Dropping a vowel before another vowel
In French, when certain short words end in a vowel and the next word starts with a vowel sound, the first vowel is dropped and replaced by an apostrophe (e.g., le + ami becomes l'ami). This is called elision.
How It Works
Elision is not optional; it is a grammatical requirement in both writing and speech.
1. Common Words that Elide:
- Articles and Pronouns: le and la (e.g., l'école).
- Subject Pronoun: je (e.g., j'arrive). Note: Elision is blocked in inversion (e.g., Ai-je ?).
- Object Pronouns: me, te, se and the demonstrative pronoun ce (e.g., c'est).
- Prepositions: de (e.g., d'eau) and jusque (e.g., jusqu'ici).
- Negation: ne (e.g., je n'ai pas).
- Conjunctions: que (e.g., qu'il). Note that puisque and quoique only elide before specific words like il, ils, elle, elles, on, un, une, en, ainsi.
2. The Case of 'Si':
The word si (if) only elides before the pronouns il or ils (e.g., s'il vous plaît). It does not elide before elle or other vowels.
3. Vowels vs. Mute H:
Elision happens before any vowel (a, e, i, o, u, y) and before a mute h (h muet), which is a silent letter that acts like a vowel (e.g., l'homme). However, it is blocked by an aspirated h (h aspiré), which acts like a consonant (e.g., le héros).
Examples (5)
- J'aime l'hiver.
I love winter.
Word by Word: I love the winter.
Both 'je' and 'le' elide here. 'Je' becomes 'j'' before 'aime', and 'le' becomes 'l'' before the mute 'h' in 'hiver'.
- C'est l'idée d'Antoine.
It is Antoine's idea.
Word by Word: It is the idea of Antoine.
This shows elision with 'ce' (c'), 'la' (l'), and 'de' (d').
- S'il vous plaît.
Please.
Word by Word: If it you pleases.
The word 'si' elides specifically before 'il'.
- Je n'ai pas d'argent.
I don't have any money.
Word by Word: I [negation] have not of money.
The negation 'ne' and the preposition 'de' both elide before vowel sounds.
- L'homme qu'elle regarde.
The man that she is looking at.
Word by Word: The man that she looks [at].
The relative pronoun 'que' elides before 'elle'.
Common Mistakes
Eliding 'presque' or 'quelque' generally.
C'est presqu'impossible.C'est presque impossible.Words like 'presque' and 'quelque' only elide in specific fixed terms like 'presqu'île' or 'quelqu'un'. In other cases, keep the final 'e'.
Eliding 'je' during subject-verb inversion.
Ai-j' raison ?Ai-je raison ?When je follows the verb in a question, it never elides, even if the verb ends in a vowel sound.
Eliding 'si' before 'elle'.
S'elle vient...Si elle vient...'Si' only elides before 'il' or 'ils'. Before 'elle', 'on', or any other word, it remains 'si'.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- Linking a silent consonant to the next vowel
While elision drops a vowel, liaison involves pronouncing a normally silent final consonant to bridge the gap between words.
Level 1 - l'Elided Definite Article L'
This is the most common specific application of elision, where 'le' or 'la' becomes 'l''.
Level 1 - de l'Elided Partitive Article De L'
The partitive article also follows elision rules when the noun starts with a vowel.
Level 1 - que (pronom relatif)Relative Pronoun Que (Object)
The relative pronoun 'que' must always elide before a vowel, unlike 'qui'.
Level 2 - jeFirst-person Singular Je
The pronoun 'je' is one of the primary words that undergoes elision (becoming j').
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- beau / nouveau / vieuxIrregular Feminine FormsLevel 1
- combienHow Much/many with CombienLevel 1
- de (provenance / appartenance)Origin, Possession with DeLevel 1
- est-ce queYes-no Questions with Est-ce QueLevel 1
- pas deArticles Become De After NegationLevel 1
- me / te / le / la / nous / vous / lesDirect Object Pronouns Me/te/le/la/nous/vous/lesLevel 2
- quelqu'unSomeone with Quelqu'unLevel 2
- à cet égardIn This Regard with a Cet EgardLevel 5
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