5 Difficult Words to Pronounce in French (2025 Edition)

Learning French is an exciting journey — but sometimes, pronouncing certain words can make conversations feel awkward or even confusing. Mispronouncing a word might change the meaning or cause misunderstandings, and many learners find themselves stuck on the same tricky words. 

We asked our learners which words they still find difficult to pronounce, and here are the top 5 challenging French words for 2025! 

1. Serrurerie

Slow pronunciation (syllables): sé·ru·re·ri 

Why it’s tricky: The double “r” sounds combined with the ending “erie” make serrurerie difficult to say smoothly. The repeated rolling of the “r” and the soft “rie” can easily trip up learners. 

Learner feedback: 

“I often get stuck on serrurerie — the r’s and vowels just don’t flow together for me.” 

Example sentence:
La serrurerie du bâtiment est ouverte 24 heures.
(The building’s locksmith is open 24 hours.)

2. Accueillir

Slow pronunciation (syllables): ah – kuh – yeer   

Why it’s tricky: The “ueil” vowel sound is unique and doesn’t match English patterns. Plus, the double “l” here is silent, which confuses learners used to pronouncing every letter. 

Learner feedback: 

“Even after practicing, accueillir still feels like a tongue twister during conversation — just like cueillir, accueil, or écureuil, which all have that tricky ‘ueil’ sound that doesn’t exist in English.” 

Example sentence:
Nous sommes heureux de vous accueillir aujourd’hui.
(We’re happy to welcome you today.) 

3. Chirurgien

Slow pronunciation (syllables): shi·rur·jyin 

Why it’s tricky:
The nasal ending “-gien” and the “r” sound make chirurgien challenging. Nasal vowels can be unfamiliar and hard to master. 

Learner feedback: 

“The nasal sound in chirurgien is difficult to get right, especially when speaking quickly.” 

Example sentence:
Le chirurgien prépare le patient pour l’opération.
(The surgeon is preparing the patient for surgery.) 

4. Bruxelles

Slow pronunciation (syllables): brü – sell

Why it’s tricky: The “x” and double “l” together with the stress on the first syllable confuse learners, especially because it’s a proper noun. As the capital of Belgium, Bruxelles is a word that comes up frequently in conversation, travel, and current events — making correct pronunciation all the more important. 

Learner feedback: 

“I always hesitate whether to pronounce the ‘x’ or not in Bruxelles.” 

Example sentence:
Bruxelles est la capitale de la Belgique.
(Brussels is the capital of Belgium.) 

5. Grégaire

Slow pronunciation (syllables): gré·gèr

Why it’s tricky:
This word has a subtle “é” sound followed by a soft “g” and ending in “aire,” which can be difficult to blend smoothly. 

Learner feedback: 

“I rarely hear this word in daily conversation, but when I do, pronouncing grégaire is tough!” 

Example sentence:
Les animaux grégaires vivent en groupe.
(Gregarious animals live in groups.) 

Pronunciation can be one of the biggest challenges when learning French—but it doesn’t have to be! The key is consistent practice. Try listening and repeating words out loud, recording yourself, and comparing your pronunciation. It might feel awkward at first, but stepping out of your comfort zone is where real progress begins. 

At LRDG, our expert tutors and tailored programs are here to guide you every step of the way. Ready to tackle those tricky French sounds with confidence?

Book a call today and get personalized support on your language journey!