Quebec French Voice Over Artists

French Voice Over Translation Chart, Accents and Tips

• French is generally 20% longer than English. (An English :60 second commercial will be about :72 seconds in French).
• English is generally 20% shorter than French. (A French :60 second commercial will be about :48 seconds in English).

French voice over can involve multiple distinct accents. While there are more than a dozen different dialects and accents of French from different regions of France and its former colonies, the most commonly recognized version is known as "français neutre" or Neutral French. Most former French colonies also speak their own local languages as well as French, even if it is a national language. Generally Speaking, in former French colonies of Asia, English will be just as commonly understood as French, while in former French colonies of Africa, French will still be the dominant language.

The most important dialects of French, aside from Neutral French are Quebecois, spoken in Quebec, Canada, and Swiss French, spoken in the Romandy region of Switzerland. Quebecois is very different from Neutral French, almost to the point where native speakers of each dialect will have trouble understanding each other. The differences between Swiss and Neutral French are relatively minor.

Just like with any language, when you are working with French voice over, you need to consider a lot of things very carefully. What is your goal by translating to or from this language? Who is your specific audience within the group of people who speak this language? Do you know how to adapt your script to speak to this group?

Edge Studio is a full service audio production facility, and that’s not restricted to English. If you need French voice over, we have you covered from the initial translation and adaptation to casting talent and language monitors to help lay down those final recording sessions.

If you need French voice over, translation, recording, dubbing, adaptation, or language monitor for cartoons, powerpoint, education videos, ESL, audiobooks, or commercials, call edge studio (212-868-3343).