French T and D: dental placement for cleaner accents
Place French /t/ and /d/ closer to the teeth for a less ‘English’ sound.
What you’ll learn Place French /t/ and /d/ closer to the teeth for a less ‘English’ sound.
Key ideas (keep these in your head) • French t/d are typically more dental (tongue closer to teeth) than English alveolar t/d. • This affects clarity in high-frequency words (tu, t’es, demain, déjà). • Don’t overdo it — the goal is subtle placement shift, not stiffness.
Real examples (French → what you often hear → English) • Tu es là. → tu es là → You are here. • Demain. → demain → Tomorrow. • Déjà. → déjà → Already.
Drills t tu, trop, tout, temps d demain, déjà, dans, deux
Common mistakes (and quick fixes) • Using an English t with strong aspiration. Fix: keep French t cleaner, less breathy. • Swallowing d in fast speech. Fix: keep dental contact light but present.
Quick self-check Record: tu / tout / déjà / demain. Compare aspiration and placement to your English t/d.
About this lesson
How to practise “French T and D: dental placement for cleaner accents”
This lesson is part of the Pronunciation series on Chase in French. Train your ear and mouth on the sounds that make French French — nasal vowels, liaison, the R, and the rhythm patterns native speakers actually use.
Follow the Ears → Mouth → Eyes method: first listen to how native speakers say it, then repeat it out loud until it feels natural, and only then look at the spelling. Short, repeated practice over several days beats one long session.
Want guided feedback on your accent? The Chase in French Academy and live classes turn lessons like this into structured training, and the weekly podcast lets you hear these patterns in real conversation.
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