What is the difference between "y" and "e"?

Question

I believe they both mean "and", don't they? How and when is each used?

Answer 1

What is the difference between "a" and "an" (e.g. "a car", "an adult"). I believe both of them mean "one". How and when is each one used?

The answer is: you use "an" when the next word begins with a vowel sound, to avoid an ugly sound. In Spanish you use "e" instead of "y" when the next word begins with "i"... to avoid... [I'll let you fill the gap]

or sometimes 'hi......'? (but not if it makes a 'y' kind of sound, like hierba :) ) - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 1, 2011

What??? Now I'm confused - BelugaBebe, Jan 1, 2011

to avoid "me levanté temprano y hice la cama" you say "me levanté temprano e hice la cama" - veroz, Jan 1, 2011