Why "an hour" but not "a hotel?"

Welcome to the Grammar Minute, where we're saving the English language sixty seconds at a time! I'm Lauren Smyth, and here's a question you've probably never thought about (but definitely should): Why do we, at least in the U.S., say "an hour" but not "an hotel?" You may have learned the rule that "a" goes before consonants, like "a cat," and "an" goes before vowels, like "an adorable cat." This is right most of the time, but like may "rules" in English, it's not always the case. A modified version of the rule is actually much closer to the truth: "a" goes before anything that sounds like a consonant, as in "a hotel," and "an" goes before anything that sounds like a vowel, such as "an hour." You might need some persuading that "hour" sounds like it starts with a vowel, but remember that if you were spelling it phonetically, you'd probably write "o-w-r." That's your Grammar Minute! Visit thegrammarminute.com for more tips and tricks.