French contractions and elisions

A contraction occurs when two words blend into one, often linked by an apostrophe. English contractions include 'that's' ('that is'), 'I'm' ('I am') and 'you'll' ('you will'), to take just a few examples. Typically they occur with very common words or combinations of words.

It works the same way in French, but it's often something that catches out French learners, particularly when it comes to listening to spoken French. The common phrase 'Qu’est-ce que c'est ?', for example, meaning 'What is it?', is only three syllables thanks to the fact it contains two contractions. Phrases like this can appear intimidating to learners, but once you've learned which words contract, and how they contact, you'll be able to understand and use contractions in French.

Only the most common words in French are generally contracted. In particular, certain categories of word contract when followed by a vowel or a mute h.

Examples

Je pense que il a laissé tomber cela - Je pense qu’il a laissé tomber ça

Prepositions

In French, the following prepositions contract when preceded by a definite article. This means that the preposition and the article merge together to become a new word.

de + le - du

La balle de le chien - La balle du chien

de + les - des

J'ai acheté de les livres aujourd'hui - J'ai acheté des livres aujourd'hui

à + le → au

Aller à le cinéma - Aller au cinéma

à + les → aux

On parle à les enfants → On parle aux enfants

Elision is when a vowel is removed to make the pronunciation of two consecutive words smoother and easier. It typically happens when one of the words below, ending in a vowel, is followed by another word beginning with a vowel.

Articles

le/la - L’

Le oiseau - L’oiseau

La école - L’école

de - d'

De homme - d'homme

Subject Pronouns

je - j’

Je aime - J’aime

Demonstrative Pronouns

ce - c’

Ce est bien - C’est bien

Object and Reflexive Pronouns

me - m’

te - t’

se - s’

le / la - l’

Elle veux te écouter - Elle veux t’écouter

Je te aime - Je t'aime

Relative Pronouns

que - qu’

Je pense que elle a faim - Je pense qu'elle a faim

Ne

ne - n’

Je ne aime pas le fromage - Je n’aime pas le fromage

Si

si - s’ (before il or ils)

si il vient - s’il vient

Conjunctions

jusque - jusqu’

lorsque - lorsqu’

puisque - puisqu’

Jusque à 15 heures - Jusqu’à 15 heures