Contractions – je with a vowel or mute h
Je → j' before a vowel sound
French doesn't like two vowel sounds bumping into each other. When a short word ending in e comes before a word starting with a vowel or a mute h, the e is dropped and replaced by an apostrophe. This is called élision.
Je → j'
- J'aime le chocolat.I like chocolate.
- J'ai un frère.I have a brother.
- J'habite à Nice.I live in Nice.
- J'écoute de la musique.I'm listening to music.
But before a consonant, je stays: Je parle, je suis, je mange.
Other words that elide
| full form | elided | example |
|---|---|---|
| le / la | l' | l'ami, l'école |
| me, te, se | m', t', s' | je m'appelle, il s'habille |
| ne | n' | je n'aime pas |
| de | d' | une tasse d'eau |
| que | qu' | qu'est-ce que c'est ? |
| si (+ il/ils only) | s' | s'il vous plaît |
- Je n'ai pas le temps.I don't have time.
- C'est l'heure !It's time!
The h
French h is always silent. Most words starting with h behave as if they start with a vowel (mute h): l'homme, l'hôtel, j'habite. A few words have an aspirate h, which blocks elision even though it's not pronounced: le héros, le haricot, je hais. Dictionaries mark them, often with an asterisk.
Elision isn't optional or casual: je aime and le ami are simply wrong in French.
Practice
- _____ adore la musique.Options: J' · Je
Show the answer
J'
- _____ parle français.Options: Je · J'
Show the answer
Je
- _____ habite en France.Options: J' · Je
Show the answer
J' — Habiter starts with a mute h.
- Je _____ aime pas les épinards.Options: n' · ne
Show the answer
n'
In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, followed by questions that explain the rule when you get one wrong. It then comes back for review on later days until you've mastered it.