Let's talk about the English word “of” is most often written de in French, or d’ before a vowel sound or mute h. Now, for example, une tasse de thé means “a cup of tea,” while une tasse d’eau means “a cup of water. ” The correct choice depends on grammar, pronunciation, and the relationship between the words Nothing fancy..
Introduction: The Direct Answer
To write “of” in French, use de
When the Choice Isn’t Obvious
The simple rule “de = of, d’ = of before a vowel” works for most textbook examples, but French is full of subtleties. The decision often hinges on three factors:
- The gender and number of the noun that follows
- Whether the following word begins with a vowel, a mute h, or a consonant
- The grammatical construction (e.g., partitive article, possessive, or a fixed expression)
Below is a systematic guide that covers the most common scenarios.
1. De + Article + Noun
| English “of” | French construction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| of the | de + article + noun (masculine singular) | le chat de le jardin → “the cat of the garden” |
| de + article + noun (feminine singular) | la maison de la ville → “the house of the city” | |
| de + article + noun (plural) | les amis de les États-Unis → “the friends of the United States” |
When the article is le or les, the construction can be shortened:
- du (de + le) – le pain du matin (“the bread of the morning”)
- des (de + les) – les enfants des voisins (“the children of the neighbors”)
If the noun is infinitive or mass noun with a partitive article, keep de:
- un verre de vin (“a glass of wine”)
- de l’eau (elided form of de + l’eau) – une bouteille de l’eau (“a bottle of water”)
2. D’ + Vowel or Mute h
The elided form d’ replaces de before any word that begins with a vowel sound or a mute h (i.So naturally, e. , h pronounced as “ah”).
| English “of” | French construction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| of a | d’ + vowel | une part d’ une tarte (“a slice of a pie”) |
| d’ + mute h | le parfum d’ homme (“the scent of man”) | |
| d’ + adjective | la couleur d’ azur (“the color of azure”) |
Note: The elision is mandatory in writing, even when the following word starts with a vowel‑sound h (e.g., d’hôtel). In speech, the vowel is often linked to the preceding word, creating a smooth flow.
3. De + Pronoun or Negation
When de is followed by a pronoun, the article is usually omitted:
- la peur de lui (“the fear of him”)
- le manque de nous (“the lack of us”)
In negative constructions, de stays unchanged:
- Je ne mange pas de viande. (“I don’t eat meat.”)
- Elle n’aime pas d’ orange. (“She doesn’t like orange.”)
4. Fixed Expressions and Idioms
Many French expressions use de or d’ in ways that don’t directly map to “of.” Memorizing them is essential:
- à de bout – “to the end” (lit.: “to of the end”)
- *en d’ argent
