The English alphabet consists of 26 letters. Each letter has an uppercase ("capital letter") and a lowercase ("small letter") form.
| # | Capital Letter | Small Letter | Phonic (pronunciation) | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | a | /eɪ/,/æ/ | a |
| 2 | B | b | /biː/ | bee |
| 3 | C | c | /siː/ | cee |
| 4 | D | d | /diː/ | dee |
| 5 | E | e | /iː/ | e |
| 6 | F | f | /ɛf/ | ef |
| 7 | G | g | /dʒiː/ | gee |
| 8 | H | h | /(h)eɪtʃ/ | (h)aitch |
| 9 | I | i | /aɪ/ | i |
| 10 | J | j | /dʒeɪ/ | jay |
| 11 | K | k | /keɪ/ | kay |
| 12 | L | l | /ɛl/ | el |
| 13 | M | m | /ɛm/ | em |
| 14 | N | n | /ɛn/ | en |
| 15 | O | o | /oʊ/ | o |
| 16 | P | p | /piː/ | pee |
| 17 | Q | q | /kjuː/ | cue |
| 18 | R | r | /ɑːr/ | ar |
| 19 | S | s | /ɛs/ | ess |
| 20 | T | t | /tiː/ | tee |
| 21 | U | u | /juː/ | u |
| 22 | V | v | /viː/ | vee |
| 23 | W | w | /ˈdʌbəl.juː/ | double-u |
| 24 | X | x | /ɛks/ | ex |
| 25 | Y | y | /waɪ/ | wy |
| 26 | Z | z | /zi/zɛd/ | zee/zed |
Notes
- Five of the letters in the English Alphabet are vowels: A, E, I, O, U.
- The remaining 21 letters are consonants: B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, X, Z, and usually W and Y.
Written English includes the digraphs: ch ci ck gh ng ph qu rh sc sh th ti wh wr zh. These are not considered separate letters of the alphabet. - Two letters, “A” and “I,” also constitute words.
- Until fairly recently (until 1835), the 27th letter of the alphabet (right after "z") was the ampersand (&).
- The English Alphabet is based on the Latin script, which is the basic set of letters common to the various alphabets originating from the classical Latin alphabet.
Old English
- The Old English alphabet letters were 29: A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V X Y Z & ⁊ Ƿ Þ Ð Æ
- The Old English alphabet was recorded in the year 1011 by a monk named Byrhtferð and included the 24 letters of the Latin alphabet (including ampersand) and 5 additional English letters: Long S (ſ), Eth (Ð and ð), Thorn (þ), Wynn (ƿ) and Ash (ᚫ; later Æ and æ).
- With respect to Modern English, Old English did not include J, U, and W.
See Also:
As an enthusiast with a profound understanding of linguistics and language history, let me delve into the rich tapestry of the English alphabet. My expertise in this field stems from a comprehensive knowledge of linguistic evolution, phonetics, and historical scripts.
The English alphabet, a fundamental aspect of written communication, comprises 26 letters, each with its unique uppercase (capital) and lowercase (small) forms. The phonetic pronunciation and names of these letters are essential components of language learning. Let's explore the key concepts mentioned in the provided article:
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Alphabet Structure:
- The English alphabet consists of 26 letters.
- Each letter has an uppercase and a lowercase form.
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Phonetic Pronunciation and Names:
- The article provides the phonetic pronunciation and names for each letter.
- For example, "A" is pronounced as /eɪ/ or /æ/ and is referred to as "ay."
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Vowels and Consonants:
- Five letters (A, E, I, O, U) are vowels, while the remaining 21 are consonants.
- Vowels are fundamental to English pronunciation.
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Digraphs:
- Written English includes digraphs, combinations of two letters representing a single sound.
- Examples include "ch," "th," and "sh."
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Special Letters:
- "W" is unique, pronounced as /ˈdʌbəl.juː/ and referred to as "double-u."
- "Y" is pronounced as /waɪ/ and referred to as "wy."
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Historical Perspective - Old English:
- The Old English alphabet, recorded in 1011, had 29 letters.
- It included additional letters such as Long S (ſ), Eth (Ð and ð), Thorn (þ), Wynn (ƿ), and Ash (ᚫ).
- Notably, Old English did not include the letters J, U, and W.
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Evolution from Latin Script:
- The English Alphabet is based on the Latin script.
- Latin script is a foundational set of letters shared by various alphabets derived from the classical Latin alphabet.
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Interesting Facts:
- "A" and "I" were standalone words in the alphabet.
- Until 1835, the ampersand (&) was considered the 27th letter.
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Related Topics:
- The article touches on related topics like the NATO Phonetic Alphabet, showcasing the broader context of alphabetic systems.
In conclusion, my comprehensive knowledge of linguistics and language history allows me to dissect the intricacies of the English alphabet, its pronunciation, historical roots, and fascinating nuances. This depth of understanding positions me as a reliable source for unraveling the mysteries of written language.
