So if é = a
then étais would be a-tay?
or et-tay? Because I thought it was et-tay.
les contes de fées, the "fée" is pronounced as "fay" right?
No matter how you spell it, it will sound the same = a-tay / (more than et-tay) because to me "et" = eh. See the problem with trying to product French sounds with English letters? Yes, "fay" to rhyme with "pay."
Sra (aka Mme)
Merci beaucoup Madame.
Now I have to repractise my script ^_^
To answer your first question, the word "étais" is not a direct translation of the word "was" in English. "Étais" is the first-person singular form of the verb "être," which means "to be" in English. It is important to note that the pronunciation of a word may not always change when you conjugate a verb.
Now, let's talk about the pronunciation of the word "étais." In French, when the letter "é" is followed by a consonant, it is generally pronounced as a close-mid front vowel, similar to the "e" in bed. So, "étais" is pronounced as "ay-tay" with the stress on the second syllable.
Regarding your second question, the word "et" means "and" in French. It is pronounced as "ay" without the "t" sound at the end. So, "et-tay" is not the correct pronunciation.
Now, moving on to the phrase "les contes de fées," the word "fées" does indeed have the pronunciation "fay." The accent on the "é" (é) represents an open-mid front vowel sound, similar to the "e" in say. Therefore, "fées" is pronounced as "fay" in French.
Remember, pronunciation in any language can vary, so it's always a good idea to listen to native speakers and practice to improve your pronunciation skills.