Meaning of mute h | Babel Free

Definitions

1. In the French language usage of the letter h at the start of a word which allows liaison with a preceding consonant.
2. Non-aspiration of a glottal consonant.
   literally

Equivalents

Examples

“The French word homme ("man") begins with a mute h. Consequently we can say⟳ l'homme /l‿ɔm/ and les hommes /le‿zɔm/, but never /lə ɔm/ and /le ɔm/, like⟳ we do with the aspirated h.”

“Whether the h be a mute h or an aspirate h, it may be regarded in either case as absolutely silent.”

“In French initial h’s are called either mute h’s (the greatest number⟳) or aspirate h’s (fewer in number⟳, but frequent nonetheless).”

“The only difference between the two is that a mute h allows contractions and liaisons in front of it, and an aspirated h does not.”

CEFR level