How to pronounce Tout à l’heure in French?

Updated: June 25, 2022 by Mylene in How to Pronounce  ▪  

how to pronounce tout à l'heure in french

Tout à l’heure in French

The idiomatic expression tout à l’heure in French means a short period of time, whether in the recent past or the near future, in English.

While spelled the same, “tout” can have different pronunciations: Pronunciation of the words tout, toutes, and tous. Learning the rules, listening closely, and practicing these subtle sound differences for this ubiquitous word are vital steps in gaining mastery of French pronunciation and comprehension. Awareness of the variable pronunciations of similar words marks an important milestone in developing a discerning French ear.

Example:

  • Je t’ai vu tout à l’heure: I just saw you a moment earlier.
  • Je parlais tout à l’heure à ton professeur: I’ve just spoken to your professor.
  • Il va venir tout à l’heure: He’ll come later today.
  • Nous finirons cela tout à l’heure: We’ll finish it in a moment

How to pronounce “Tout à l’heure” in French?

In French, the expression tout à l’heure is pronounced /tutalœr/. In details:

  • /t/ sound: Place the tip of your tongue on the ridge behind your upper 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.
  • /u/ sound: The tongue is back, the mouth is slightly open and the lips are rounded.
  • /a/ sound: Your mouth is much more open and the tip of the tongue is forward.
  • /l/ sound: The tip of your tongue should touch the top of your mouth, behind your teeth. Vibrate your vocal cords and let the airflow around the sides of your tongue.
  • /œ/ sound: The mouth is much more open, the tongue touches the front lower teeth.
  • /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.

For instance tout à l’heure is pronounced like tout.T.à.l’heure. The liaison is pronounced /t/.

This YouTube video from Master Your French shows how to pronounce the expression tout à l’heure in French.

YouTube player

The French language contains a large number of words that are difficult to pronounce. To learn the right pronunciation of French words check our article on the pronunciation of French words.

Related Expressions

Tout à l’heure is a French expression that you’ll encounter frequently when speaking French. Tout à l’heure can hold various meanings depending on the context. Become a confident French speaker and learn the different ways to use tout à l’heure in French.

Synonyms of Tout à l’heure

À l’instant: a moment ago, right now. This expression is used for the past.
Il a téléphoné à l’instant: He called right now.

Tout de suite: immediately, right away. This expression is used for the future.
Je dois partir tout de suite: I must leave right away.

A tout à l’heure: See you soon
Je pars manger, à tout à l’heure!: I’m going to eat. See you later!

French phrases with “tout” plus “à”

Tout à coup: all of a sudden
This expression is used to express that something happened suddenly without expectation.
Je marche quand tout à coup la pluie commence à tomber: I’m walking when suddenly it started to rain.

Tout à fait: absolutely, very, completely
Tout à fait literally means “everything to be done”. But this is used to enthusiastically agree with a statement.
Tu as pris la bonne décision. Oui, tout à fait! : You did the right thing. Yes, definitely!

Tout au contraire: on the contrary
Tu es d’accord avec Pierre? Non, tout au contraire.
Do you agree with Pierre? No, quite the opposite.

Tout au plus: The French expression tout au plus means at most.
Nous allons vendre la voiture pour 5000 euros tout au plus.
We’ll sell the car for 5000 euros at the most.

Tout à la fois: all at once, all at the same time.
Ne mange pas ces chocolats tout à la fois: Don’t eat those chocolates all at once!

Plus que tout au monde indicates that something is more than anything else in the world.
J’aime ma famille plus que tout au monde: I love my family more than anything else.

Other French expressions with “tout” and “de”

Tout de suite: immediately
Je vais l’appeler tout de suite: I’m going to call him right away.

Tout de même: all the same, anyway
Je sais que je ne suis pas une expert en cuisine, mais tout de même je sais comment faire des cookies: I know I’m not a champion of cooking but at least I know how to bake cookies.

Tout d’un coup: all at once
Il est sorti tout d’un coup sans dire un mot: He left suddenly without saying a word.

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