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W phoneme /w/
/w/ is a consonant phoneme that occurs in English as one of the standard phonemes.[1]
Naming[edit | edit source]
Like other phonemes, the name of this is unclear. It may be referred to as the W phoneme after the letter W, but that doesn’t actually contain /w/. An alternative is wuh after its sound when initial.
Classification[edit | edit source]
This can be classified as consonant phoneme > approximant phoneme.
Representation[edit | edit source]
In phonemic notation using the International Phonetic Alphabet, the W phoneme is represented by lowercase W, ⟨w⟩ as its IPA symbol. This has the IPA number 170. In SAMPA and X-SAMPA, w is also used. In IPA Braille, ⠺ (1345) is used, which is also used for letter W in standard Braille.
Phonotactics[edit | edit source]
/w/ can only form part of the syllabic onset.
/w/ forms the final element of many initial consonant clusters, these being:
- Initial consonant cluster /dw/
- Initial consonant cluster /gw/
- Initial consonant cluster /kw/
- Initial consonant cluster /skw/
- Initial consonant cluster /sw/
- Initial consonant cluster /tw/
- Initial consonant cluster /ʃw/
- Initial consonant cluster /θw/
Pronunciation[edit | edit source]
This one is reliably pronounced as a voiced labio-velar approximant, [w].
Spelling[edit | edit source]
Spelling is as ⟨w⟩ (consonant monograph). ⟨wh⟩ is also often /w/ — but see the marginal Wh phoneme /(h)w/.
| Phonogram | Example words | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ⟨w⟩ (consonant monograph) | dwell, dwarf, Gwen, Gwyneth, Schwa, sweet, switch, swing, swung, swoon, thwart, thwack, twice, twinkle, twee, waddle, waffle, wail, wait, wake, walk, wall, waltz, wander, wane, want, war, ward, warm, warn, warp, wasp, waste, watch, water, wave, wax, way, weak, wealth, weave, wed, weed, weep, weird, welcome, weld, well, west, wet, wide, wig, wild, will, win, wind, wine, wing, wink, wipe, wise, wish, wobble, wolf, wonder, woo, wood, wool, word, work, worm, worry, worse, worst, worth, wound | |
| ⟨wh⟩ | everywhere, lilywhite, nowhere, overwhelm, pinwheel, underwhelm, whack, whale, what, wham, whammy, wharf, wheat, wheedle, wheel, wheeze, whelk, whelp, when, whenever, whence, where, wherever, wherry, whet, whether, whey, Whig, which, whiff, whiffle, white, while, whilst, whim, whimper, whimsical, whimsy, whine, whinge, whinny, whisker, whiskey, whisky, whisper, whip, whipper-snapper, whippet, whirl, whir, whirr, whisk, whist, whistle, whit, white, whither, whitlow, Whitsun, whittle, Whitworth, whizz, whoa, whomp, whoopee, whoops, whoosh, whortleberry, whop, whump, why, why, whyever, whydah | Alternatively, Wh phoneme /(h)w/ |
| ⟨qu⟩ as /kw/ | quack, quad, quadrangle, quadrant, quadrilateral, quadruple, quagmire, quail, quaint, quake, qualification, qualify, quality, qualm, quantity, quantum, quarantine, quarry, quart, quarter, quartet, quartz, quash, quasi, quaver, queen, queer, quell, quench, query, quest, question, quick, quiet, quill, quilt, quirk, quit, quite, quiz, quorum, quota, quotation, quote, quotient, squad, squalid, squall, squalor, squamous, square, squash, squat, squawk, squeak, squeal, squeamish, squeegee, squeeze, squib, squid, squiggle, squint, squire, squirm, squirt, squish | |
| ⟨su⟩ as /sw/ | suave, suite, persuade, persuasion | |
| ⟨cu⟩ as /kw/ | cuisine | |
| ⟨oir⟩ as /wɑ:(r)/ | abattoir, boudoir, memoir, noir, reservoir | From French. |
| ⟨oire⟩ as /wɑ:(r)/ | conservatoire, repertoire | Variant of ⟨oir⟩ |
| ⟨oir⟩ as /waɪ(j)ə(r)/ | choir | |
| ⟨ois⟩ as /wɑ:/ | bourgeois, Stella Artois | |
| ⟨oa⟩ as /wɑ:/ | quinoa | |
| ⟨r⟩ as /w/ | croissant /kwasɒ̃/ |
Otherwise, w often appears in vowel phonograms, particularly after a vowel, e.g. ⟨aw⟩, ⟨ew⟩, ⟨ow⟩, etc. These do not code for /w/.
Pedagogy[edit | edit source]
EFL learners may confuse /w/ with /v/.
