Why is the abbreviation for "will not" spelled "won't"?

Answer 1

It happened something like this:

In Old and Middle English, the form of the verb changed according to whether it was used for the first, second and third person, singular and plural,etc. Many examples are found in the Oxford English Dictionary -- forms like wile, willo, uillo, will, wulle, wule, wolle, woll, and wool. "Wull" and "woll" were still in common use in the 19th century, before "will" finally competely won out as THE standard form.

For the negative English had the same basic forms --such as wynnot, wonnot, woonnot, wo'not, wonot, winnot, we'n't, willn't, willot, won't. Some of these, again, were still in use in the 19th century (Charlotte Bronte used "willn't" in an 1849 book.) But in THIS case, the form "won't" ended up winning the field.

Why? Well it is a bit easier to say (L + N is more difficult to pronounce - which is why "shall not" became "shan't"), and perhaps it was influenced by similar contracted forms, esp."don't"

Also note that an "o"-type vowel is found in another form of this verb, "would".

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mwont.html

Answer 2

there was a period when 'will' appeared as 'wol', 'woll' or 'wolle' which was especially common in the Midlands of England in the late medieval period. although the tense of the word changed to 'will', the vowel of the older tense is still used.

Answer 3

Don't ask these questions about things that the government keeps hidden! Keep the thoughts to yourself, or else they'll come and take you away from you family... FOREVER.

Answer 4

it just happens to be that way!!! special words, i'ld say... but if you think about it, it is easier to pronounce won't rather than willn't, right? haha :D