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The Speciality of "Y" - Is "Y" a Vowel?

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

Vowels are those sounds that are made with the tongue not touching your lips or throat and any other part. These are sounds made with the mouth open and the tongue hanging in the middle; there is not much air-flow while pronouncing vowels. 

Consonants, on the other hand, such as \b\, \d\, \g\, \p\, and \s\ are sounds that are made by partially or completely stopping the air breathed out from the mouth with  the teeth, tongue, lips, cheek, etc. 

Is “Y” a Vowel or a Consonant?

The specialty of letter ‘y’ is depending on the position of the letter in the syllable or word, it can take the pronunciation of either a vowel or a  consonant.

Every syllable in English should have a vowel in it; but the word “Andy”  has two syllables “An” and “dy” and the second syllable doesn’t have a vowel. This is because the second syllable has ‘y’ in the ending acting like a vowel. In the word “Yucky”, the first “y” is a consonant and the second “y” (the last alphabet of the second syllable) is a vowel.

The “Y” Rule of Pronunciation

  • Y at the end of a word and has a single syllable– This Y rule in phonics states that if a word has a single syllable and ends with y then y makes the long i sound. For example, dry, fly, my, by.
  • Y at the end of a word and has two syllables – It also states that if a word has two syllables and ends with ‘y’ then ‘y’ typically makes the long e sound. For example – candy, fluffy, and puppy.
  • Y in the middle of a word – The ‘y’ letter is also used in the medial position of the word and there is pronounced with the sound of short i. For example–symbol, mystic, rhythm, gym.

The following words should be read based on Y rule

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

The above words have a single syllable and end with y. Here, the letter y borrows the sound of long i.

  • H + a + pp + y = happy
  • S + i + ll + y = silly
  • E + m + p + t +y = empty

Here the words have two syllables and end with y. The letter y carries the sound of a long e.

Now, the words below have y in the middle of the word and hence we pronounce y as short i 

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

Exceptions to the Above Rules

There is always an exception to the rules. Here are some exceptions to the Y rule.

  • When the letter y is in the middle of the word, but is the first letter of the syllable, then it is pronounced as /y/. For example–canyon, beyond,
  • In a few words, where the word has two syllables and ends with the y, the letter y is pronounced with the sound of long i rather than long e. For example–apply, reply, July.
  • There are few words where the letter y is in the middle of the word and is pronounced with long i. For example–style, type, pylon, tyrant, and rhyme.

Common Words with Y Rule

  •  Long I words: fry, cry, sly, ply, by, shy, try, why, wry, sky.
  • Long E words: lacy, cozy, tidy, pony, empty, many, lady, carry.
  • Y in the middle: hymn, myth, crypt, lyric, mystery, pyramid.

Do the Reading Readiness Exercises from our Foundations of English Literacy course and gain confidence in English pronunciation. Each of these topics are covered in detail with multiple activities and worksheets to reinforce the learnings.

Hope you found this post useful, thank you for reading!

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