Nouvel or Nouveau

Sophia Z.A1Kwiziq community member

Nouvel or Nouveau

Why is it that when you want to say new before the consonants, you say 'nouveau' but when you want to say new hotel, you say "nouvel hotel" because 'h' is a not a vowel

This question relates to:French lesson "Beau, nouveau, vieux, fou, mou have two masculine forms and one feminine form (French Adjectives)"

Asked 8 months ago

Like0Answer2

CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Sophia,

The -h of hotel is called mute or silent.

So the following letter is the vowel -o which determines the use of 'nouvel' and not 'nouveau'.

Bonne continuation !

Like08 months ago

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonjour Sophia,

https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/glossary/contraction/l-elision-elision

Access the above site to find out about mute H and elision.

Before vowel or mute h (H) the adjective nouvel is used for elision reasons.

Bonne continuation,

Jim

Like08 months ago

Sophia Z. asked:

Nouvel or Nouveau

Why is it that when you want to say new before the consonants, you say 'nouveau' but when you want to say new hotel, you say "nouvel hotel" because 'h' is a not a vowel

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