How To Say H In French

Learning a new language opens doors to interesting and fun discoveries. When studying French, you may notice that some letters in French are not pronounced the same way as in English. One of these is the letter “H.” Knowing how to pronounce “H” correctly in French will help you improve your speaking and understanding of the language.

In this article, we will explore how to say “H” in French and its pronunciation rules. You will also learn about different ways to pronounce words starting with “H” in French, common responses, and exercises to practice. By the end of this article, you will feel more comfortable with using “H” in French words and sentences.

Ways to Say “H” in French

In French, the letter “H” is unique because it is often silent and pronounced differently from English. Learning how to say “H” in French is key to mastering the language’s flow and rhythm. Below are ways to understand and use the letter “H” in French words.

“H” Muet (Silent H)

Pronunciation: No sound
Meaning: This type of “H” is completely silent and does not affect the pronunciation of the word.
In a Sentence:

“L’heure” (The hour) is pronounced without an “H” sound.
In “l’habitude” (the habit), the “H” is not pronounced, and the article blends directly into the word.

“H” Aspiré (Aspirated H)

Pronunciation: No actual sound, but it prevents the contraction of the preceding article.
Meaning: The “H” is not voiced but creates a slight separation between words.
In a Sentence:

“Le héros” (The hero) keeps the article separate due to the aspirated “H.”
“Les haricots” (The beans) are pronounced with a soft break before “H,” even though the “H” itself is silent.

“H” in Borrowed Words

Pronunciation: Pronounced as a soft “ah” sound, depending on the origin.
Meaning: Used in words borrowed from other languages, like English.
In a Sentence:

In “le hotdog” (the hotdog), the “H” is softly pronounced.
The word “hockey” keeps a faint “H” sound, reflecting its foreign roots.

Emphasis in Speech

Pronunciation: Slight emphasis to mimic English for clarity or style.
Meaning: Used by French speakers when addressing foreign words.
In a Sentence:

“Hotel” may have a light “H” when spoken for emphasis.
In “le hamburger,” the “H” can be lightly pronounced to mirror English.

“H” in Habitual Expressions

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Appears in common expressions and follows standard silent rules.
In a Sentence:

“C’est une habitude” (It’s a habit) has no “H” sound.
In “son histoire” (his/her story), the “H” is silent.

“H” in Historical Words

Pronunciation: Silent or faint depending on formality
Meaning: Maintains traditional silent usage in older French words.
In a Sentence:

“L’histoire” (The history) has a silent “H.”
“Héritage” (Heritage) blends with the article without a sound.

“H” with Liaison Rules

Pronunciation: Silent but affects the preceding word.
Meaning: Requires liaison in pronunciation for fluidity.
In a Sentence:

In “les hôtels,” the “H” requires the “s” to be pronounced like a “z.”
“Des héros” follows the liaison rule to connect smoothly.

“H” in Place Names

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Often found in geographic names.
In a Sentence:

“L’Himalaya” (The Himalayas) has a silent “H.”
“Le Havre” (a city in France) features an aspirated “H.”

“H” in Medical Terms

Pronunciation: Silent or faint
Meaning: Appears in technical and professional vocabulary.
In a Sentence:

“L’hôpital” (The hospital) drops the “H” sound.
“L’hernie” (The hernia) is pronounced without an “H.”

“H” in Everyday Verbs

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Found in frequently used verbs.
In a Sentence:

“Il habite ici” (He lives here) blends without “H.”
“J’ai honte” (I am ashamed) ignores the “H” sound.

“H” in Adjectives

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Appears in descriptive words.
In a Sentence:

“Une habitation ancienne” (An old house) excludes the “H.”
“C’est horrible” (It’s horrible) skips the “H.”

“H” in Numbers

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Used in time-related expressions.
In a Sentence:

“Huit heures” (Eight o’clock) ignores the “H.”
“Cent huit” (One hundred eight) flows without the “H.”

“H” in Gendered Words

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Found in nouns with masculine and feminine forms.
In a Sentence:

“L’homme” (The man) has a silent “H.”
“L’héroïne” (The heroine) also ignores the “H.”

“H” in Literature

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Found in poetic or literary expressions.
In a Sentence:

“L’horizon est clair” (The horizon is clear) lacks an “H” sound.
“L’hymne national” (The national anthem) drops the “H.”

“H” in Proper Names

Pronunciation: Silent or faint depending on origin
Meaning: Appears in people’s names.
In a Sentence:

“Henri” (Henry) ignores the “H” in French.
“Hélène” (Helen) follows similar rules.

“H” in Exclamations

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Found in expressions of surprise or joy.
In a Sentence:

“Ah, c’est incroyable!” (Ah, it’s incredible!) has no “H” sound.
“Oh, merci beaucoup!” (Oh, thank you very much!) skips the “H.”

“H” in Rare Words

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Used in less common words.
In a Sentence:

“L’hélium” (The helium) lacks an “H.”
“L’hibou” (The owl) also ignores the “H.”

“H” in Scientific Terms

Pronunciation: Silent or faint
Meaning: Seen in academic vocabulary.
In a Sentence:

“L’hydrogène” (The hydrogen) drops the “H.”
“L’hypothèse” (The hypothesis) omits the “H.”

“H” in Negative Sentences

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Found in negative constructions.
In a Sentence:

“Je n’ai pas honte” (I am not ashamed) omits the “H.”
“Elle n’a pas d’habitude” (She has no habit) ignores the “H.”

“H” in Poetry

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Used in elegant phrasing.
In a Sentence:

“L’harmonie de la mer” (The harmony of the sea) has no “H.”
“L’herbe est verte” (The grass is green) lacks the “H.”

“H” in French Songs

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Blends into musical lyrics.
In a Sentence:

“L’amour et l’harmonie” (Love and harmony) drops the “H.”
“L’heure est arrivée” (The time has come) follows silent rules.

“H” in Pronouns

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Used in phrases with pronouns.
In a Sentence:

“C’est lui qui l’habite” (He is the one who lives there) ignores the “H.”
“Je l’ai honte” (I am ashamed) also drops the “H.”

“H” in Unique Words

Pronunciation: Silent or faint
Meaning: Rare but meaningful words.
In a Sentence:

“L’hygiène” (The hygiene) skips the “H.”
“L’horizon” (The horizon) also omits the “H.”

“H” in Food Terms

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Found in culinary vocabulary.
In a Sentence:

“L’huile d’olive” (Olive oil) ignores the “H.”
“L’haricot vert” (The green bean) follows silent rules.

“H” in Political Terms

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Used in formal expressions.
In a Sentence:

“L’honneur est à nous” (The honor is ours) drops the “H.”
“L’héritier du trône” (The heir to the throne) skips the “H.”

“H” in Abstract Nouns

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Found in intangible concepts.
In a Sentence:

“L’humanité” (Humanity) has a silent “H.”
“L’honnêteté” (Honesty) also ignores the “H.”

“H” in Daily Speech

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Appears in casual phrases.
In a Sentence:

“L’heure de partir” (The time to leave) lacks an “H.”
“L’habitude de parler vite” (The habit of speaking quickly) omits the “H.”

“H” in Technology Terms

Pronunciation: Silent or faint
Meaning: Found in modern vocabulary.
In a Sentence:

“L’hyperlien” (The hyperlink) drops the “H.”
“L’hybride” (The hybrid) ignores the “H.”

“H” in Compound Words

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Part of multi-word phrases.
In a Sentence:

“L’héritage culturel” (The cultural heritage) lacks an “H.”
“L’histoire ancienne” (The ancient history) omits the “H.”

“H” in Introductions

Pronunciation: Silent
Meaning: Found in polite introductions.
In a Sentence:

“L’hôte de la soirée” (The host of the evening) skips the “H.”
“L’hommage rendu” (The homage paid) also lacks an “H.”

Other Ways to Say “H” in French

The letter “H” in French can be expressed differently depending on context. Here is a table showcasing alternative ways to say or represent “H” in French, including their pronunciation, meanings, and example sentences.

Other Ways to Say	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentences
H aspiré	Silent (creates break)	Aspirated H without sound	“Le héros” – The hero. “Les haricots” – The beans.
H muet	Silent	Mute H that blends with preceding words	“L’heure” – The hour. “L’histoire” – The story.
Liaison H	Silent with liaison	Connects preceding word	“Les hôtels” – The hotels. “Des héros” – Some heroes.
H in borrowed words	ah or silent	H from foreign origin	“Le hotdog” – The hotdog. “Le hockey” – Hockey.
H in formal expressions	Silent	Often in polite contexts	“L’honneur” – The honor. “L’hôte” – The host.
H in casual speech	Silent	Common everyday use	“L’habitude de parler” – The habit of speaking.
H in academic terms	Silent	Used in technical words	“L’hydrogène” – Hydrogen. “L’hypothèse” – Hypothesis.
H in poetic language	Silent	Enhances lyrical flow	“L’harmonie des sons” – The harmony of sounds.
H in compound nouns	Silent	Part of multi-word expressions	“L’héritage culturel” – Cultural heritage.
H in culinary terms	Silent	Appears in food-related vocabulary	“L’huile d’olive” – Olive oil. “Les haricots verts” – Green beans.
Aspirated H in names	Soft or silent	Seen in proper nouns	“Henri” – Henry. “Hélène” – Helen.
Silent H in adjectives	Silent	Appears in descriptive words	“C’est horrible” – It’s horrible. “L’habitation ancienne” – The old house.
H in informal greetings	Silent	Everyday conversational context	“Salut, c’est l’heure!” – Hi, it’s time!
H in time expressions	Silent	Used in temporal phrases	“Huit heures” – Eight o’clock.
Historical H	Silent or faint	Found in older words	“L’héritage historique” – The historical heritage.
Pronounced H in rare cases	Soft “ah” sound	Special borrowed terms	“Le hamburger” – The hamburger.
H in abstract nouns	Silent	Concepts and intangible ideas	“L’humanité” – Humanity. “L’honnêteté” – Honesty.
Silent H in introductions	Silent	Polite first meetings	“L’hommage rendu” – Tribute paid. “L’hôte de la soirée” – Host of the evening.
H in scientific expressions	Silent or faint	Found in academic or technical phrases	“L’hybride” – Hybrid. “L’hypertexte” – Hypertext.
Silent H in negative sentences	Silent	Used in contractions with negation	“Je n’ai pas honte” – I am not ashamed. “Elle n’a pas l’habitude” – She’s not used to it.
Liaison H in place names	Silent but linked	Found in geographic locations	“Les hôtels de Paris” – The hotels of Paris.
Aspirated H in articles	Silent but no contraction	Prevents liaison in spoken language	“Le héros” – The hero. “Les haricots” – The beans.
H in artistic terms	Silent	Found in creative vocabulary	“L’harmonie visuelle” – Visual harmony.
Soft H in borrowed phrases	Slightly voiced	Imported expressions	“Le high-tech” – High tech.
H in medical contexts	Silent or faint	Found in healthcare-related vocabulary	“L’hôpital” – The hospital. “L’hémoglobine” – Hemoglobin.

Responses to “H” in French

When discussing the letter “H” in French or correcting pronunciation, there are polite and conversational ways to respond. These responses can help you engage in discussions about language learning or pronunciation. Below are common responses for different situations.

“C’est un H muet.”

Pronunciation: Say-t uh ash mweh
Meaning: It’s a silent H.
In a Sentence:

“Pourquoi ne prononce-t-on pas l’H dans ‘heure’?” (Why don’t we pronounce the H in ‘heure’?) “C’est un H muet.” (It’s a silent H.)
“Dans ce mot, l’H est muet.” (In this word, the H is silent.)

“C’est un H aspiré.”

Pronunciation: Say-t uh ash ah-spee-ray
Meaning: It’s an aspirated H.
In a Sentence:

“Pourquoi l’article ne se contracte pas dans ‘le héros’?” (Why doesn’t the article contract in ‘le héros’?) “C’est un H aspiré.” (It’s an aspirated H.)
“Un H aspiré ne se prononce pas mais empêche la liaison.” (An aspirated H isn’t pronounced but prevents the liaison.)

“L’H est toujours silencieux.”

Pronunciation: L ash eh too-zhoor see-lahn-syuh
Meaning: The H is always silent.
In a Sentence:

“Doit-on prononcer l’H dans ‘habitude’?” (Do we pronounce the H in ‘habitude’?) “Non, l’H est toujours silencieux.” (No, the H is always silent.)
“Les mots français avec un H ne le prononcent presque jamais.” (French words with H almost never pronounce it.)

“Cela dépend du mot.”

Pronunciation: Suh-lah day-pahn dyoo moh
Meaning: It depends on the word.
In a Sentence:

“Comment savoir si un H est muet ou aspiré?” (How do you know if an H is silent or aspirated?) “Cela dépend du mot.” (It depends on the word.)
“Certains mots suivent des règles spécifiques.” (Some words follow specific rules.)

“On n’entend pas l’H ici.”

Pronunciation: Oh nohn-tahng pah l ash ee-see
Meaning: You don’t hear the H here.
In a Sentence:

“Je n’arrive pas à entendre l’H dans ‘hôtel’.” (I can’t hear the H in ‘hôtel’.) “C’est normal, on n’entend pas l’H ici.” (That’s normal, you don’t hear the H here.)
“Dans ‘heure’, on n’entend pas l’H non plus.” (In ‘heure,’ you don’t hear the H either.)

“C’est comme ça en français.”

Pronunciation: Say kohm sah ahn frahn-say
Meaning: That’s how it is in French.
In a Sentence:

“Pourquoi les Français ne prononcent-ils pas l’H?” (Why don’t the French pronounce the H?) “C’est comme ça en français.” (That’s how it is in French.)
“Les règles françaises sont différentes.” (French rules are different.)

“L’H joue un rôle grammatical.”

Pronunciation: L ash zhoo uhn rohl grah-mah-tee-kahl
Meaning: The H plays a grammatical role.
In a Sentence:

“L’H a-t-il une importance?” (Does the H have importance?) “Oui, l’H joue un rôle grammatical.” (Yes, the H plays a grammatical role.)
“Il sépare certains mots comme dans ‘le héros’.” (It separates certain words as in ‘le héros.’)

“C’est une question de liaison.”

Pronunciation: Say t oon kes-tyon duh lee-ay-zohn
Meaning: It’s a matter of liaison.
In a Sentence:

“Pourquoi prononce-t-on le ‘s’ dans ‘les hôtels’?” (Why do we pronounce the ‘s’ in ‘les hôtels’?) “C’est une question de liaison.” (It’s a matter of liaison.)
“L’H muet favorise les liaisons.” (The silent H favors liaisons.)

“Les mots empruntés sont différents.”

Pronunciation: Lay moh ohn-pruhn-tay sohn dee-fay-rahn
Meaning: Borrowed words are different.
In a Sentence:

“L’H se prononce dans ‘hockey,’ pourquoi?” (The H is pronounced in ‘hockey,’ why?) “Les mots empruntés sont différents.” (Borrowed words are different.)
“Ce mot vient de l’anglais.” (This word comes from English.)

“Cela fait partie de la langue.”

Pronunciation: Suh-lah fay pahr-tee duh lah lahng
Meaning: It’s part of the language.
In a Sentence:

“Est-ce difficile d’apprendre l’H en français?” (Is it hard to learn the H in French?) “Non, cela fait partie de la langue.” (No, it’s part of the language.)
“Avec le temps, on s’y habitue.” (With time, you get used to it.)

“C’est un emprunt linguistique.”

Pronunciation: Say t uhn ohn-pruhn lahn-gees-teek
Meaning: It’s a linguistic borrowing.
In a Sentence:

“Pourquoi l’H est-il prononcé dans ‘hotdog’?” (Why is the H pronounced in ‘hotdog’?) “C’est un emprunt linguistique.” (It’s a linguistic borrowing.)
“Les mots empruntés à d’autres langues gardent parfois leur prononciation.” (Words borrowed from other languages sometimes keep their pronunciation.)

“Il faut vérifier les règles.”

Pronunciation: Eel foh vay-ree-fyay lay re-gluh
Meaning: You need to check the rules.
In a Sentence:

“Comment savoir si l’H est muet ou aspiré?” (How do you know if the H is silent or aspirated?) “Il faut vérifier les règles.” (You need to check the rules.)
“Les dictionnaires indiquent souvent si l’H est aspiré.” (Dictionaries often indicate if the H is aspirated.)

“L’H ne change pas la prononciation.”

Pronunciation: L ash nuh shahnzh pah lah proh-nohn-sya-syon
Meaning: The H doesn’t change the pronunciation.
In a Sentence:

“Est-ce que l’H modifie le son du mot?” (Does the H change the sound of the word?) “Non, l’H ne change pas la prononciation.” (No, the H doesn’t change the pronunciation.)
“Dans la plupart des cas, l’H est silencieux.” (In most cases, the H is silent.)

“On le voit, mais on ne l’entend pas.”

Pronunciation: Oh luh vwah, meh ohn nuh lohn-tahng pah
Meaning: You see it, but you don’t hear it.
In a Sentence:

“L’H est-il vraiment important?” (Is the H really important?) “Oui, on le voit, mais on ne l’entend pas.” (Yes, you see it, but you don’t hear it.)
“Cela peut être déroutant pour les débutants.” (This can be confusing for beginners.)

“Les Français y sont habitués.”

Pronunciation: Lay frahn-say ee sohn ah-bee-tway
Meaning: The French are used to it.
In a Sentence:

“Pourquoi l’H silencieux ne dérange pas les locuteurs natifs?” (Why doesn’t the silent H bother native speakers?) “Les Français y sont habitués.” (The French are used to it.)
“Pour eux, c’est naturel de ne pas prononcer l’H.” (For them, it’s natural not to pronounce the H.)

“Cela crée une exception intéressante.”

Pronunciation: Suh-lah kray uhn ek-sep-syon ahn-tay-re-sahn-tuh
Meaning: It creates an interesting exception.
In a Sentence:

“L’H aspiré a-t-il un rôle particulier?” (Does the aspirated H have a special role?) “Oui, cela crée une exception intéressante.” (Yes, it creates an interesting exception.)
“Cela rend la langue unique.” (This makes the language unique.)

“C’est un détail culturel.”

Pronunciation: Say t uhn day-tie kool-tyoo-rehl
Meaning: It’s a cultural detail.
In a Sentence:

“Pourquoi les règles de l’H sont-elles différentes du français au latin?” (Why are the H rules different in French than Latin?) “C’est un détail culturel.” (It’s a cultural detail.)
“Les différences linguistiques reflètent l’histoire.” (Linguistic differences reflect history.)

Exercise to Practice Success with “H”

Complete the sentences below using the correct French expression or word related to “H.” The goal is to practice recognizing silent and aspirated “H” while reinforcing vocabulary and grammar rules.

Fill-in-the-Blanks

Il n’y a pas d’___ dans le mot “hôtel.”
Les haricots ont un ___ aspiré, donc pas de liaison.
Dans le mot “heure,” l’___ est silencieux.
Pourquoi le “H” de “héros” est-il appelé un ___?
L’___ dans “huit” n’est jamais entendu.
En français, la plupart des ___ ne se prononcent pas.
Le mot “hamburger” utilise un ___ emprunté.
Les articles ne se contractent pas devant un ___ aspiré.
Le mot “histoire” suit les règles du ___ muet.
L’___ dans “huile” n’empêche pas la liaison.
En poésie, l’___ peut ajouter une fluidité visuelle.
On trouve un ___ prononcé dans “hockey.”

Answers

H – Il n’y a pas d’H dans le mot “hôtel.”
(There is no pronounced “H” in the word “hôtel.”)
H – Les haricots ont un H aspiré, donc pas de liaison.
(The beans have an aspirated “H,” so no liaison.)
H – Dans le mot “heure,” l’H est silencieux.
(In the word “hour,” the “H” is silent.)
H aspiré – Pourquoi le “H” de “héros” est-il appelé un H aspiré?
(Why is the “H” in “hero” called an aspirated H?)
H – L’H dans “huit” n’est jamais entendu.
(The “H” in “eight” is never heard.)
H – En français, la plupart des H ne se prononcent pas.
(In French, most “H”s are not pronounced.)
H – Le mot “hamburger” utilise un H emprunté.
(The word “hamburger” uses a borrowed H.)
H aspiré – Les articles ne se contractent pas devant un H aspiré.
(Articles do not contract before an aspirated H.)
H muet – Le mot “histoire” suit les règles du H muet.
(The word “history” follows the rules of the silent H.)
H – L’H dans “huile” n’empêche pas la liaison.
(The “H” in “oil” does not block the liaison.)
H – En poésie, l’H peut ajouter une fluidité visuelle.
(In poetry, the H can add visual fluidity.)
H – On trouve un H prononcé dans “hockey.”
(You find a pronounced “H” in “hockey.”)

Conclusion

Understanding how to use and pronounce the letter “H” in French is an important step in improving your speaking skills. The silent “H” and the aspirated “H” may seem tricky at first, but with practice, they become easier to recognize and apply. These rules help make French sound smooth and connected, which is a key part of mastering the language.

Remember, most “H”s in French are silent, but their presence affects the grammar and structure of the sentence. By practicing the examples and exercises, you will feel more confident using words with “H” in conversations. Keep exploring and practicing, and soon, the letter “H” in French will feel as natural as it does in English.