Learn about the letter 'W', its pronunciation, history, and common uses in English.
The letter 'W' is the 23rd letter of the modern English alphabet. It is a consonant and is pronounced as 'double-u'. This letter is unique because it originally represented a double 'U' sound, reflecting its name.
History: The letter 'W' was created in the Middle Ages to represent sounds that could not be captured by 'V' or 'U'. Initially, it was written as two 'V's or 'U's together.
Pronunciation: In English, 'W' often represents a voiced labio-velar approximant, which is the 'w' sound you hear in words like 'water', 'wonder', and 'window'.
Uses: Besides being part of words, 'W' is also used as an abbreviation. For example, in measurements it can stand for 'watt' (a unit of power), or indicate 'west' in directions.