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Which is the correct usage from the following two sentences?

  1. Birth of a universe

  2. Birth of an universe

Araucaria - Him
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Bilbo Baggins
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  • It's establishment of A university, not AN university. Likewise here. – user405662 Nov 29 '20 at 08:52
  • @user405662 Ok, but why? – Araucaria - Him Nov 29 '20 at 08:55
  • @Araucaria-Not here any more It's the sound of the vowel (and not the vowel itself) that decides if one should use a or an. For this reason, it's a European and an hotel.(though a hotel isn't wrong either). – user405662 Nov 29 '20 at 08:58
  • @Michael Harvey: I don't think it's implicit in my previous comment that any word starting with the letter h takes an. And of course, it is a hat and a house. – user405662 Nov 29 '20 at 09:18
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    It's the pronunciation of the following word that counts. So someone who "drops their aitches" would say "I am buying an 'at to wear in an 'ouse." – Weather Vane Nov 29 '20 at 09:25
  • Doesn't Universe start with a U sound. AEIOU = an, right? – Bilbo Baggins Nov 29 '20 at 09:27
  • @PriteshDesai: It does, but universe is pronounced *youniverse*. The first sound—the y—is a consonant, not a vowel. – Decapitated Soul Nov 29 '20 at 09:28
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    Phonetically speaking, in the words 'universe', 'European', 'university' ... etc... the first syllables ('u' or 'Eu') are pronounced [ ju: ]. So, the first sound which is pronounced is [ j ]. It is a consonant sound. This is the reason why you must use the article 'a'. Same thing with the word 'yacht', for ex. : the first sound you hear in 'yacht' is [ j ]. In consequence, the question you should ask yourself before deciding between 'a' or 'an' is: what is the FIRST sound I can hear? A vowel sound (e.g. [ u: ] , [ a: ], [ æ ] ... etc...) or a consonant sound [ j ], [ h ] ..etc.. ] ? – Patrick D Nov 29 '20 at 09:31
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    I feel cheated. AEIO yoU? – Bilbo Baggins Nov 29 '20 at 09:32
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    I think you should have a look at a list of phonetic symbols. Most dictionaries have one. I'm prettty sure it will help you make a difference between letters and sounds. – Patrick D Nov 29 '20 at 09:38
  • From the way he writes, I don't think he doesn't know the answer to his own question. – Ram Pillai Nov 29 '20 at 13:04

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