Liaison

Liaison refers to the linking of the final consonant of one word with the beginning vowel of the next word. There
are many rules in French explaining when a liaison is mandatory, optional, and forbidden. I could go on for pages
boring you with rules you'll probably never remember. For that reason, simply follow the pronunciation guide
provided in this chapter and the phonetic keys for words and phrases throughout the book. Make a liaison when you
see that the pronunciation of the last consonant sound of one word precedes the beginning vowel of the next word.
Look at the first example to get a better idea. The first word is vous, pronounced voo. Its final s (pronounced z) is
linked to the beginning of the next word, arrivez. The pronunciation of this word is now zah-ree-vay, and the
necessary liaison has been painlessly achieved. When in doubt, follow the guide.
Words                   Liaison
Vous arrivez        voo zah-ree-vay
mon ami              mohN nah-mee