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Learn How to Pronounce là

Quick Answer: In French, the word là is pronounced /la/.
(Listen to the audio above for the stress and intonation)

The Expert's Take

Dr. Franz Lang
"I remember my very first French lesson where I confused "la" with "là." That tiny grave accent makes a world of difference in meaning, even if the vowel sound remains the same, serving as a constant reminder of the precision required in written and spoken French."
By Dr. Franz Lang

Meaning and Context

The French adverb là is a deictic term, meaning its specific reference depends entirely on the context of the speaker, and it fundamentally translates to "there" in English. It serves as a crucial locative marker, pointing to a place that is generally near the listener or distinct from the speaker's position ("Pose le livre là," or "Put the book there"). Beyond physical space, là is indispensable for indicating a specific, often previously mentioned, point in time, as in the ubiquitous phrase ce jour-là (that day). Its utility expands in common conversational French phrases like être là (to be present), qui est là ? (who is there?), and là-bas (over there), making it a cornerstone of basic French vocabulary and essential French grammar. Mastering the use of là versus its counterpart ici (here) is a key step for any French language learner, as it is a high-frequency word encountered in daily dialogue, written texts, and fundamental French lessons.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The primary spelling of this adverb is là, distinguished by a grave accent (`) over the letter 'a'. This accent is critical, as it differentiates the word from the definite article la (the) and the musical note la. A very common error, especially among beginners and in informal digital communication, is omitting the accent, writing simply "la." Another frequent typo is substituting the grave accent with an acute accent (lá), which is incorrect in standard French orthography. In the compound là-bas (over there), the hyphen is mandatory, and a common mistake is writing it as two separate words, "là bas." While the accent is sometimes omitted in rapid text messaging or casual online writing, this is considered non-standard and should be avoided in formal contexts, language learning, and SEO-focused content where correct spelling is paramount for keyword accuracy.

Example Sentences

Attends-moi là devant la boulangerie, j'arrive dans cinq minutes.

Pour comprendre son raisonnement, il faut se replacer dans le contexte de l'époque, car les technologies d'là-bas étaient très limitées.

Elle a ouvert la porte et a dit d'un air surpris : "Ah, tu es déjà là !" Le rapport souligne que les difficultés commencent précisément là.

Là, je ne suis pas d'accord avec votre interprétation des faits.

C'est à partir de ce moment-là que tout a changé pour notre entreprise.

Sources and References

For this common French word, I used Wiktionary, Forvo, and YouGlish, and I also checked standard French dictionaries like Le Petit Robert to confirm its specific usage and stress in different grammatical contexts.

Related Pronunciations


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