A recent TikTok video from @zachdfilms3 has brought to light a fascinating aspect of English language history: there was once a time when the alphabet consisted of 27 letters instead of the current 26. The video explains that the 27th letter was none other than “ampersand”, symbolized by “&”.
In his video, @zachdfilms3 elaborates, “This is an ampersand and believe it or not it used to be the 27th letter in the alphabet. You see, back in the day, this symbol came after the letter Z and signified the word ‘and’.” This revelation underscores a historical quirk that many might find surprising today.
Historical records and sources corroborate this discovery. According to The Mirror, students reciting the alphabet in earlier times were instructed to include the ampersand by saying “‘per se’ before it,” resulting in an alphabetical recitation that concluded with “Q R S T U V W X Y Z &. And ‘per se &’ ampersand.”
Encyclopedia Britannica adds further insight, noting that ampersand even found its way into nursery rhymes aimed at teaching children the alphabet: “X, Y, and ampersand / All wished for a piece in hand.” This whimsical inclusion highlights the cultural imprint of a letter that, despite its brief tenure in the English alphabet starting from 1835, eventually faded from mainstream use by the end of the 19th century.
The disappearance of ampersand from the alphabet reflects a broader trend in language evolution. English, like many languages, has shed and gained letters over the centuries. Notably, letters such as thorn (þ) and Wynn (ƿ) were once integral but have since been replaced or assimilated into modern letter forms. Ethel (Œ), once pronounced akin to the “oi” in “oil”, and Yogh (ȝ), used briefly for “ch” sounds, similarly fell out of favor as linguistic needs and conventions changed.
Despite these shifts, the question remains whether English will continue to lose letters in the future. Anne Babson, an English instructor at Southeastern Louisiana University, suggests that standardized spelling has stabilized the alphabet compared to the fluid transitions of Middle English into Modern English. Reflecting on potential future changes, Babson remarks, “Most of our high school English teachers would roll over in their graves if ‘quick’ became permanently ‘quik.’ That said, it’s not impossible that we will simplify the orthography of many words the way the ‘drive thru’ has done.”
This sentiment underscores the balancing act between preserving linguistic traditions and embracing linguistic efficiency. As Babson hints, while certain letters like “x” might seem underutilized in current English, their historical and phonetic roles still contribute to the language’s rich tapestry of sounds and meanings.
The story of ampersand and its brief tenure in the English alphabet serves as a reminder of language’s constant evolution. From nursery rhymes to linguistic curiosities, each letter and symbol carries a piece of history and cultural significance. Whether future changes simplify or enrich English orthography, the legacy of letters like ampersand endures, offering glimpses into the ever-changing landscape of language and communication.
