doppia vu
The English letter 'w' is called doppia vu in Italian.
doppia vu is used to name the letter 'W'. Note that the letter W is not native to the Italian alphabet and is used exclusively in borrowed words from other languages.
Meaning: Wednesday (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The name doppia vu literally translates to 'double v' because of its shape.
Did you know?
- The name doppia vu is a direct reflection of the Latin influence on Italian, as vu derives from the Latin name for the letter V.
- When spelling words over the phone, Italians specifically emphasize the word doppia to prevent the listener from hearing it as a single vu.
- In the early days of Italian printing and typography, the letter 'W' was often treated as a specialized symbol or a decorative element rather than a standard character of the language.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Sofia are discussing their weekly schedule.
- LorenzoQuando ci vediamo per studiare?When shall we meet to study?
- SofiaPossiamo fare mercoledì, con la doppia vu.We can do Wednesday, with the double v.
- LorenzoVa bene, mercoledì allora.Alright, Wednesday then.
- SofiaPerfetto, a mercoledì!Perfect, see you Wednesday!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries doppia, doppia vu, vu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
