When is a vowel Y?

Answer 1

Y is a vowel when makes a syllable or completes a diphthong.

Y is a vowel in the words rhythm, system, syllable, mystery, and cyst. Here it takes the place of the vowels E and I. In the word "boy" it creates a diphthong (oi), so it is a vowel. Y is considered a consonant only when it appears at the start of a syllable where there is another vowel (yam, yet), creating the "yuh" sound.

In the word player, the "yuh" sound is heard, so Y is a consonant. Less clear are the words "day" and "obey" where the "silent Y" may be considered either a consonant or a vowel.

Answer 2

a vowel is y when there is no a,e,i,o,or u in the sentence for example the word by