Should I use 'a' or 'an' with the word 'unicorn'?

Hi! We say “a unicorn” because 'unicorn' begins with a consonant sound (yoo-ni-corn) - just like the nouns uniform, university, union, unit. If the 'u' has a vowel sound, as in umbrella, uproar, we would say, 'an umbrella, an uproar'. read more

The choice of which indefinite article to use before words that begin with a vowel comes down to the whether that vowel has a vowel or consonant sound. ‘Unicorn’ begins with a vowel that has a consonant sound ‘y’, so you should use ‘a’ before the word. The same applies to ‘university’, ‘union’, ‘universe’ and so on. read more

The word-initial"y" sound ("unicorn") is actually a glide [j] phonetically, which has consonantal properties; consequently, it is treated as a consonant, requiring"a." a union, a united front, a unicorn, a used napkin, a U.S. ship, a one-legged man. read more

Best Answer: 'A unicorn' The only reason some think it should be"an" is that they were taught the rule incorrectly. The rule is NOT that you use"an" before a vowel,"a" before a consonant. It is that you use"an" before a vowel SOUND,"a" before a consonant SOUND. read more