A HDMI or An HDMI cable?

uber soldat · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:16

I would say A HDMI cable, could be wrong but it sounds more natural IMO

peterattheboro · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:16

nicktay2605 said:
Or 'an UFO'!!

Ooooo... bugger.

Ok another one that's allowed...

An dog, an dog on an skateboard.

Guess what that's off.

paradigm · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:16

Mr^B said:
pronounced; 'aitch em dee eye'

Only if it were an HMDI cable, which it isn't

To the "An UFO", U isn't pronounced on its own with a vowel sound, its pronounced with a Y, hence "A" not "An".

Bill101 · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:17

Putting an in front of 'H' started with the upper class trying to sound sophisticated and French when talking about ''an hotel'' they stayed at during their Grand tour.

metamorphpwner · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:17

depends how you say "H"really, if you say it correct, then it's a HDMI cable.
if you say it incorrect(chav/lazy) then it's an HDMI

Bill101 said:
Putting an in front of 'H' started with the upper class trying to sound sophisticated and French when talking about ''an hotel'' they stayed at during their Grand tour.

like in the quote, An 'otel, or A hotel

Rainmaker · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:18

paradigm said:
It's "an". This is due to the pronunciation of the letter "H" when said on its own [Ay-ch].

"Hay-ch", if you don't pronounce it like a lazy bum or a Cockney. Hence, 'a'.

If what you say is true, we would be staying in 'an hotel' rather than 'a hotel'. The only way 'an hotel' (or anything else of a similar nature) can sound correct, is if you basically omit the 'h' as silent:

"An 'otel", "An 'erb", etc. Yuk!

stinamoo · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:19

*deleted*

bledd · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:20

h, the new 'y'

paradigm · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:20

stinamoo said:
The correct way to say H on it's own is aitch, not haitch.

Correct. Hence why "hotel" is "A hotel", but HDMI cable is "an HDMI cable".

The letters of HDMI are pronounced on their own, not as part of a word.

stinamoo · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:20

*deleted*

gord · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:21

I would go with A for that. It just reads right.

metamorphpwner · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:22

stinamoo said:
The correct way to say H on it's own is aitch, not haitch.

a quick check on Wiki says both aitch and haitch are correct ways to pronounce the letter.

Its name in both British and American English is aitch[1] (pronounced /eɪtʃ/), though it is also pronounced haitch

Sankari · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:22

"An".

Squark · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:23

Its 'an'.

I don't see how anyone can think that 'a HDMI' sounds or looks right.

uber soldat · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:25

It would seem my instinct was wrong it should be "an"

http://www.gpuss.co.uk/english_usage/a_or_an.htm

Eddie · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:26

Well I say h'aitch, so I'd go with an A, as in ay (as in hay) rathar than ah, if you know what I mean.

Ah h'aiych dmi cable.

Ay h'aitch dmi cable.

The second one sounds right to me.

Don't you just love the English language.

Mr^B · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:26

It's pronounced 'haitch' by cockneys and other illiterate enclaves.

I have to congratulate the forum on picking up a minor mistake in about the same time it took me to spot and correct it - well done!

I think the new forum logo should be that 'someone on the Internet is wrong' cartoon - seems to fit here alright!

Adsta · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:27

When I read it I said "A Hdmi" as "An Hdmi" just doesnt sound right too me.

Then again my english is terrible

I think its partially down to that i put too much emphisis on the 'n' in An. so as a sentence it just doesnt sound right.

paradigm · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:28

shoot1st said:
Don't you just love the English language.

Yes, but then I was taught it correctly.

Seems the majority of the forum weren't.

stinamoo · 25 Feb 2009 at 16:28

*deleted*