What happens to the french word ne in front of a vowel?

The French word "ne" changes to "n'" when it appears before a vowel or a silent "h".

This change is called elision, which means the "e" is dropped and the apostrophe signifies its absence.

Here are some examples:

* ne + avoir: n'avoir (to not have)

* ne + elle: n'elle (not her)

* ne + heureux: n'heureux (not happy)

* ne + homme: n'homme (not man)

Important note:

This change only applies to the word "ne". Other words with a final "e" don't undergo elision. For example, "je" (I) remains the same even before a vowel.