Do you say "An hotel"?

[Nighthogs]

Apparently this is correct, but the only time I've ever heard it used in this way is when it's said in a cockney accent (ie. "An 'otel"). When I say the word "hotel", the H isn't silent, so putting the word "an" before it just seems... Odd. I have an assuming south east accent, by the way.

Curious what everyone out there does!

YABU - I say "An hotel"
YANBU - I say "A hotel"

PS prize for most boring thread ever in 3...2...1...

I would say a hotel. But then again, the only H word I use with an before it is Hour.

I will be there in "an hour"

It's neither correct nor incorrect. It's just what is natural in your accent based on how much h-dropping is present.

I'd argue that just because it's 'correct' that saying 'a' first has moved into common usage and is still correct.

If someone said an hotel I'd think they were a bit of a twit tbh.

YANBU. I don’t say 'an' historian either. It just feels weird to me. I'm Scottish if that makes any difference.

A historian is much clummsier to say than an historian 😏

@Germolenequeen

A historian is much clummsier to say than an historian 😏

Really? I think it's the other way round

I just tried it out loud and saying an makes me drop the h in historian a bit. So a historian, or an istorian. Unintentionally but it does

@StatisticallyChallenged

I just tried it out loud and saying an makes me drop the h in historian a bit. So a historian, or an istorian. Unintentionally but it does

Standard British English as spoken in SE England at least - people drop or soften an unstressed h quite easily. I wouldn't agree this man that it makes you a fluent speaker of English generally, but it does come quite naturally in some regions. So some will find it easier to say a historian than others. www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/pronunciation/tims-pronunciation-workshop-ep-27

I'm Scottish, less prone to dropping the H naturally. Historian on it's own or preceeded by a very definitely starts with an h sound for me but it feels too clunky to say it properly with an.

Does nobody else say something that sounds more like ‘uh hotel’ so neither a hotel nor an hotel but some awful nondescript hybrid?!

@StatisticallyChallenged

I'm Scottish, less prone to dropping the H naturally. Historian on it's own or preceeded by a very definitely starts with an h sound for me but it feels too clunky to say it properly with an.

Sure - it's people who would find "a historian" clunky who would tend to "an 'istorian". An historian / hotel with the h pronounced takes an effort - it messes up the instinct to put a before a consonant. But you might be fine with the sounded h in a phrase like "men harrassing them", which has a similar stress pattern? Others might drop that h.

@molojoko

It's neither correct nor incorrect. It's just what is natural in your accent based on how much h-dropping is present.

But does it pass the written test. What would you write regardless of accent?

@Navigationcentral

Hmm not RTFT but *@Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese* when is H ever followed by a consonant? Can you think of a word like that because I am struggling ?!

I wasn't thinking properly and if you read a couple of comments down I corrected myself.

@planplan

I'd argue that just because it's 'correct' that saying 'a' first has moved into common usage and is still correct.

If someone said an hotel I'd think they were a bit of a twit tbh.

polishes TWIT badge

A few examples of the historic pronunciation in this clip from a period drama set during early ww2 - hope this works

tinyurl.com/rdks39kh

@MistyGreenAndBlue

"An" goes before a vowel sound. My favourite manifestation of this is the letter L. ie Cat begins with a "C" but lion begins with an "L" I bet most people don't even notice that they do this.

there are always exceptions though aren't there? an umbrella, an umpire, an utterly great idea etc - all sound good an unicorn does not

I like to say an hippo because it amuses me. Simple things and all that...

@DelurkingAJ

Does nobody else say something that sounds more like ‘uh hotel’ so neither a hotel nor an hotel but some awful nondescript hybrid?!

Uh is just a pronunciation variation of a. You can hear it as ah, uh or ay. Lots of words we flex the pronunciation of, even with the same speaker such as the (thuh/ther/thee).

@planplan

I'd argue that just because it's 'correct' that saying 'a' first has moved into common usage and is still correct.

If someone said an hotel I'd think they were a bit of a twit tbh.

Also polishing my twit badge ;)

I'd say 'an'....but only because I have a London accent and tend to drop my aitches anyway.

I have been known to do this as a wind-up.......language is a naturally changing thing; just listen to old newsreels.
Ceramic should be pronounced with a hard c as well (Greek "keramaikos")
Obscure nerdy aside; the fruit we call "an orange* was originally "a norange" (Spanish "naranga").
I need to get out more; lockdown is clearly getting to me.

It’s a zombie rule. Following it sends a certain message that I wouldn’t choose to send about myself.

I just realised I say an. E.g. ‘I went to an hotel’

I never drop H's accidentally, so I would never say an 'istorian or an 'orse.

I suspect that in general English usage, an hotel might be considered an affectation.

Probably already said.

I'm not British so don't speak everyday English, therefore I wouldn't drop eg the H in Hotel etc. I guess the confusion arises when you leave out letters which are supposed to be pronounced.