Elision and Contractions
Elision drops a vowel before another vowel, and contraction merges a preposition with the article.
How It Works
Occitan joins small words in two ways.
Elision. A short word that ends in a vowel drops it before a word that starts with a vowel, and an apostrophe takes its place. Use the plain apostrophe of your keyboard.
| Two words | Joined |
|---|---|
| lo + ostal | l'ostal (the house) |
| de + aiga | d'aiga (of water) |
| me + apèli | m'apèli (my name is) |
| que + es | qu'es (that is) |
Contraction. The prepositions a, de and per merge with lo and los: a + lo = al, de + lo = del, per + lo = pel. In the plural they give als, dels and pels. Before la and las nothing merges: a la plaça, de la femna.
Examples (5)
- l'ostal
the house
Lo drops its vowel before the vowel of ostal.
- Vau al mercat.
I go to the market.
A + lo gives al.
- Lo libre del dròlle.
The boy's book.
De + lo gives del.
- Vau a la plaça.
I go to the square.
Nothing merges before la.
- M'apèli Joan.
My name is Joan.
Me drops its vowel before apèli.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- l'Elision of the Article
The article lo or la becomes l' before a vowel.
Level 1 - a + lo = alAl and Als
A and lo merge into al.
Level 1 - de + lo = delDel and Dels
De and lo merge into del.
Level 1 - per + lo = pelPel and Pels
Per and lo merge into pel.
Level 1 - a la, de la, per laNo Contraction Before La
Nothing merges before la.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
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