Podcast
Questions and Answers
____ is the only English letter with a name of more than one syllable.
____ is the only English letter with a name of more than one syllable.
W
What is the fifteenth most frequently used letter in English?
What is the fifteenth most frequently used letter in English?
There are very few English words that start with ______.
There are very few English words that start with ______.
X
Some speakers shorten "double u" to "____."
Some speakers shorten "double u" to "____."
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Which language historically used ⟨w⟩ for /v/ in native words but later replaced it with ⟨v⟩?
Which language historically used ⟨w⟩ for /v/ in native words but later replaced it with ⟨v⟩?
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In the Cartesian coordinate system, ______ refers to the horizontal axis.
In the Cartesian coordinate system, ______ refers to the horizontal axis.
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In which language did ⟨w⟩ become a labiodental approximant /ʋ/?
In which language did ⟨w⟩ become a labiodental approximant /ʋ/?
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An X rating denotes media intended for ______ only.
An X rating denotes media intended for ______ only.
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In many languages, the name of the letter "W" means "____."
In many languages, the name of the letter "W" means "____."
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Study Notes
- English uses ⟨w⟩ to represent /w/
- Some words beginning with ⟨w⟩ are silent in most dialects before a pronounced ⟨r⟩
- ⟨w⟩ is the fifteenth most frequently used letter in English
- ⟨w⟩ is used in several central-western European languages
- Some languages historically used ⟨w⟩ for /v/ in native words but later replaced it with ⟨v⟩
- Modern German dialects generally have only [v] or [ʋ] for West Germanic /w/
- In Dutch, ⟨w⟩ became a labiodental approximant /ʋ/
- In Finnish, ⟨w⟩ is sometimes seen as a variant of ⟨v⟩ and not a separate letter
- ⟨w⟩ is named double-v in Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish
- Multiple dialects of Swedish and Danish use the sound /w/
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Description
Put your knowledge of the letter "W" to the test with this informative quiz! Learn interesting facts such as its frequency of use in English and its historical use in other European languages. Test your understanding of its pronunciation and usage in various dialects, including Dutch, Finnish, and Scandinavian languages. This quiz is perfect for language lovers and anyone curious about the fascinating world of linguistics.
