What’s with the ‘w’ in “two”?

The Old English Connection 

In Old English, the word for "two" was "twa" (pronounced like "twah"), and people pronounced the "w." This word is related to similar terms in other Germanic languages, such as Old High German "zwei" and Old Norse "tveir," which also had a pronounced "w" or "v" sound.

The Shift to Middle English

During the Middle English period, from the 11th to the 15th centuries, the pronunciation of the word changed. The vowel sound shifted, and people stopped pronouncing the "w." However, the spelling kept the "w" to show its Old English origins. Spelling was not standardized, so some words kept their older forms even as pronunciation changed.

Influence of Neighboring Words  

The silent "w" may have stayed in the word to help distinguish "two" from similar words like "to" and "too." English often kept certain spellings to avoid confusion, even if they didn’t match the way people pronounced the words.

Spelling Standardization  

By the early modern period, as English spelling became more fixed, the "w" in "two" had become silent, but the writing remained the same. Efforts to standardize spelling often used older forms of words, so the "w" stayed.

Why Didn’t We Just Drop the 'W'? 

English often keeps unusual spellings, especially for short, common words like "two." Changing these words could cause confusion, as they are deeply rooted in the language. The silent "w" adds to the charm and history of the word.

So, the "w" in "two" is a silent reminder of the past—a marker of how language has changed over time. It's like a little piece of history that we see every day!