Coffee Break French Silent but powerful: the French H explained | A Coffee Break with Max
Nov 10, 2025
Dive into the intricacies of French pronunciation with a fascinating breakdown of the letter H. Discover the silent H, or h muet, that links words like l’homme effortlessly. Contrast this with the aspirated H, or h aspiré, which introduces pauses in phrases like le héros. Clear examples demonstrate how these variations affect speech flow. Max provides practical sentences to boost your confidence in using these sounds, ensuring you sound more natural when speaking French.
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H Sounds Depend On Letter Combinations
- The letter H in French behaves differently depending on its combinations and position in a word.
- P-H, C-H, and T-H follow predictable patterns, but initial H requires special attention.
Elide With Silent Initial H
- Treat an initial H muet as if it isn't there and perform liaison or élision (e.g., l'homme, l'histoire).
- Say connected forms like à l'hôpital to sound natural.
Pause Before Aspirated H Words
- Stop briefly before words that start with an aspirated H to block liaison and élision (e.g., le hibou, le héros, la honte).
- Insert a tiny pause to maintain correct pronunciation.