baalphuu

[nimble widget]

Please be patient

Our volunteers look into many questions every day; sometimes it takes them a little while to answer.

Pro tip: you can rename the thread title with `.tr <thread name>`

Make it descriptive, including relevant context, but also to the point. This way you improve your chances of getting a more relevant and specific answer.

[jovial snow]

Ah, the articles? That happens when the word it's modifying starts with a vowel.

[wanton whale]

ohh i see

there was another vowel tho if im not mistaken? i dont remember what it is..

[jovial snow]

Le réfrigérateur (R is a consonant, not a vowel)
La chaise (Ch is a consonant, not a vowel)
L'ordinateur [le + ordinateur] (O is a vowel)
L'eau (la + eau] (E is a vowel)

[wanton whale]

ohh okay i think i understand

thank you sm

[trim lion]

I think you're thinking of h? Which, h isn't a vowel, but it isn't pronounced so a word that starts with an h will start with a vowel
That being said, the h can still block the élision (the contraction) if it's an "h aspiré". Usually these h's were historically pronounced, often from a foreign language, but ultimately it's just a matter of memorizing what words have an "h aspiré". The usual case (where it doesn't block the élision) is called an "h muet". Despite their names, neither are pronounced

[wanton whale]

ohh yes thats what i heard, makes more sense now

thank you !

[toxic folio]

A good comparison would be 'a/an' in English, since they function the same way. If it starts with a vowel sound, it's 'an' (or 'l' in French).

@trim lion In English, examples such as 'a herb' and 'an herb' can both be valid depending on your pronunciation. Does French also have words starting with 'h' that can take both (such as depending on the region), or is it stricter?

[jovial snow]

« haïr »
The H is aspiré for all Francophone countries except Canada where it’s muet

[toxic folio]

Awesome, thanks. :D

[trim lion]

generally it's stricter I'd say, haïr is the only example I can think of (maybe new words could have some variation?)
haïr also changes conjugation here (je hais vs j'haïs)
but there are definitely circumstances where a vowel that normally would elide would not