What is the W?
I've been taught that the W is pronounced like a double V. But, I've heard some native English speaker pronounced it like a double U. So the question is which pronunciation of the letter W is correct?
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Answers · 5
4
"Double U" is the correct pronunciation of "W" in English.
"W" is a Latin character, and in Latin it is VV - what is why French, Spanish and other languages say "Double V".
Before the printing press English had it's own characters, but for simplicity Wynn (Ƿ) was replaced with W. Then to be confusing all the imported Latin words we started saying a little differently too : )
There are a few other Old-English characters that have also been replaced or retired because of the printing-press only having Latin characters - ash(Æ), eth(Ð), youg(Ᵹ) and thorn(Þ).
1
Hi Vera, English and Americans would pronounce W as 'double U'. I know the French would pronounce W as 'double V', but I'm not sure about any other languages.
1
George is correct.
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