Why is W called Double-U and not Double-V? Just look at it!?

Question

Just curious about the origin of a letter's name.

Answer 1

English uses the Latin alphabet of the Romans. However, this had no letter suitable for representing the phoneme /w/ which was used in Old English, though phonetically the sound represented by /v/ was quite close. In the 7th century scribes wrote uu for /w/; later they used the runic symbols known as wynn. European scribes had continued to write uu, and this usage returned to England with the Norman Conquest in 1066. Early printers sometimes used vv for lack of a w in their type. Hence how it looks now....

Answer 2

I think this is to do with a change in the way people do handwriting. When I was at school - many many years ago! - we used "cursive" handwriting, and a w was written like 2 u s joined together.

Answer 3

In French too, it's called 'double v' = double vee.

Answer 4

because W came before V so it wasnt made up yet and the closest resmebling thing was probably a horse shoe....just kidding i have no idea its pretty funny though

Answer 5

In Spain its called double-V (v doble).

Answer 6

In portuguese its duplo vee meaning double V - - - ha-a-a-a-a-ah

Answer 7

coz ppl were dum those days and thought theyll think of somert unique!more lyk confusing 2 me

Answer 8

you should get an award for pointing that out! i've never realised that! WOW!

Answer 9

A good question

Answer 10

more funy, no more T in word "pizza" but how do you rear?