Un 11.2

The letter ‘h’

The letter ‘h’ is often used in combination with another letter to create a sound (e.g., ‘ch’, ‘ph’). On its own, though, it has its largest influence on pronunciation at the beginning of words, where it has two potential variations: the h muet and the h aspiré.

Explications

Exercices

Le 'h muet'

The h muet is the more common form of ‘h’ found at the beginning of words. In essence, the h muet indicates that the word should start with a vowel sound and any needed changes due to that vowel sound are needed (i.e. liaisons and contractions). Something similar occurs in English (e.g. ‘an hour’ vs. ‘a hero’).

e.g.

J’habitais à Lethbridge.	/ʒa.bi.te/
J’ai de l’huile.	/lɥil/
L’héroïne est enfin arrivée.	/le.ʁɔ.in/
Les histoires sont amusantes.	/le.zi.stwaʁ/

Le 'h aspiré'

In its most basic definition, words that begin with the h aspiré begin with a vowel sound (as all words beginning in ‘h’ do), but they act as if they begin with a consonant sound. This means that changes to pronunciation and grammar that would usually take place for a word beginning with a vowel sound do not take place (i.e. no liaisons or contractions). Instead, there is a slight pause between the two vowel sounds in question.

e.g.

Je hurlais de peur.	/ʒə.yʁ.le/
J’ai de la honte.	/la.ɔ̃t/
Le héros est enfin arrivé.	/lə.e.ʁo/
Les haricots verts sont délicieux.	/le.a.ʁi.ko/

As the mute form, h muet, is much more common in the French language, most dictionaries will offer a specific way of indicating when a word has an h aspiré, for example with an asterisk (*).