In the classroom: 'ils' and 'elles' meaning 'they' for nouns

The sound [eu] can be pronounced as an open or closed vowel sound, like in 'peur' or 'un peu'. The closed [eu] is pronounced like 'un peu'; your tongue is near the top of your mouth. The open [eu] is pronounced like 'peur'; your tongue is near the bottom of your mouth. The mouth is more open. 'Il' is he and 'elle' is she. 'They' is 'ils' (a groups of boys, or boys and girls) and 'elles' (a group of girls). We can also use 'il' and 'elle' to mean 'it', and 'ils' and 'elles' to mean 'they' referring to both people and things.