Why are w and y not vowels?

Answer 1

Well, how could you pronounce bwnwnw or drwp or wdwr?
Y is sometimes used as a vowel, e.g. myth, crypt, hymn.

Answer 2

Actually, those who say categorically that w and y are not vowels are mistaken -- they're relying on a little list they learned in grade school but never quite understood, Often these two letters ARE vowel sounds. (More precisely, they are used to represent vowel sounds, since the terms "vowel" and "consonant" first of all refer to types of SOUNDS. Only secondarily do they refer to particular LETTERS.)

The source of the confusion is the fact that the letters W and Y are NOT ALWAYS used to mark vowels (as a,e,i,o and u are). They mark consonants sounds when they appear at the beginning of syllables. (Perhaps, more basically, it's because people do not understanding the point above --that "consonant" and "vowel" are first of all about SOUND-types, before they are about letters.)

In fact, Y much more often appears in the middle or end of syllables, where it marks a vowel (that is, more often than not Y is indicating a vowel sound). Originally Y was derived from the Greek letter "upsilon" [literally 'simple u'] and was used ONLY for vowel sounds.

W causes even a bit more confusion because, though it is often used for a vowel sound, in standard English it never does so alone. It is only used in compound vowels ("diphthongs") -- aw, ew, ow. (It IS used to mark the "oo" vowel sound in Scottish, e.g., the word "cwm" is pronounced "coom".)

Answer 3

They are semi-vowels .. they can act as both vowel and consonent depending on the usage.

Answer 4

y is actually sometimes a vowel

Answer 5

Why aren't A and O consonants?