Answers
Jun 07, 2012 - 07:57 PM
Hm... Are you using Anywhere for this? It could be a typo
Jun 08, 2012 - 03:52 PM
No, I am using the latest DVD version. I checked Google translate, and they also give "beau haut" as well as "le haut," so I guess it is in the same category as haricot, not like hiver or hopital. I may even have been taught that, but it would be nice if Fluenz had a real search engine so I could find out where that was discussed.
Jun 10, 2012 - 06:00 AM
In French you wouldn't be likely to use "beau haut". They typically use the English word "Top", so "beau top" would be heard more often.
Jun 12, 2012 - 01:36 PM
Well, it was in an exercise, but anyway I went to another website and, yes, it is in that category of "h" words for which the "h" is treated as a consonant. Seems to have something to do with the origins of the word. When "h" is treated as a consonant, as in "haricot" it is called an "aspirated h" although it is still silent. Apparently there are a lot of words that begin with aspirated h, with no apparent rule by which to identify them.
Jun 12, 2012 - 03:34 PM
This example surprised me though...to say "Beau haut" really doesn't sound nice in French. Usually in French the language contradicts it's own rules in favor of what sounds better. This would sound nicer if we said "bel haut".