Letter Y: Sounds, Words and How to Write It
Y is the 25th letter of the English alphabet. It comes after X and before Z. Y is a consonant, and sometimes a vowel. The capital (uppercase) letter is Y and the small (lowercase) letter is y.
How to write it · Sounds · Words · Printable sheet · Quiz · FAQ
Last updated: October 2026
Letter Y at a Glance
| Position | 25th of 26 letters |
|---|---|
| Type | Consonant, and sometimes a vowel |
| Uppercase and lowercase | Y y |
| Comes between | X and Z |
| Main sounds | y (consonant), long i (vowel), long e (vowel) |
| Strokes to write it | Capital Y: 3 · small y: 2 |
How to Write Capital Y and Small y
Follow the numbers: start each stroke at its numbered dot and move in the direction of the arrow. The blue top line, dashed middle line and red bottom line match the lines on handwriting paper.
Capital Y (3 strokes)
- Start at the top on the left. Draw a slanted line down to the middle.
- Start at the top on the right. Draw a slanted line down to meet it in the middle.
- Draw a straight line from the middle down to the bottom.
Small y (2 strokes)
- Start at the middle line on the left. Draw a short slanted line down to the right.
- Start at the middle line on the right. Draw a long slanted line down to the left, going below the bottom line.
Small y has a tail: its body sits between the middle line and the bottom line, and its tail drops below the bottom line, like g, p and y.
Common mix-up: Y can be mixed up with V (no tail) and lowercase y with g (a curved tail). Lowercase y has a long straight slanted tail.
Practice by tracing in the letter tracing game, then on paper with the Alphabet Tracing and Lowercase Letter Tracing worksheets.
Free Printable Letter Y Tracing Sheet
Print this one-page sheet for practice at home or in class. Each row starts with a solid model letter, followed by dotted letters to trace, then empty lines to write Y and y alone.
What Sound Does Y Make?
- y (consonant): at the start of a word. Examples: yak, yellow, yes, yo-yo.
- long i (vowel): at the end of short words. Examples: my, fly, sky, cry.
- long e (vowel): at the end of longer words. Examples: happy, baby, funny, puppy.
Practice the sound with pictures on Y is for Yak, which shows how to make the sound with your mouth, or match sounds on the Letter Sounds worksheet.
Words That Start With Y
Y is for Yak! Here are more Y words:
Y also appears in the middle or at the end of words: my, fly, happy, baby, boy.
Interesting Facts About Y
- Y is usually a consonant, but at the end of words like my and happy it works as a vowel.
- When Y is a vowel, it sounds like long i in short words (fly) and long e in longer words (happy).
- Y is the second-to-last letter of the alphabet.
Quick Quiz: Letter Y
Answer each question, then tap it to check.
Which letter comes right after Y?
Z.
Is y a consonant or a vowel in yellow?
A consonant.
What sound does y make at the end of happy?
A long e sound.
Activities for Parents and Teachers
In the Classroom
Hand out balls of colorful yarn and let children wrap it around their fingers while chanting "Y is for yarn!" Then taste-test yogurt together, calling out other Y words the class can think of.
At Home
Look up a picture of a yak together while saying "Y is for yak" — it's an unusual, memorable animal for young kids. Afterward, trace the letter Y on paper, pointing out its two slanted lines meeting a straight one.
Tips
Parents: Once your child knows Y as a starting consonant, point out how it changes jobs at the end of words like "happy" and "baby" — a fun stretch for kids ready for a challenge.
Teachers: Y pairs well with a "surprising animals" theme — yaks are unfamiliar to most children and make the letter memorable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number letter is Y in the alphabet?
Y is the 25th letter of the 26-letter English alphabet. It comes after X and before Z.
Is Y a vowel or a consonant?
Y is both. It is a consonant at the start of words like yes and yellow, and a vowel at the end of words like my and happy.
What sound does the letter Y make?
Y makes these sounds: y (consonant) as in yak; long i (vowel) as in my; long e (vowel) as in happy.
How do you write a small y?
Start at the middle line on the left. Draw a short slanted line down to the right. Start at the middle line on the right. Draw a long slanted line down to the left, going below the bottom line. Small y has a tail: its body sits between the middle line and the bottom line, and its tail drops below the bottom line, like g, p and y.
What are some words that start with Y?
Words that start with Y include yak, yellow, yo-yo, yogurt, yarn, yacht.
Is Y a vowel or a consonant?
Both. Y is a consonant at the start of words like yes and yellow, and a vowel at the end of words like my, fly and happy.
Summary
Y is the 25th letter of the alphabet and is a consonant, and sometimes a vowel. Its main sounds are y (consonant), long i (vowel), long e (vowel). Capital Y takes 3 strokes and small y takes 2. Next, learn the letter Z.