Editing Y (section)

==Use in writing systems==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+ Pronunciation of {{angbr|y}} by language
! Orthography
! Phonemes
|-
! [[Afrikaans alphabet|Afrikaans]]
| {{IPA|/əi/}}
|-
! [[Albanian orthography|Albanian]]
| {{IPAslink|y}}
|-
! [[Alemannic German|Alemannic]]
| {{IPAslink|iː}}
|-
! [[Azerbaijani alphabet|Azerbaijani]]
| {{IPAslink|j}}
|-
! [[Chamorro alphabet|Chamorro]]
| {{IPAslink|d͡z}}
|-
! {{nwr|[[Standard Chinese]]}} ([[pinyin]])
| {{IPAslink|j}}
|-
! [[Cornish orthography|Cornish]]
| {{IPAslink|i}}, {{IPAslink|ɪ}}, {{IPAslink|j}}
|-
! [[Czech orthography|Czech]]
| {{IPAslink|i}}
|-
! [[Danish orthography|Danish]]
| {{IPAslink|y}}, {{IPAslink|ʏ}}
|-
! [[Dutch orthography|Dutch]]
| {{IPA|/ɛi/}}, {{IPAslink|i}}, {{IPAslink|ɪ}}, {{IPAslink|j}}
|-
! [[English orthography|English]]
| {{IPAslink|ɪ}}, {{IPA|/aɪ/}}, {{IPAslink|i}}, {{IPAslink|ə}}, {{IPAslink|ɜː}}, {{IPA|/aɪə/}}, {{IPAslink|j}}
|-
! [[Faroese orthography|Faroese]]
| {{IPAslink|i}}
|-
! [[Finnish orthography|Finnish]]
| {{IPAslink|y}}
|-
! [[German orthography|German]]
| {{IPAslink|y}}, {{IPAslink|ʏ}}, {{IPAslink|j}}
|-
! [[Guarani alphabet|Guarani]]
| {{IPAslink|ɨ}}
|-
! [[Icelandic orthography|Icelandic]]
| {{IPAslink|ɪ}}
|-
! [[Khasi language|Khasi]]
| {{IPAslink|ʔ}}
|-
! [[Lithuanian orthography|Lithuanian]]
| {{IPAslink|iː}}
|-
! [[Malagasy alphabet|Malagasy]]
| {{IPAslink|i}}
|-
! [[Manx orthography|Manx]]
| {{IPAslink|ə}}
|-
! [[Norwegian orthography|Norwegian]]
| {{IPAslink|y}}, {{IPAslink|ʏ}}
|-
! [[Polish orthography|Polish]]
| {{IPAslink|ɨ}}
|-
! [[Slovak orthography|Slovak]]
| {{IPAslink|i}}
|-
! [[Spanish orthography|Spanish]]
| {{IPAslink|ʝ}}
|-
! [[Swedish orthography|Swedish]]
| {{IPAslink|y}}, {{IPAslink|ʏ}}, {{IPAslink|j}}
|-
! [[Turkish alphabet|Turkish]]
| {{IPAslink|j}}
|-
! [[Turkmen orthography|Turkmen]]
| {{IPAslink|ɯ}}
|-
! [[Uzbek alphabet|Uzbek]]
| {{IPAslink|j}}
|-
! [[Vietnamese orthography|Vietnamese]]
| {{IPAslink|i}}
|-
! [[Welsh orthography|Welsh]]
| {{IPAslink|ɨ̞}} or {{IPAslink|ɪ}}, {{IPAslink|ɨː}} or {{IPAslink|iː}}, {{IPAslink|ə}}, {{IPAslink|ə}} or {{IPAslink|əː}}
|}   

===English===
As {{IPAc-en|j}}:
* at the beginning of a word, as in ''yes''
* at the beginning of a syllable before a vowel, as in ''beyond'', ''lawyer'', ''canyon''
As {{IPAc-en|aɪ}}:
* under stress in an open syllable, as in ''my'', ''type'', ''rye'', ''lying'', ''pyre'', ''tyre'', ''typhoon''
* in a stressed open syllable, as in ''hyphen'', ''cycle'', ''cylon''
* in a pretonic open syllable, as in ''hypothesis'', ''psychologist''
* word-finally after a consonant in some words, such as ''ally'', ''unify''
As {{IPAc-en|i}}:
* without stress at the end of multi-syllable word, as in ''happy'', ''baby'', ''lucky'', ''accuracy''
* used as a part of the [[digraph (orthography)|digraph]] {{angbr|ey}} at the end of some words, as in ''money'', ''key'', ''valley''
As non-syllabic {{IPA|[ɪ̯]}} (part of the [[diphthong]]s {{IPAc-en|eɪ}}, {{IPAc-en|ɔɪ}}):
* after vowels at the end of words, as in ''play'', ''grey'', ''boy''
As {{IPAc-en|ɪ}}:
* in a closed syllable without stress and with stress as in ''myth'', ''system'', ''gymnastics''
* in a closed syllable under stress as in ''typical'', ''lyric''
* in an open syllable without stress as in ''physique'', ''oxygen''
Other:
* combining with {{angbr|r}} as {{IPAc-en|ɜːr}} under stress (like {{angbr|i}} in ''bird''), as in ''myrtle'', ''myrrh''
* as {{IPAc-en|ə}} ([[schwa]]) in words like ''martyr''

In [[English language|English]] [[morphology (linguistics)|morphology]], ''-y'' is an [[adjective|adjectival]] suffix.

Y is the [[Letter frequency|ninth least frequently used letter]] in the English language (after [[P]], [[B]], [[V]], [[K]], [[J]], [[X]], [[Q]], and [[Z]]), with a frequency of about 2% in words.

===Other languages===
[[File:Pronouciation_of_Y.png|thumb|Pronunciation of written {{angbr|y}} in European languages (Actual pronunciation may vary)]]
{{angbr|y}} represents the sounds {{IPA|/y/}} or {{IPA|/ʏ/}} (sometimes long) in the [[Scandinavian language]]s. In [[Danish language|Danish]] and [[Swedish language|Swedish]], its use as a semivowel is limited to [[loanword]]s, whereas in [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], it appears as a semivowel in native words such as ''høyre'' {{IPA|/²hœʏ̯.rə/}}.

[[File:2024-05 Uitrit vrijlaten Dutch sign ZvD.jpg|thumb|Dutch sign written with ''UITRIT VRIJLATEN'', "keep exit clear". Y is traditionally used for IJ because it looks similar in [[Cursive|cursive writing]].]]
In [[Dutch language|Dutch]] and [[German language|German]], {{angbr|y}} appears only in [[loanword]]s and [[proper name]]:
* In Dutch, it usually represents {{IPA|/i/}}. It may sometimes be left out of the [[Dutch alphabet]] and replaced with the {{angbr|[[IJ (digraph)|ij]]}} digraph, representing the diphthong {{IPA |[ɛi]}}. In addition, {{angbr|y}} and {{angbr|ÿ}} are occasionally used instead of Dutch {{angbr|IJ}} and {{angbr|ij}}, although this spelling is archaic.
* In [[German orthography]], the pronunciation {{IPA|/yː/}} has taken hold since the 19th century in classical loanwords – for instance in words like ''typisch'' {{IPA|/ˈtyːpɪʃ/}} 'typical', ''Hyäne'', ''Hysterie'', ''mysteriös'', ''Syndrom'', ''System'', and ''Typ''. It is also used for the sound {{IPA|/j/}} in loanwords, such as ''Yacht'' (variation spelling: '''''J'''acht''), ''Yak'', and ''Yeti''. However, ''yo-yo'' is spelled "'''''J'''o-'''J'''o''" in German, and ''yoghurt''/''yogurt''/''yoghourt'' is "'''''J'''oghurt''". The letter {{angbr|y}} is also used in many geographical names, e.g. ''Bayern'' Bavaria, ''Ägypten'' Egypt, ''Libyen'' Libya, ''Paraguay'', ''Syrien'' Syria, ''Uruguay'', and ''Zypern'' Cyprus (but '''''J'''emen'' for ''Yemen'' and '''''J'''ugoslawien'' for ''Yugoslavia''). Especially in German names, the pronunciations {{IPA|/iː/}} or {{IPA|/ɪ/}} occur as well; for instance, in the name ''[[Meyer (surname)|Meyer]]'', where it serves as a variant of {{angbr|i}}, {{Cf.}}''[[Meier (surname)|Meier]]'', another common spelling of the name. In German, the y is preserved in the plural form of some loanwords such as ''Bab'''y'''s'', 'bab'''ie'''s' and ''Part'''y'''s'', 'part'''ie'''s'.

A {{angbr|y}} that derives from the {{angbr|ij}} ligature occurs in the [[Afrikaans language]], a descendant of Dutch, and in [[Alemannic German]] names. In Afrikaans, it denotes the diphthong {{IPA|[əi]}}. In Alemannic German names, it denotes long {{IPA|/iː/}}, for instance in ''[[Schnyder]]'' {{IPA|de-CH|ˈʃniːdər|}} or ''[[Schwyz]]'' {{IPA|de|ʃviːts|}} – the cognate non-Alemannic German names ''[[Schneider (surname)|Schneider]]'' {{IPA|de-CH|ˈʃnaɪdər|}} or ''[[Schweiz]]'' {{IPA|de|ʃvaɪts|}} have the diphthong {{IPA|/aɪ/}} that developed from long {{IPA|/iː/}}.

In [[Hungarian orthography]], y is only used in the digraphs "gy", "ly", "ny", "ty", in some surnames (e.g. ''Bátory''), and in foreign words.

In [[Icelandic orthography|Icelandic writing system]], due to the loss of the Old Norse rounding of the vowel {{IPA|/y/}}, the letters {{angbr|y}} and {{angbr|ý}} are now pronounced identically to the letters {{angbr|i}} and {{angbr|í}}, namely as {{IPA|/ɪ/}} and  {{IPA|/i/}} respectively. The difference in spelling is thus purely etymological. In [[Faroese language|Faroese]], too, the contrast has been lost, and {{angbr|y}} is always pronounced {{IPA|/i/}}, whereas the accented versions {{angbr|ý}} and {{angbr|í}} designate the same diphthong {{IPA|/ʊi/}} (shortened to {{IPA|/u/}} in some environments). In both languages, it can also form part of diphthongs such as {{angbr|ey}} (in both languages), pronounced {{IPA|/ei/}}, and {{angbr|oy}}, pronounced {{IPA|/ɔi/}} (Faroese only).

In [[French orthography]], {{angbr|y}} is pronounced as {{IPA|[i]}} when a vowel (as in the words ''cycle'', ''y'') and as {{IPA|[j]}} as a consonant (as in ''yeux'', ''voyez''). It alternates orthographically with {{angbr|i}} in the conjugations of some verbs, indicating a {{IPA|[j]}} sound. In most cases when {{angbr|y}} follows a vowel, it modifies the pronunciation of the vowel: {{angbr|ay}} {{IPA|[ɛ]}}, {{angbr|oy}} {{IPA|[wa]}}, {{angbr|uy}} {{IPA|[ɥi]}}. The letter {{angbr|y}} has double function (modifying the vowel as well as being pronounced as {{IPA|[j]}} or {{IPA|[i]}}) in the words ''payer'', ''balayer'', ''moyen'', ''essuyer'', ''pays'', etc., but in some words it has only a single function: {{IPA|[j]}} in ''bayer'', ''mayonnaise'', ''coyote''; modifying the vowel at the end of proper names like ''Chardonnay'' and ''Fourcroy''. In French, {{angbr|y}} can have a [[Diaeresis (diacritic)|diaeresis]] (''tréma'') as in [[Moÿ-de-l'Aisne]].
[[File:Santiago de Parada, Nigrán, YGLESIA DE REFVGIO 1835.jpg|thumb|This church at [[Nigrán]], Spain, is labeled as {{lang|es-ES|YGLESIA DE REFVGIO}}. It would be {{lang|es|iglesia de refugio}} ("[[sanctuary]] church") in modern orthography.|alt=A niche with a white statue of Saint James. Under it, the top of a gate is visible. On it is engraved "YGLESIA DE REFVGIO"]]
In [[Spanish orthography|Spanish]], {{angbr|y}} was used as a word-initial form of {{angbr|i}} that was more visible. (German has used {{angbr|j}} in a similar way.) Hence, {{lang|es|[[yoke and arrows|el yugo y las flechas]]}} was a symbol sharing the initials of [[Isabella I of Castille]] ({{lang|osp|Ysabel}}) and [[Ferdinand II of Aragon]]. This spelling was reformed by the [[Royal Spanish Academy]] and currently is only found in proper names spelled archaically, such as [[Ybarra]] or [[CYII]], the symbol of the {{lang|es-ES|[[Canal de Isabel II]]}}. Appearing alone as a word, the letter {{angbr|y}} is a [[grammatical conjunction]] with the meaning "[[Conjunction (grammar)|and]]" in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and is pronounced {{IPA|/i/}}. As a consonant, {{angbr|y}} represents {{IPAblink|ʝ}} in Spanish. The letter is called {{lang|es-ES|i/y griega}}, literally meaning "Greek I", after the Greek letter [[ypsilon]], or {{lang|es|ye}}.

In [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], {{angbr|y}} (called ''ípsilon'' in [[Brazil]], and either ''ípsilon'' or ''i grego'' in [[Portugal]]) was, together with {{angbr|k}} and {{angbr|w}}, recently reintroduced as the 25th letter, and 19th consonant, of the [[Portuguese alphabet]], in consequence of the [[Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement of 1990]]. It is mostly used in loanwords from English, [[Japanese language|Japanese]] and Spanish. Loanwords in general, primarily [[gallicism]]s in both varieties, are more common in [[Brazilian Portuguese]] than in [[European Portuguese]]. It was always common for Brazilians to stylize [[Tupi language|Tupi]]-influenced names of their children with the letter (which is present in most Romanizations of [[Old Tupi]]) e.g. Guaracy, Jandyra, Mayara – though placenames and loanwords derived from indigenous origins had the letter substituted for {{angbr|[[i]]}} over time e.g. ''Nictheroy'' became ''[[Niterói]]''. Usual pronunciations are {{IPAslink|i}}, {{IPAblink|j}}, {{IPAblink|ɪ}} and {{IPAslink|ɯ|ɨ}} (the two latter ones are inexistent in European and Brazilian Portuguese varieties respectively, being both substituted by {{IPAslink|i}} in other dialects). The letters {{angbr|[[i]]}} and {{angbr|y}} are regarded as phonemically not dissimilar, though the first corresponds to a vowel and the latter to a consonant, and both can correspond to a [[semivowel]] depending on its place in a word.

[[Italian language|Italian]], too, has {{angbr|y}} (''ipsilon'') in a small number of loanwords. The letter is also common in some surnames native to the German-speaking province of Bolzano, such as Mayer or Mayr.

In [[Guaraní language|Guaraní]], it represents the vowel {{IPAblink|ɨ}}.

In [[Polish language|Polish]], it represents the vowel {{IPAblink|ɘ}} (or, according to some descriptions, {{IPAblink|ɨ̞}}), which contrasts with {{IPAblink|i}}, e.g. ''my'' (we) and ''mi'' (me). No native Polish word begins with {{angbr|y}}; very few foreign words keep {{angbr|y}} at the beginning, e.g. ''yeti'' (pronounced {{IPA|[ˈjɛtʲi]}}).

In [[Czech language|Czech]] and [[Slovak language|Slovak]], the distinction between the vowels expressed by {{angbr|y}} and {{angbr|i}}, as well as by  {{angbr|ý}} and {{angbr|í}} has been lost (similarly to Icelandic and Faroese), but the consonants ''d, t, n'' (also ''l'' in Slovak) before orthographic (and historical) {{angbr|y}} are not palatalized, whereas they are before {{angbr|i}}. Therefore, {{angbr|y}} is called ''tvrdé y'' (hard y), while {{angbr|i}} is ''měkké i'' (soft i). {{angbr|ý}} can never begin any word, while {{angbr|y}} can never begin a native word. 

In [[Welsh language|Welsh]], it is usually pronounced {{IPAblink|ə}} in non-final syllables and {{IPAblink|ɨ}} or {{IPAblink|i}} (depending on the accent) in final syllables.

In the [[Standard Written Form]] of the [[Cornish Language]], it represents the {{IPAblink|ɪ}} and {{IPAblink|ɪː}} of [[Revived Middle Cornish]] and the {{IPAblink|ɪ}} and {{IPAblink|iː}} of [[Revived Late Cornish]]. It can also represent [[Tudor Cornish|Tudor]] and Revived Late Cornish {{IPAblink|ɛ}} and {{IPAblink|eː}} and consequently be replaced in writing with {{angbr|e}}. It is also used in forming a number of [[Standard Written Form#Diphthongs|diphthongs]]. As a consonant it represents {{IPAblink|j}}.

In [[Danish language|Danish]], [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], [[Swedish language|Swedish]], [[Finnish language|Finnish]], [[Karelian language|Karelian]] and [[Albanian language|Albanian]], {{angbr|y}} is always pronounced {{IPAblink|y}}.

In [[Estonian language|Estonian]], {{angbr|y}} is used in foreign proper names and is pronounced as in the source language. It is also unofficially used as a substitute for {{angbr|ü}} and is pronounced the same as in [[Finnish language|Finnish]].

In [[Lithuanian Language|Lithuanian]], {{angbr|y}} is the 15th letter (following {{angbr|į}} and preceding {{angbr|j}} in the alphabet) and is a vowel. It is called ''the long i'' and is pronounced {{IPA|/iː/}}, like in English ''see''.

When used as a vowel in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]], the letter {{angbr|y}} represents the sound {{IPA|/i/}}; when it is a monophthong, it is functionally equivalent to the Vietnamese letter {{angbr|i}}. There have been efforts to replace all such uses with {{angbr|y}} altogether, but they have been largely unsuccessful. As a consonant, it represents the [[palatal approximant]]. The capital letter {{angbr|Y}} is also used in Vietnamese as a [[given name]].

In [[Aymara language|Aymara]], [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]]/[[Malaysian language|Malaysian]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]], [[Quechua languages|Quechua]] and the [[romanization of Japanese]], ⟨y⟩ is always a [[palatal consonant]], denoting {{IPAblink|j}}, as in English.

In [[Malagasy language|Malagasy]], the letter {{angbr|y}} represents the final variation of {{IPA|/ɨ/}}.

In [[Turkmen language|Turkmen]], {{angbr|y}} represents {{IPAblink|ɯ}}.

In [[Washo language|Washo]], lower-case {{angbr|y}} represents a typical wye sound, while upper-case {{angbr|Y}} represents a [[Voicelessness|voiceless]] wye sound, a bit like the consonant in English ''hue''.

===Other systems===
In the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]], {{angbr IPA|y}} corresponds to the [[close front rounded vowel]], and the related character {{angbr IPA|ʏ}} corresponds to the [[near-close near-front rounded vowel]].