Does the French “h“ Sound in the Middle of Words?21

The French language is renowned for its distinct pronunciation, and one of its most notable features is the presence of the letter "h." However, when this letter appears in the middle of a word, its pronunciation can become a source of confusion for learners.

Unlike the English "h," which is typically pronounced as a glottal fricative (like the sound in "hat"), the French "h" is generally silent in the middle of words. This means that it does not produce any audible sound, and its presence in a word serves primarily to indicate the separation of two vowel sounds.

For example, the word "la hache" (the axe) is pronounced as "la ash," with the "h" being completely silent. Similarly, in the word "la hauteur" (the height), the "h" is silent, and the word is pronounced as "la otur."

There are a few exceptions to this general rule, however. In some words, the "h" in the middle of a word may be pronounced as an aspirate, which is a faint breathy sound. This pronunciation is most common in words that have a Latin origin, such as "l'honneur" (the honor) and "l'heure" (the hour).

In addition, the "h" may be pronounced in certain words that are derived from other languages, such as "le hockey" (hockey) and "le hamburger" (hamburger). However, these words are considered to be loanwords and do not follow the same pronunciation rules as native French words.

The silent nature of the "h" in the middle of French words can have implications for spelling and pronunciation. For example, when a word ends in a vowel and is followed by another word that begins with a vowel, the "h" in the first word is typically elided, or dropped, in pronunciation.

For instance, the phrase "la hache et la scie" (the axe and the saw) is pronounced as "la ash e la si," with the "h" in "hache" being elided. This elision is a common phenomenon in French speech and helps to maintain the flow and rhythm of the language.

Overall, the French "h" in the middle of words is generally silent, but there are some exceptions where it may be pronounced as an aspirate or in certain loanwords. Understanding these pronunciation rules is essential for both speaking and understanding spoken French.

Summary* The French "h" is usually silent in the middle of words.
* There are a few exceptions where it may be pronounced as an aspirate.
* Loanwords may retain the pronunciation of the "h" from their original language.
* The "h" is often elided when a word ending in a vowel is followed by another word beginning with a vowel.

2024-11-17

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