How to pronounce Rencontrer in French?
Updated: May 20, 2021 by Mylene in How to PronounceArray ▪
Learn French Pronunciation
Rencontrer is a verb in French that means to meet in English. You can use the word rencontrer if you run into someone by chance or if you meet someone for the first time. In both cases, the meeting is not planned.
Example:
- Ce matin j’ai rencontré François au marché: This morning, I met François in the market.
- J’ai rencontré Sophie chez des amis: I met Sophie at some friends’ house.
- Je suis ravie de vous rencontrer: Nice to meet you.
- J’espère ne pas rencontrer mon père ce soir: I hope I don’t run into my dad tonight.
How to pronounce “Rencontrer”?
In French, the verb rencontrer is pronounced /ʀɑ̃kɔ̃tʀe/. In details:
- /r/ sound: The key to making /r/ is not letting the tip of your tongue touch the roof of your mouth. The tip of the tongue must touch the front lower teeth. Vibrate your vocal cords and let the airflow around and over your tongue.
- /ɑ̃/ sound: The mouth is wide open and relaxed. The tongue is back.
- /k/ sound: Lift the back of your tongue and press it against the soft palate, above your throat. Push air out of your throat, stopping it briefly behind your tongue before releasing it.
- /ɔ̃/ sound: The mouth is closed and the lips are tightly rounded. The tongue is back. This is the nasal version of the oral vowel /o/ but the uvula and soft palate move down to allow air to pass through the nose as well as through the oral cavity.
- /t/ sound: To make /t/, place the tip of your tongue on the ridge behind your upper teeth (but do not touch the teeth). As you push air out of your mouth, briefly stop it behind your tongue before releasing it. Do not vibrate your vocal cords as you make this sound.
- /e/ sound: The tongue is forward in the mouth, the tip of the tongue is against the lower teeth and the lips are rounded
This Instagram video will show you how to pronounce rencontrer in French.
It’s part of our Effortless French words Pronunciation series.
Click the link to listen to this video or directly play the video shown below.
Related Words
Let’s learn some expressions and sentences that include the verb rencontrer in French.
There are a lot of expressions to indicate that you met someone, a neighbor for instance, according to the way you met him or her:
- You can use the verb croiser if you didn’t speak with the person
J’ai croisé le voisin aujourd’hui: I met the neighbor today. - If you ran into him, you’d use tomber sur
Je suis tombé sur le voisin: I ran into our neighbor. - If you speak with him and talk to him, you’ll say:
J’ai rencontré le voisin which means I met the neighbor and we spoke. - If you meet him for the first time, you’ll say:
J’ai fait la rencontre du voisin which means I met him for the first time.
Use one of the two following expressions if someone finds success:
- Rencontrer le succès: find success
Elle a enfin rencontré le succès après 10 ans de travail intensif: She finally found success after 10 years of hard work. - Rencontrer un franc succès: be a great success
Cette mesure a rencontré un franc succès chez les restaurateurs: This measure has met with great success among restaurant owners.
The following expressions concern some difficulties.
- Rencontrer un obstacle: hit an obstacle
Nous avons rencontré un obstacle sur la route: We hit an obstacle on the road. - Rencontrer un problème: encounter a problem
Je voulais venir plus tôt mais j’ai rencontré un problème: I wanted to come earlier but I encountered a problem. - Rencontrer une difficulté: encounter a difficulty
Dès qu’il rencontre une difficulté, il abandonne: As soon as he encounters a difficulty, he gives up.
The verb rencontrer is often used in the French reflexive form: the “se” form:
- Se rencontrer: meet
Ils se sont rencontrés à la dernière fête du village: They met at the last village’s festival.
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