A unique vs an unique? The rule says that “a” should be used before words with consonant sounds at the beginning and “an” before words with vowel sounds at the beginning. In American English, the preceding article is often determined by the beginning letter’s sound in a word. In British English, it depends on the spelling of the word. That’s why you may see it written as “an unique.” Which one is correct? The word “unique” starts with a “u,” but when being pronounced, it makes a “y” sound (yoo-nique), which is a consonant. So, “a” should be used as the article. Some people may use “an unique,” which is grammatically incorrect! Examples: CORRECT: Julie's new flat has a unique skyline view, so she spends all afternoons out on the terrace. Shopping, night life, work life, and leisure give this frisky community a unique perspective.