| The reason why we have different names for vowels and consonants is because they have different functions in our language. Vowels differ from consonants because for the most part they can make sounds on their own. Consonants, on the other hand, are very hard to make sounds with by themselves and need to be paired with vowels in order to make intelligible syllables.
Y can symbolize a few different sounds, some that function as a vowel and some that function as a consonant. If you say the word out loud and the y has that "yuh" kind of sound, as in "yellow", then it is a consonant. But if you say it out loud and it sounds more like an "i" or an "e", as in "thy", then it is being used as a vowel.
You can say y isn't a vowel, but whether you call it one or not, you probably use it as one on a daily basis (especially if you're using words like 'daily'). |
Vowel States 
All Five Vowels 
Y No Vowels?
