* Phonetically: In both "stationary" (meaning not moving) and "stationery" (meaning writing materials), the "y" is pronounced as a consonant, like the "y" in "yes". So, phonetically, it's not a vowel.
* Etymologically: The "y" in both words comes from the Old French word "stationnaire" which means "stationary". However, in Old French, the "y" was a vowel. So, in the original word, it was a vowel.
In summary:
* In modern English pronunciation: "y" in both words is a consonant.
* Historically: "y" was a vowel in the original French word.
So, depending on which aspect you're focusing on, the answer can vary!