Does every word in the English language contain a vowel?

Question

My friend and I have a bet. He says every word in the English language contains at least one vowel. It is my contention that I remember there being one word that exists that isn't an abreveation that doesn't contain a vowel. I want to say it was three letters long. Any English majors out there that can settle this?

Answer 1

Since you asked this in 2 categories, I'll answer in 2 categories

NTH

has no vowels.

The words given by others with 'y's have a vowel. Y is a vowel in those cases.

N is the mathematical symbol for an unspecified number, so nth means “some unspecified number” and by extension “the highest, the utmost.” It is Standard in either sense but occurs most often in the cliché to the nth degree meaning “to the greatest possible degree, to the utmost degree,” as in His musicians were rehearsed to the nth degree of polish. (Note that although the mathematical symbol is italicized, the adjective is not.)

Answer 2

I'm a linguist, and I'll settle it for you.

It depends on whether you are talking about the sound of the word or the spelling.

If you are talking about the sound, your friend is right. Every word in English (and probably any language) contains at least one vowel. This is because the smallest possible syllable in English is a vowel, such as in the word "a".

However, if you are talking about the spelling there are words that are spelled without a, e, i, o, and u, the letters typically considered to be vowels. "Rhythm" is an example. Even if you consider "sometimes y" to be a vowel, there are some words that don't have that letter. You'll see examples above. So if you are talking about spelling, you are right. Please note that these words always contain vowel sounds when pronounced.

I hope you and your friend are able to settle your discussion peaceably.

Answer 3

I'm no English major, but I've always disagreed in 'Y' being a vowel AND consonant. Therefore, I'd say 'by' doesn't have a vowel.

Answer 4

The word "why" doesn't really have any vowels although the letter y is acting as a vowel.

Answer 5

shy, fly sky, pry, try, wry, want more?

Indeed the y is acting as a vowel but it is NOT a vowel, so you win. Hope you get something good!

Answer 6

you can't have a word without a vowel sound.
although you can have words without a e i o u

w and y are sometimes considered vowels

rhythm, syzygy, cwm,

then there's: nth

Answer 7

I think the word you are looking for is "nth." It isnt considered an abbreviation. It is considered a word.

Congratulations!

Answer 8

if you don't consider Y.....rhythms,crypt, cyst, dryly, flyby, glycyl, glyph, Gypsy, hymn, jynx, lymph, lynx, myrrh, myth, nymph, psych, pygmy, rhythm, shyly, slyly, spry, spryly, Styx, sync, synth, syzygy, tryst, wryly, and xylyl.

if you do.....

nth is a word -- Relating to an unspecified ordinal number:

as is

crwth -- A stringed instrument.

Answer 9

yes

Answer 10

psst