What Does Hour Mean?
An hour is a unit of time equal to 60 minutes. The "h" is silent, so it sounds like "our" in most dialects.
Hour functions as a noun.
What Does Our Mean?
Our is a possessive pronoun meaning belonging to or associated with us (the speakers).
Our functions as a possessive pronoun.
Hour vs Our: Key Differences
| Hour | Our |
|---|---|
| A unit of time (60 minutes) | Possessive pronoun (belonging to us) |
| Noun | Pronoun |
| "An hour ago" | "Our house" |
Examples of Hour in a Sentence
- The meeting lasted over an hour.
- We have one hour before the flight departs.
- She runs five miles every hour.
- The drive takes about three hours.
Examples of Our in a Sentence
- Our house is at the end of the street.
- This is our best chance to succeed.
- We finished our homework before dinner.
- Our team won the championship.
How to Remember the Difference
An hour is on the clock (think of the "h" for hours on a clock face). Our shows ownership by "us" (o-u-r contains "u" and "r" for "you" and "are" part of the group).
Common Mistakes
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| We waited for over a our. | We waited for over an hour. | A period of time is an 'hour.' Note: use 'an' because the 'h' is silent. |
| Hour dog is very friendly. | Our dog is very friendly. | Possession by 'us' requires 'our.' |
| It takes about an our to get there. | It takes about an hour to get there. | The time unit is 'hour.' |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'hour' preceded by 'an' instead of 'a'?
Because the 'h' in 'hour' is silent, the word begins with a vowel sound. English uses 'an' before vowel sounds, so it is 'an hour,' not 'a hour.'
Do 'hour' and 'our' sound the same?
In most American and British dialects, yes. Both are pronounced like 'ow-er.' Some regional accents may pronounce 'our' more like 'are.'
What is the plural of 'hour'?
The plural is 'hours.' For example, 'The store is open 24 hours a day.'