We study frontal lip-opening shape for the 14 steady-state French vowels pronounced by 105 native speakers: A few wellknown common facts are first confirmed. Interestingly, data reveal that although French vocalic labiality is described in terms of a binary phonological feature (+/-round), articulatory processes show 3 degrees of labialization, i.e. non-rounded [-lab], rounded [+lab] and hyperrounded [++lab], Splitting of the traditional labialized category does not seem to have been considered before. Observation of the shape-factor variations (K2=A/B) shows that either a flat or a rounded frontal lip opening may be indifferently used for any class. Further, relating labial data to x-ray sagittal view of the vocal-tract leads to interesting remarks about compensatory behaviour in vowel production.