The cedilla (ç) in French: what it does and when to use it
The cedilla goes under the "c" before the vowels a, o, u to produce the [s] sound. It is unnecessary before e and i (where the c already sounds like [s]).
The cedilla in 30 seconds
The cedilla (in French, cédille) is the small hook under the letter c: ç. French only uses it before a, o and u, where a plain c would sound like k. With the cedilla, it sounds like s.
| Without a cedilla | With a cedilla |
|---|---|
| ca sounds like ka: un cadeau | ça sounds like sa: ça, français |
| co sounds like ko: un col | ço sounds like so: un garçon, une leçon |
| cu sounds like ku: une cuillère | çu sounds like su: reçu, déçu |
Before e and i the c already sounds like s, so no cedilla: nous commençons, but ils commencent. To type ç: Alt + 0231 on Windows (Alt + 0199 for Ç), Option + C on a US Mac keyboard, or a long press on the c on a phone.
Examples
Ça va bien.
Key word(s): ça
Without the cedilla, "ca" would be pronounced [ka].
Un garçon poli.
Key word(s): garçon
The cedilla gives the [s] sound before "o".
Nous commençons.
Key word(s): commençons
The cedilla keeps the [s] sound before "o".
Il a reçu un cadeau.
Key word(s): reçu
The cedilla gives the [s] sound before "u".
Il aperçut la mer.
Key word(s): aperçut
The cedilla before "u" keeps the [s] sound.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the cedilla in conjugations (nous commençons, il lançait)
- Adding a cedilla before e or i (pointless: "ce", "ci" already sound like [s])
- Forgetting the cedilla in "ça" ("ca" does not exist in French)
Test yourself
Nous avan___ons.
La le___on est finie.
Il pla___e ses affaires.
Tips to remember
- The cedilla only exists before a, o, u. Never before e, i.
- In conjugations, the cedilla appears when the ending starts with a or o: nous lançons, il lançait.
- Common words with a cedilla: ça, garçon, leçon, reçu, façade, français.
Practice this rule with audio dictation
Apostrophe· drills this rule with dictations matched to your level, corrected instantly, word by word.
