Here's a breakdown:
* "de": This means "of" or "from" in English.
* "le": This is the masculine singular definite article, meaning "the".
So, "du" essentially translates to "of the" or "from the", and is used before masculine singular nouns starting with a consonant sound.
Pronunciation:
The "du" sounds like "doo" with a very short "oo" sound, almost like a silent "u" (as in "book").
Examples:
* Du pain: (doo pan) - "Of the bread" or "Some bread"
* Du café: (doo ka-fay) - "Of the coffee" or "Some coffee"
* Du vin: (doo van) - "Of the wine" or "Some wine"
Important Note:
"Du" is only used before masculine singular nouns starting with a consonant sound. If the noun starts with a vowel sound, you'll use "de l'" instead.
For example:
* De l'eau: (duh lo) - "Of the water" or "Some water"