Vowels are those sounds that use the tongue without touching the lips or throat and any other parts. These sounds are opened with the mouth and the tongue hangs in the middle. There is not much airflow when pronounced vowels.
On the other hand, consonants, such as b,d,g,p ands, are the sounds made by partially or completely preventing air from making from the mouth with teeth, tongue, lips, cheeks, etc., so that air breathes out from the mouth.
Is “Y” a vowel or a consonant?
The letter “y” is characterized by its position depending on the letter’s position in a syllable or word, which can be pronounced with vowels or consonants.
Each syllable in English should have a vowel. But the word “Andy” has two syllables “an” and “dy”, and the second syllable has no vowels. This is because the second syllable has a “y” at the end, just like a vowel. In the word “yucky”, the first “y” is the consonant and the second “y” (the last letter of the second syllable) is the vowel.
The “Y” rule for pronunciation
- y has a single syllable at the end of a word – This rule in pronunciation states that if a word has a single syllable and ends with y, y will make me sound long. For example, dry, fly, me,
- y is at the end of the word, with two syllables – it also states that if the word has two syllables and ends with “y”, then “y” usually results in a longer e-sound. For example – candy, fluffy and puppies.
- y is in the middle of the word – the letter “Y” is also used for the inner position of the word and is pronounced in the sound of a short i. For example – symbols, mystery, rhythm, gym.
The following words should be read according to the 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 long i sound.
- h + a + pp + y = happy
- s + i + ll + y = stupid
- e + m + p + t + y = empty
Here, the word has two syllables and ends with y. The letter y has a long e sound.
Now, the following word has y in the middle of the word, so we represent y as short
- m + y + s + t + i + c = mystic
- G + Y + M = Gym
Exceptions to the above rules
There are always exceptions to the rules. These are some exceptions to the Y rule.
- When the letter y is in the middle of the word, but the first letter of the syllable is pronounced as /y/. For example – range, beyond,
- In a few sentences, the word has two syllables and ends with y, and the letter y is pronounced in a sound that is long i instead of long e. For example – App, July reply.
- There are few words with the letter y in the middle of the word and are pronounced with long i. For example – style, type, tower, tyrant and rhyme.
Common words of Y rules
- A long passage: Fry, crying, cunning, ply, by, shy, try, why, twisting, the sky.
- Long e-word: lace, comfortable, neat, pony, empty, many, ladies, carry around.
- Y in the middle: hymns, myths, basements, lyrics, mystery, pyramids.
Reading preparation exercises from our English literacy courses and gain confidence in English pronunciation. Each of these topics details multiple activities and worksheets to enhance learning.
I hope you find this article useful, thank you for reading!
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