From 'I Griega' to 'Ye': The Evolution of the Spanish 'Y' and RAE's Recommendation

The Spanish language, rich in history, has seen numerous changes in its grammar, spelling, and pronunciation. A particularly interesting aspect is how we name the letters of the alphabet. The letter "y" has been a subject of debate for years due to its traditional name, "i griega" [ˈi ˈɣɾjeɣa] (Greek i). While widely used for generations, its use is considered unnecessary and potentially confusing. From childhood, we were taught to call the letter "y" as "i griega" to differentiate it from "i", also known as "i latina" [ˈi laˈtina] (Latin i). However, the Real Academia Española (RAE) [reˈal akaˈðemja espaˈɲola] (Royal Spanish Academy) recommends calling it "ye" [ˈʝe] instead. This shift requires understanding the origin of this nomenclature, its implications for language learning, and the arguments supporting the adoption of "ye". Historically, the Spanish alphabet has been influenced by Latin and Greek. The letter "Y" was incorporated with influences from the Greek alphabet, where it represented a vowel sound similar to "u". Hence, its traditional name "i griega". This name stems from its form and sound resembling "i", but originating from Greek, not Latin. The adjective "griega" was added to avoid confusion. This name was passed down through centuries and became part of formal language education. However, Spanish adopted a more consonantal use of "y" in words like "yo" [ˈʝo] (I), "yema" [ˈʝema] (yolk), or "ayuda" [aˈʝuða] (help). This change in pronunciation and function made its relation to "i" less evident, diminishing the relevance of the "i griega" distinction. In an effort to simplify the language, the RAE has promoted "ye" as the official name for "y". This change isn't new; unifying terminology in Spanish education has been underway for decades. The Orthography of 2010 officially established "ye" as the correct way to refer to this letter. The main reason behind this recommendation is linguistic clarity. Calling "y" as "ye" avoids confusion with "i", especially for Spanish learners. Using "ye" facilitates alphabet teaching and word pronunciation. This change reinforces how "y" is used in Spanish. In most cases, it functions as a consonant, similar to "ll" [ʎ] in some regions, as in "ayer" [aˈʝeɾ] (yesterday), "yo", or "yegua" [ˈʝeɣwa] (mare). When it acts as a vowel, it appears in diphthongs at the end of words like "rey" [ˈrej] (king) or "hoy" [ˈoj] (today), resembling the sound of "I". However, these cases are less common, and its consonantal use is predominant. Rather than disappearing, "i griega" was never an official term, but a widely accepted linguistic convention. While rooted in education and oral tradition, there was no real need to maintain this distinction. Despite the RAE's recommendation, many still use "i griega" out of habit or unawareness of the current norm. Even in some older dictionaries and educational materials, the reference to "i griega" can be found. The RAE recommends "ye" as the correct and official form, while acknowledging that "i griega" is still used in many countries and its total elimination will be gradual. Using "i griega" in an informal context isn't incorrect, but in academic and educational settings, adopting "ye" is preferable to follow current regulations. The change in the denomination of "y" reflects the constant evolution of Spanish. Just as other terms and rules have changed over time, the language continues to adapt to be clearer and more logical for its speakers. In conclusion, "i griega" hasn't disappeared overnight, but its use is declining thanks to the RAE's recommendation to call it "ye".