Which is correct — "a year" or "an year"? [duplicate]

The word year when pronounced starts with a phonetic sound of e which is a vowel sound making it eligible for being preceded by an. Yet, we tend to write a year. Why?

I reject your premise that the word year starts with a phonetic sound of e. Here's how it is pronounced according to the various dictionaries:

• Wiktionary: (RP) IPA: /jiə/, /jɜː/, SAMPA: /ji@/, /j3:/; (US) enPR: yîr, IPA: /jiɹ/, SAMPA: /jir/
• Merriam-Webster: \ˈyir\
• American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: /yîr/
• Collins English Dictionary: /jɪə/

Words that start with the /j/ sound are preceded by an a, not by an an. Compare: a user, a utility, a yak.

It doesn't start with a phonetic sound of e. It starts with [j] (usually spelled "y" in English), and that sound is not a vowel here.

• Dictionary.com: Year: /yɪər/

• Dictionary.msn.com: Year: /yeer/

A year does not start with an e sound. An ear starts with an e sound.

An ear

and

A year

In most cases.

A good rule is

If the next word starts with a vowel sound, use an. If not, use a