🔤 Phonics Friday! 🔤 The Letter Y The letter Y can be very tricky for young readers. It can act as a consonant or a vowel, and it can make different vowel sounds. Here are some answers to the most common questions about the letter Y. When is Y a consonant? Y is a consonant when it is at the beginning of a syllable, as in yellow, yarn, or beyond. When is Y a vowel? In any other position, Y will operate as a vowel letter. Y is a vowel when it’s at the middle or end of a syllable, as in shy, happy