How Many Letters in the Alphabet
26 letters in the English alphabet
⚡Quick Answer
26 letters: A-Z. 5 vowels (A, E, I, O, U), 21 consonants. E is the most common letter. Y can be a vowel or consonant.
Step-by-Step Guide
The Quick Answer
The English alphabet has 26 letters: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z.
Vowels and Consonants
5 vowels: A, E, I, O, U. 21 consonants: All the rest. (Y is sometimes counted as a vowel too.)
Most Common Letters
E is the most common letter in English. Order: E, T, A, O, I, N, S, H, R. 'Z' and 'Q' are least common.
Other Alphabets
Spanish: 27 letters (includes Ñ). Italian: 21 letters. Russian: 33 letters. Arabic: 28 letters.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the 26-letter alphabet established?
The modern 26-letter English alphabet was standardized in the 19th century when J and U were added as distinct letters.
What's the origin of the alphabet?
The English alphabet comes from Latin, which came from Greek, which came from Phoenician (around 1050 BC).
Why is 'W' called 'double-U'?
In Old English, 'UU' was used for the 'W' sound. It's literally a double U, though it looks like double V now.