Cwm

Cwm, pronounced “koom.” Why? Because it is the only English word without a vowel. It means “valley.” Grand, isn’t it?

Tim Nayar

Bill Forst

May 2, 2009 at 12:36 am

I believe it is adopted from Welsh.
Elmo Leon

December 25, 2009 at 3:59 am

there’s a big mistake here!
it’s not the only English word without a vowel.
what about sky, spy, sly, fly, try etc.?
ruthie

January 9, 2010 at 11:54 pm

elmo, y is used as a vowel in many, many words. haven’t you ever heard “A, E, I, O, U and sometimes Y”?
John Darrow

June 4, 2010 at 8:42 pm

Let’s add twp, crwth, cwtch, and hwyl as other words with W as a vowel.
Don Fallick

June 23, 2010 at 2:45 am

Each of the three statements in your very brief post is not quite right. It’s kyoom, it does contain a vowel– w, and it’s more of a bowl than a valley. See my lengthy post for details. And yes, it does come from Welsh, which regularly uses w for a vowel.