IJ (letter)

IJ is a letter from the Dutch alphabet used to represent the diphthong {{IPA|}} or {{IPA|}}. When unstressed, IJ is pronounced as a schwa.

Related Topics:
Dutch alphabet - Diphthong - Schwa

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To distinguish between the ij and the ei, a diphtong which in most dialects is pronounced identically, the ij is referred to as the 'long IJ' (lange ij) in the Dutch language, the ei as 'short IJ' (korte ei) or simply ei. The long name is because of the form of the letter, not because of its sound.

Related Topics:
Dialect - Dutch language

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It is different from the letter "Y", and sometimes replaces it in the Dutch alphabet. In Dutch Y only occurs in loanwords or in (variantly spelled) old Dutch, and is often called 'Griekse IJ' ('Greek Y') or 'I-grec' (the latter from French, but with the stress on grec). However, in Afrikaans, a South African language derived from Dutch, IJ has been replaced by Y.

Related Topics:
Y - French - Afrikaans - South African

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