Why is the Alphabet “Y” Particular in English? Is “Y” a Vowel?


Vowels are these sounds which might be made with the tongue not touching your lips or throat and another half. These are sounds made with the mouth open and the tongue hanging within the center; there may be not a lot air-flow whereas announcing vowels. 

Consonants, then again, akin to b, d, g, p, and s are sounds which might be made by partially or fully stopping the air breathed out from the mouth with  the tooth, tongue, lips, cheek, and so forth. 

Is “Y” a Vowel or a Consonant?

The specialty of letter ‘y’ is relying on the place of the letter within the syllable or phrase, it will probably take the pronunciation of both a vowel or a  consonant.

Each syllable in English ought to have a vowel in it; however the phrase “Andy”  has two syllables “An” and “dy” and the second syllable doesn’t have a vowel. It is because the second syllable has ‘y’ within the ending performing like a vowel. Within the phrase “Yucky”, the primary “y” is a consonant and the second “y” (the final alphabet of the second syllable) is a vowel.

The “Y” Rule of Pronunciation

  • Y on the finish of a phrase and has a single syllable– This Y rule in phonics states that if a phrase has a single syllable and ends with y then y makes the lengthy i sound. For instance, dry, fly, my, by.
  • Y on the finish of a phrase and has two syllables – It additionally states that if a phrase has two syllables and ends with ‘y’ then ‘y’ sometimes makes the lengthy e sound. For instance – sweet, fluffy, and pet.
  • Y in the course of a phrase – The ‘y’ letter can be used within the medial place of the phrase and there may be pronounced with the sound of brief i. For instance–image, mystic, rhythm, fitness center.

The next phrases needs to be learn based mostly on Y rule

  • D + r + y = dry
  • S + p + y = spy
  • P + l + y = ply

The above phrases have a single syllable and finish with y. Right here, the letter y borrows the sound of lengthy i.

  • H + a + pp + y = completely satisfied
  • S + i + ll + y = foolish
  • E + m + p + t +y = empty

Right here the phrases have two syllables and finish with y. The letter y carries the sound of a protracted e.

Now, the phrases beneath have y in the course of the phrase and therefore we pronounce y as brief i 

  •  M + y + s + t + i + c = mystic
  •  G + y + m = fitness center

Exceptions to the Above Guidelines

There may be all the time an exception to the foundations. Listed below are some exceptions to the Y rule.

  • When the letter y is in the course of the phrase, however is the primary letter of the syllable, then it’s pronounced as /y/. For instance–canyon, past,
  • In a couple of phrases, the place the phrase has two syllables and ends with the y, the letter y is pronounced with the sound of lengthy i fairly than lengthy e. For instance–apply, reply, July.
  • There are few phrases the place the letter y is in the course of the phrase and is pronounced with lengthy i. For instance–model, sort, pylon, tyrant, and rhyme.

Widespread Phrases with Y Rule

  •  Lengthy I phrases: fry, cry, sly, ply, by, shy, strive, why, wry, sky.
  • Lengthy E phrases: lacy, cozy, tidy, pony, empty, many, woman, carry.
  • Y within the center: hymn, fantasy, crypt, lyric, thriller, pyramid.

Do the Studying Readiness Workouts from our Foundations of English Literacy course and achieve confidence in English pronunciation. Every of those matters are lined intimately with a number of actions and worksheets to bolster the learnings.

Hope you discovered this submit helpful, thanks for studying!

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