Why do we say a European and not an European?
‘An’ is used before words which begin with a vowel sound. Note that we are talking about sounds and not spelling. For example the word “European” begins with the vowel letter ‘e’ but it is pronounced with the consonant sound / j /. Therefore we say and write, “He’s British but he thinks of himself as a European.”
Is correct to say an European or a European?
It is most definitely “a European”. The word “European” does not start with a vowel sound, it starts with the syllable “you”. The “y”-sound is in this case a consonant (or at least a half-consonant), so the indefinite article is “a”.
Why do we say a one instead of an one?
The basic rule for using the articles “a” or “an” is that we use “a” before words beginning with a consonant and use “an” before words beginning with a vowel, so which would you place before “one”? “A one” is correct because “one” starts with a “w” sound.
Is A or an European?
Since the word EUROPEAN sounds like it begins with a Y, the proper pronoun is A.
Why is Europe not a vowel?
Words like European, Europe, etc. although they begin with a vowel, they don`t begin with a vowel pronunciation. The E in Europe is silent and rather than sounding like the E in an Egg or an Eel or an Engine, begins with U which is pronounced as Y in Yak or Yam. So its A European rather than An European.
Why is universal not universal?
Note that the letter U can be pronounced like oo or uh or yoo. When it is YOO, it is consonantal and it takes a as in ‘a unit’, ‘a union’ etc. “It is a universal truth” is correct, because the word ‘universal’ begins with a consonant sound of ‘yu’. Therefore, the article ‘a’ before the word ‘universal’ is appropriate.
Is it an ewe or a ewe?
A ewe is a female sheep. That is what a ewe is. Most people have precious few opportunities to use the word ewe.