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- "L'homme"
"L'homme"
Translation:The man
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1555
Right, this is the general rule. Just FYI, there are a few exceptions where you have to put "le" before a noun starting with "h", for example: "le haricot" (the bean), "le hérisson" (the hedgehog).
1555
In French, elision refers to the suppression of a final vowel (usually "e") immediately before another word beginning with a vowel.
For example, "I love" is "J'aime" (and not "Je aime").
This rule also applies before most of words beginning with a silent "h":
For example, "the man" is "l'homme" (and not "le homme").
There are a few exceptions to this rule, for example "the bean" is "le haricot" (and not "l'haricot")
I think what you are describing is the difference between a dictionary that may be rather cut and dry, versus a language course that is trying to produce colloquial speakers of French. While both answers are technically correct, "the man" is most likely what people would be referring to when it is used.