Pronouncing some ch-words in English the French way

Here is a secret I am sure no one has ever told you concerning ch-words in English...

Having observed for a long time that the French language does not have the voiceless palato-alveolar affricate (t͡ʃ) as in 'church', I have found the best way for students to get the logic why some ch-words in English are pronounced as voiceless palato-alveolar fricative /ʃ/ (as in shop).

To get the correct pronunciation of /ʃ/, just imagine yourself telling someone to shut up their mouth by placing your index finger on your lips and say ‘shiiiii’. Does it work? Yes? I knew it would! /ʃ/ is also the sound you get when you open a chilled bottle of Malt/Coke/Pepsi or any carbonated drink.

In another vein, to get the correct pronunciation of /t͡ʃ/, imagine yourself playing with a dog or a baby and you shouting some meaningless ‘cha-cha-cha cha-cha-cha’. You gerrit? Lol. I am not sure you have done something like that before. I really have done that before.

For reiteration, the French language DOES not have /t͡ʃ/ in her ch-words. Rather, the ch-words are pronounced /ʃ/.

The logic, therefore, is that any ch-word in English that has a French origin will NEVER give you /t͡ʃ/, but rather /ʃ/. It is then quite useful to know as many ch-words as possible in French. Ne vous inquiètez pas, don’t worry 😉. I have provided a list of them below.

Examples of such French words in English are: chalet, champagne, chauffeur, chef, brochure, machine, parachute, chute, cache, chagrin, chamade, chandelier, chapeau, chaperone, charade, charlatan, chauvinism, chemise, Chicago, Chevron, chivalry, creche, niche, nonchalance, sachet, penchant, avalanche, recherche, etc.

In all the words written above, the 'ch' in them sounds as the 'shiii' in shoe /ʃuː/. Go over those words again and again and again today till you are sure you have perfected the correct pronunciation.

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With love and everything English,

Francis