y
The letter y in Portuguese refers to the twenty-fifth letter of the English alphabet.
In Portuguese, y is used to represent the twenty-fifth letter of the English alphabet.
Which one should you use?
While the letter y is pronounced ípsilon, the Portuguese vowel i is the standard way to represent the /i/ sound in most words.
Did you know?
- The name of the letter y is ípsilon, which is derived from the Greek word for 'small u'.
- In Portuguese, y is almost exclusively used for foreign loanwords, proper names and scientific terms.
- Despite being part of the alphabet, y is categorized as a consonant in some Portuguese grammar contexts but acts as a vowel in pronunciation.
Examples in context
- Se X significa Y, o que significa Z?If X means Y, what does Z mean?This sentence is useful for showing how to use y in a logical conditional structure.Tatoeba #7854265 by Ricardo14, translation #6380245 by DostKaplan
- Quantos países começam com a letra y?How many countries have names that start with the letter "Y"?This sentence shows how to ask about the starting letter of words using y.Tatoeba #4637512 by Ricardo14, translation #3704955 by mervert1
- Originalmente o "K" não está incluído no alfabeto português, bem como o "W" e o "Y"."K" was originally not included in the Portuguese alphabet, neither were "W" and "Y".This sentence provides historical context regarding the inclusion of y in the Portuguese alphabet.Tatoeba #3997796 by Laudemilson, translation #3997215 by mervert1
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Felipe are studying the alphabet.
- BeatrizO y é usado em palavras estrangeiras.The y is used in foreign words.
- FelipeSim, como na palavra yoga.Yes, like in the word yoga.
- BeatrizO y tem um som diferente em inglês?Does the y have a different sound in English?
- FelipeSim, depende da palavra, Beatriz.Yes, it depends on the word, Beatriz.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
