MUTE E
Spelling: unaccented "e" not followed by double consonant
A mute e is deleted at the end of a rhythmical group:
Elle est petit
e.Il y en a quatr
e.
Within a word or a rhythmical group:
 | General rule ("la loi des deux consonnes"): |
one consonant sound +
e--> mute e is deletedtu l
esais, mon petit, pas delaittwo consonant sounds + e --> mute e is pronounced
il le sait, appartement, parle-moi
| Mute e is not deleted after a single consonant: |
1. at the beginning of a sentence
Que dit-il?, Je pars., Le train arrive.
2. before aspirate h
le héros, pas de hors-d'oeuvre
3. Before /rj/ or /lj/
nous serions, vous seriez, chancelier
4. in "le" as object pronoun in affirmative imperative
prends-le, fais-le entrer
| Fixed groups pronounced the same in any position within the rythmical group |
j
ete, ceque, je ne, de ne, ce neC'est c
eque jete dis. Ce nesera rien de nepas venir. Je nesais pas.
References:
André Malécot. Introduction à la phonétique française. The Hague and Paris: Mouton, 1977. Pp. 28-32.
Albert Valdman. 'Introduction to French Phonology and Morphology. Rowley, Mass: Newberry House, 1976. Pp. 114-25.
Created September 7, 1998
