What is the difference between using e and y for the word "and"?

Question

Thanks!

Answer 1

Y becomes e when it precedes a word that begins with the i sound, while o becomes u when it precedes a word that begins with the o sound.

spanish.about.com - Y and E

Answer 2

Like a and and, it depends on the sound that starts the next word. Here's an explanation I got by putting "y or e" in the search box.

"The conjunction Y changes to E when it goes in front of a word that begins with I 'they were rude and stupid? 'needle and thread? France and England?

This change doesn't happen when the I forms part of a diphthong 'peal and boil the potatoes? 'kill one and wound the rest?

neither when Y has importance in an interrogative adverbial clause 'and Ines? Where is Ines'?

The conjunction Y placed at the beginning of a sentence or after a pause, can have an emphatic importance (it's elimination would not change the meaning of the phrase)"

You peel potatoes, peal is what bells do. - MaryMcc, Jan 24, 2012