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As I am looking at reflexive verbs and pronouns in French, a lot of sentences are constructed je me (réveille) or je te (regarde). I know that for example, je ne (sais pas) the "je ne" is pronounced together.

Since "je me" and "je te" follow the same pattern of consonant-e-consonant-e, would it be the same way, or would the two letter words be pronounced separately?

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  • "Pronounced together" does not make sense. Are you talking about rhythmic group and intonation? Do you mean some letters are not sounded?
    – None
    Aug 29, 2016 at 6:51

2 Answers 2

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By "pronounced together", I guess you mean pronounced in a single syllable.

This is indeed the usual case in casual spoken French where /ʒəm/ and /ʒmə/ can both be heard: J'me réveille and Je m'réveille, J'te regarde and Je t'regarde.

In formal, careful or regional variations speak, two syllables are used /ʒəmə/: Je me reveille, je te regarde.

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  • For a school setting, is there a preference between single vs two syllables?
    – québec18
    Aug 30, 2016 at 15:19
  • It is better for a student to separate both syllables /ʒəmə/. Otherwise, the student might better use /ʒəm/ instead of /ʒmə/, the latter being slightly more informal.
    – jlliagre
    Aug 30, 2016 at 16:00
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Both « je ne » and « je me » may be pronounced together : « j’ne », « j’me »

Same goes for « je te », « je nous », « je vous » …

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