Is rhythms the longest proper(english language) word without a vowel?

Comments

• *Sometimes Y
  
  So this is ALMOST the word with no vowles.

  • Report
  

  by TenSixths on October 24th, 2011

• No, I think that "Y" is ALMOST a vowel ;-)

  • Report
  

  by Galeanda on October 24th, 2011

• A "y" is not a vowel, so it seems that "rhythms" with the 's' is the longest one so far.

  • Report
  

  by Unicorn Man on November 24th, 2011

Comments

• Strewth a crwth! Is that the truth?

  • Report
  

  by Unicorn Man on November 24th, 2011

• :):)

  • Report
  

  by The Chief on November 25th, 2011

Comments

• I'll give you three stars for that - but it's still shorter than "rhythms" :)

  • Report
  

  by Unicorn Man on November 24th, 2011

• Nods. Maybe I should have tied by going with syzygy's >.>

  • Report
  

  by Violette on November 24th, 2011

• Haha that'd do it, and here's your three stars * * *

  • Report
  

  by Unicorn Man on November 24th, 2011

• Although I do wonder if apostrophised words count? I can't really see why not, yes it's something belonging to a syzygy...
  
  ...syzygy's - I believe we do indeed have a tie!

  • Report
  

  by Unicorn Man on November 24th, 2011

• 

  • Report
  

  by Unicorn Man on November 24th, 2011

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

• How is it possible to pronounce that?

  • Report
  

  by Andy B has left AB on October 24th, 2011

• In Czech :-)

  • Report
  

  by 23Skidoo on October 24th, 2011

• No, I mean, how is it possible to pronounce the words without vowels? In English words like "rhythm", we pronounce the "y" as if it was a vowel. Those Czech words have nothing in them to serve as a vowel.

  • Report
  

  by Andy B has left AB on October 25th, 2011

• I know what you meant but unfortunately you'll have to find a Czech speaker to help with that. I don't know how to convey pronunciation in written form :-)

  • Report
  

  by 23Skidoo on October 25th, 2011

• I knew someone once with a last name of Grzyb, she wrote a book called the Nice Factor which I did a workshop for in London. I asked her how it was pronounced, it was something like gru-zib.

  • Report
  

  by Unicorn Man on November 24th, 2011

• It could be. I know that some Slavic pronunciations get vowel sounds added for English speakers because y'all just can't fathom a string of consonants without them :-)

  • Report
  

  by 23Skidoo on November 24th, 2011

Comments

• Oh, OK. There's a little thing that kids in America learn in schools, or at least used to - I forget exactly how it goes, but it's like A - E - I - O - U and sometimes Y is a vowel, too. For example, y functions as the vowel in the words "myth" and "hymn". It's a consonant in "beyond". It's about sound. Here's an explanation, http://tinyurl.com/cuawv

  • Report
  

  by Jodie44 on March 7th, 2007

• I love tiny url. It's just wonderful:)

  • Report
  

  by Jodie44 on March 7th, 2007

• The mnemonic phrase went "A - E - I - O - U, and sometimes Y and W." And then our teachers would have to explain that in Welsh, W could actually be a vowel. [Alternately, they would explain that 'ow' was a vowel, as in 'cow'. I never bought it.] But certainly, Y serves both 'consonant' and 'vowel' roles in English, sort of like how C and G can have both 'hard' and 'soft' sounds.

  • Report
  

  by gochi-s on March 19th, 2007

• Technically "y" is not a vowel, despite what they may teach kids in school.

  • Report
  

  by Unicorn Man on November 24th, 2011

Comments

• If syzygy has the same number of letters as rhythm, why is it in second place? Wouldn't it be tied for first?

  • Report
  

  by AB-Joel on March 7th, 2007

• What does it mean?

  • Report
  

  by oldmanuk on March 7th, 2007

• Ah yes, good point! Silly plurals.

  • Report
  

  by AB-Joel on March 7th, 2007

• Although maybe like Scarlet Rakoczy suggested it could tie for first place by using the apostrophised form: syzygy's
  
  As in a characteristic of a syzygy, e.g. "The syzygy's main features are..."

  • Report
  

  by Unicorn Man on November 24th, 2011

Comments

• Is that it

  • Report
  

  by oldmanuk on March 7th, 2007

• no, nevets has another one for you

  • Report
  

  by anonymous on March 7th, 2007

Comments

• Sure there can be:
  
  By, why, cry, rhythms...
  
  The letter "y" is not a vowel. The "sometimes vowel" idea is just a method to teach kids at school. There are only five vowels, A, E, I, O and U.

  • Report
  

  by Unicorn Man on November 24th, 2011

• Hmm damn you school damn you. :)

  • Report
  

  by drweet on November 28th, 2011

• LOL!!! You're from the school of ROCK Dr Weet! :D

  • Report
  

  by Unicorn Man on November 28th, 2011

• Lol! Thanks. :)

  • Report
  

  by drweet on November 28th, 2011

Comments

• That's a long "word" for a short girl, but I don't think reciting the alphabet minus the vowels quite cuts it! Nice try though - hehe ;)

  • Report
  

  by Unicorn Man on November 24th, 2011

• I'm short physically not mentally lol

  • Report
  

  by ShortGirl1990 on November 25th, 2011

• Oh I know, just trying to have a larf :)

  • Report
  

  by Unicorn Man on November 26th, 2011