Is there such a thing as a website where I can type a word and the word will be pronounced on my speakers for me?

I don't speak French and I hate not knowing how to pronounce words but I would really like to try while I'm in Paris.

Just do a goosle search for online French dictionary. Most of them have the ability to hear the pronunciation. I'm sure others will reply with their favorite site...

Thanks Sandi. I did start with a google search but have found it slow going... Most have words common to the language but I was hoping to get pronunciations of proper nouns like "Marais" which I haven't come across yet.

Search Fodor's for "French pronunciation site"; previous posting, right up your alley.

Sorry, but I haven't figured out the tiny url thing.

Check out bonjour.com it helped me with some including Le Marais
MJ

I like this one http://tinyurl.com/k49s9
It is accurate 90% of the time.(marais is good)
Click on Alain or Juliette the French speakers.
Voilà!

oddcast is fun but you may need both java and shockwave or flash installed, not sure. After every few demos you need to delete its cookie to continue.

tinyurl now has a preview feature; this link will take you to tinyurl which will show you the expanded oddcast url and let you choose whether to click on it:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2fpus

Take a look at www.about.com and they used to have a verbal French language section. About has a lot of French lessons too. Root around and you'll find the speaking section.

Blackduff

Thanks everyone! I did find a bunch of proper names of tourist sites and areas of Paris so that I could hear native speakers pronouncing them. I'm kinda happy I wasn't too far off the mark in how I thought they might sound! Its fun trying all the different sites.

I strongly recommend learning the phonetic alphabet, in which case you can simply look in a good dictionary to know how the word is pronounced, rather than going on line.

This said, hearing the word as well is a good idea.

Tip: Learn the distinction between "tu" and "tout" etc. The vowel in the former doesn't exist in English. Pronounce "eee" with pursed kissy lips.

There are some good tape type courses (and CD's), that would definitely help as well.

I have several, including Smart French (which is a good one and not that expensive).

This site, designed by Pierre Capretz, in conjunction with his course, French in Action:

http://www.yale.edu/lds/

letour