Soft G and hard G: gue/gui vs ge/gi

What you’ll learn Avoid the classic spelling trap: when G is /g/ vs /ʒ/ (j‐sound), and how to read it fast. Key ideas (keep these in your head) • Before e/i/y, G is often soft /ʒ/ (génial, girafe). • To keep hard /g/ before e/i, French uses ‘gu’ (guitare). • ‘ge’ in mange is soft; ‘gue’ in vague is hard; practice quick recognition. Real examples (French → what you often hear → English) • Une guitare → une guitare → A guitar • C’est génial → c’est génial → It’s brilliant • Je mange → je mange → I’m eating Drills soft génial, girafe, manger, gilet hard guitare, guider, vague, fatigue Common mistakes (and quick fixes) • Pronouncing guitare with a ‘j’ sound. Fix: ‘gui’ keeps hard /g/. • Pronouncing génial with hard /g/. Fix: before e/i, default to soft unless ‘gu’. Quick self-check Record: guitare / génial / vague / gilet. Listen for consistent /g/ vs /ʒ/.