What is the correct Grammar

[milly143]

Is it correct to say, for example, 'an hotel' or 'a hotel'? I would have though the latter is correct as H is not a vowel but many people use 'an' in this context? Is there a secret rule of grammar I am missing?

[Quizmonster]

'A uniform' and 'a unicyle', Don...similarly with unit, university and a host of other such words. That is because they all effectively begin with a 'y' sound, which - at the start of a word - is generally considered to be a consonant rather than a vowel. Of course, in words such as hymn, rhythm etc, the 'y' is in effect a vowel.

[Quizmonster]

J, 'ache' was, I understand, pronounced 'aitch' rather than as in 'pain'.

Re the idea that 'an (h)otel' is related to French...hackney, hearse, homage and hostage all come to us from French, too. I don't know of any evidence that British people - other than Cockneys etc, as I've already said - ever said 'ackney, 'earse, 'omage or 'ostage. It is probably because of such words that "The French Connection" has been doubted - see Para 1 in my first post to this thread - as regards the 'an (h)otel' usage.
Much more significant surely was the fact that all four of these words open with a stressed syllable which 'hotel' does not. It seems most probable, therefore, that stress-pattern is far more important than French origin in this matter.

[jno]

thanks for the info QM. I think you must be right about the stresses - it makes no sense, but I am probably naive in expecting logic to play a major role in the life of a language.

Anyone know how Americans pronounce uniform? Given that they often replace the yu sound with oo (nood, for instance), do they say yuniform or ooniform? I assume it's the former or I would have noticed, but maybe I haven't been paying attention.