French pronunciation is full of subtleties, and one of the trickiest concepts for learners is the aspirated “h” (h aspiré)
Unlike the silent “h” (h muet), which allows liaison and elision, the aspirated ‘h’ behaves like a consonant and prevents these phonetic connections. Mastering this aspect of French will greatly improve your fluency and help you sound more natural.
What Is the Aspirated “H”?
In French, words beginning with ‘h’ can be classified into two types:
- H muet (silent “H”): Allows liaison and elision. Example: l’homme (the man) → pronounced [l‿ɔm].
- H aspiré (aspirated “H”): Blocks liaison and elision. Example: le haricot (the bean) → pronounced [lə aʁiko] (not l’haricot).
How to Recognize an Aspirated ‘H’
Unfortunately, there’s no clear rule to determine whether an ‘h’ is aspirated or silent just by looking at the word. However, here are some useful guidelines:
- Check a dictionary: French dictionaries often indicate aspirated ‘h’ with an asterisk (h aspiré).
- Look at borrowed words: Many words of Germanic origin (e.g., honte, hacher, hérisson) have an aspirated ‘h’.
- Observe native pronunciation: If a French speaker does not make a liaison, the word likely has an aspirated ‘h’.
Common Words with an Aspirated “H”
Here are some frequently used words with an aspirated h:
- haricot (bean)
- hache (axe)
- honte (shame)
- hibou (owl)
- hérisson (hedgehog)
- hâte (haste)
- hameau (hamlet)
- hall (hall, lobby)
How the Aspirated “H” Affects Pronunciation
Since the aspirated ‘h’ prevents liaison and elision, it creates a clear separation between words. For example:
- Le hibou dort (The owl sleeps) → [lə ibu dɔʁ] (not l’hibou)
- Les haricots sont cuits (The beans are cooked) → [le aʁiko sɔ̃ kɥi] (not les‿haricots)
Exercise: Mute or Aspirated ‘H’?
For each sentence, indicate if the h in bold is mute (h muet) or aspirated (h aspiré).
Cet homme est très gentil.
Il est allé à l’hôpital pour une urgence.
Elle a eu très honte de son erreur.
Le héros de cette histoire est courageux.
Je n’ai pas vu l’heure passer.
Les haricots verts sont bien cuits.
Son humeur change souvent.
Il a coupé du bois avec une hache.
En hiver, il neige souvent.
Le hérisson se cache sous les feuilles.
Pronunciation Practice
To perfect your pronunciation, try these steps:
- Listen to native speakers and repeat words with aspirated “h” to recognize the break in sound.
- Compare silent and aspirated ‘h’ words, such as l’homme (silent h) vs. le hibou (aspirated h).
- Use tongue twisters like Huit hiboux habitent un hameau to improve fluency.
Conclusion
Understanding the aspirated “h” in French is essential for proper pronunciation and sentence flow. By recognizing which words block liaison and practicing their correct pronunciation, you’ll sound more natural and confident in French.
What are your biggest challenges with French pronunciation? Share them in the comments!
