<on> is back and up

[inland sorrel]

"an" and "en" are the same. Watch the video - the way she says "en" is the way "an" is pronounced.

"in" is different.
It just so happens that sometimes, "en" is pronounced like "in", but that is an edge case

[hasty star]

Just an FYI, <un> also makes a nasal sound but it’s pronounced differently in each regional variant. Metropolitan French (France French) has merged <un> with <in> whereas the other dialects have not. Quebec French hasn’t, for example. Just a note if you’re not pursuing Metropolitan French.

[coral remnant]

Lol, I kept practicing between these sounds and these people around me is judging me 💀