19

The word year when pronounced starts with a phonetic sound of e which is a vowel sound making it eligible for being preceded by an. Yet, we tend to write a year. Why?

Improve this question
1

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
24

I reject your premise that the word year starts with a phonetic sound of e. Here's how it is pronounced according to the various dictionaries:

  • Wiktionary: (RP) IPA: /jiə/, /jɜː/, SAMPA: /ji@/, /j3:/; (US) enPR: yîr, IPA: /jiɹ/, SAMPA: /jir/
  • Merriam-Webster: \ˈyir\
  • American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: /yîr/
  • Collins English Dictionary: /jɪə/

Words that start with the /j/ sound are preceded by an a, not by an an. Compare: a user, a utility, a yak.

Improve this answer
1
  • Nice examples at the end!
    – John Y
    Nov 4, 2011 at 20:10
22

It doesn't start with a phonetic sound of e. It starts with [j] (usually spelled "y" in English), and that sound is not a vowel here.

  • Dictionary.com: Year: /yɪər/

  • Dictionary.msn.com: Year: /yeer/

Improve this answer
0
7

A year does not start with an e sound. An ear starts with an e sound.

Improve this answer
2
  • Is it easy to distinguish between them when people talk about "year" and "ear" at the same time? Could people easily distinguish the sounds of |O| and |WO|, |U| and |WU| as well?
    – Terry Li
    Oct 20, 2011 at 17:01
  • 2
    Yes, native speakers easily distinguish between ear and year, or owe and woe, or ooh and woo.
    – Mark Beadles
    Apr 30, 2012 at 12:53
4

An ear

and

A year

In most cases.

A good rule is

If the next word starts with a vowel sound, use an. If not, use a

Improve this answer
0

For the word 'year' to be preceded by 'an' it must sound like it's beginning with a vowel. The reason why it is a tad tricky is because of the difference in the way people pronounce it.

Some people pronounce the word 'year' as 'ear' with 'y' silent, thereby wanting 'an' to precede and feeling discomfort with 'a'. e.g. 'It's been an _ear since we talked'.

Whereas others pronounce it with a 'ye' sound in the beginning. In this case one finds that using 'a' suddenly sounds more comfortable. e.g. 'It's been a 'ye'ar since we talked'.

Improve this answer
2
  • 9
    In what dialect of English is “year” pronounced as “ear”?
    – F'x
    Mar 11, 2011 at 17:41
  • @F'x My dialect. :D
    – Mateen Ulhaq
    Dec 5, 2019 at 2:38

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.