U

Pronunciation

• IPA: /juː/
• in h-dropping dialects, hue in h-dropping dialects

• AusE IPA: /a/, /ʉː/, /ÊŠ/
• RP IPA: /ÊŒ/, /uː/, /ÊŠ/
• US IPA: /ÊŒ/, /u/, /ÊŠ/

Origin

From Middle English lower case letter v (also written u), from Old English lower case u, from 7th century replacement by lower case u of the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc letter ᚢ (u, "ur"), derived from Raetic letter u.

Before the 1700s, the pointed form v was written at the beginning of a word, while a rounded form u was used elsewhere, regardless of sound. So whereas valor and excuse appeared as in modern printing, have and upon were printed haue and vpon. Eventually, in the 1700s, to differentiate between the consonant and vowel sounds, the v form was used to represent the consonant, and u the vowel sound. v then preceded u in the alphabet, but the order has since reversed.

Full definition of u

Letter

1. I prefer the u in Arial to the one in Times New Roman.

Noun

1. A thing in the shape of the letter U

Derived terms

• u-turn
• u-bolt

Pronoun

1. (abbreviation, slang, text messaging, internet) you in text messaging and internet conversationsTake me with u.

Abbreviation

1. Underwater.

Derived terms

• u-boat (1)