What is a word without a vowel?

Question

There can't be a, e, i, o, u, or y and it can't be an abbreviation. It can't be slang (like shh or psst). It has to be a formal word.

I know y isn't exactly a vowel...I just need a word without y.

It's not Nth...that's slang.

Answer 1

Cwm (koom): a glacial hollow on a hillside

Crwth (krooth): a type of stringed instrument

Answer 2

In English, there can be no actual words without vowels - of course, we are not counting abbreviations or acronyms as words. This is because the vowels open up the mouth to release air, while consonants close off the air flow by definition. So a word without vowels can literally not be spoken.

Of course, there are some onomatopoeic creations like bzzz, psst, and grrr, but these are sounds, and not really words.

Thanks for remembering that Y is sometimes a vowel, along with W (seen in Welsh) and N (seen in "nth). So for all of you folks listing Welsh words, the W is the VOWEL.
There are NO words in English without a vowel.

Answer 3

English words must have a vowel. The only exception is the word Nth, which rhymes with tenth and means (according to Webster) of the indefinitely large or small quantity represented by n. It is used in the context "to the nth degree". But it is questionable as to whether this is a real word, despite its presence in the dictionary.

Rhythm does not count because y is a vowel in that context (it makes the sound of "i" in "it").

Answer 4

I have to agree with the first site listed below and the phonetic requirements of English. English phonology dictates that every syllable has a vowel _sound_. Now whether or not that sound is indicated in the orthography (written langauge) or not is another matter.

Therefore, there are not any truly vowel-less words in English unless one considers only the spelling. Even then, one would be hard pressed to find words other than "cwm" and "nth" or words with "y" as a vowel (which are more common: "by," "my," "try, " "myrrh," and "rhythm"), which your teacher has obviously ruled out.

Answer 5

Crwth:
The Crwth is an instrument which originated in Wales, about 2000 years ago; the end of its popularity began in the mid-1800s.

Crwths were originally developed from the lyre. In the early 14th century, it was given a fingerboard. Advanced crwth players could play about 24 songs.

Cwm:
A cwm, is a large basin within a mountain that sometimes contains a lake. Cwms usually have steep edges. Synonyms: cirque. Note: J. R. R. Tolkien used the spelling "coomb".

Answer 6

In English, every word must contain at least one spoken vowel in its pronunciation. However, there are a few words that do not contain a vowel letter in their written form. Traditionally, the following five letters have been regarded as vowel letters, because both in English and in most other languages they typically represent vowel sounds: a, e, i, o, u. However, in English, y has a double role, as it can sometimes represent a consonant (IPA [j]), as in yes, and sometimes a vowel, as in fly.

Answer 7

In English, there are words that have no vowel letter in their written form which are abbreviations or mathematical expressions, such as km or nth.

And then there are several onomatopoeia words, such as psst, tsk, Shhhh!!! , hmmmmm, Mmmmmm.

The CRWTH is an instrument which originated in Wales, about 2000 years ago; the end of its popularity began in the mid-1800s.


A CWM is a large basin within a mountain that sometimes contains a lake. Cwms usually have steep edges.

Two-letter words:
HM intj. expressing thought
MM intj. expressing satisfaction
SH intj. used to urge silence

Three-letter words:
BRR intj. used to indicate coldness
CWM circular basin with steep walls
HMM intj. expressing thought
NTH pert. to item number n
PHT intj. used as an expression of mild anger or annoyance
SHH intj. used to urge silence
TSK to utter a scolding exclamation

Four-letter words:
PSST intj. used to attract someone's attention

Five-letter words:
CRWTH Gaelic musical instrument

PLAY A GAME with words containing no vowels...not even the letter 'Y'" at : http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz117099d69f30.html

Answer 8

A word without a vowel is probably Welsh!
Have you ever seen the names of some of those towns in Wales?

Answer 9

Actually, psst-to get someones attention and so is tsk-to shame are both listed in the dictionary. If you consider y not to be a vowel the possibilities certainly grow.

Answer 10

nth, as in the nth degree. It is considered a word in English.

tsk, a sound of disapproval. This is considered an onomatopoeia word in English.

psst is also a onomatopoeia word.