Did You Know? The Last Letter Added to the Alphabet Wasn’t Z—It Was J!

You might assume that Z, the final letter in the alphabet, was the last one to be introduced. Surprisingly, it wasn’t. The true newcomer is the letter J, making it the youngest of the 26. Its origin traces back to the letter I, which once did double duty, serving as both a vowel and a consonant in Latin. The consonantal form of I had a Y-like sound, similar to the modern Y in yes.

Once inseparable, I and J began as linguistic twins—identical in form but destined to diverge. Like siblings carving their paths, these letters gradually developed distinct personalities in the alphabet family.

As the English language evolved, the letter I began to be used for words pronounced with a J sound. Though we lack sound recordings from that era, we can reasonably assume this shift had occurred by the late 16th century. For instance, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was originally published in 1597 with the title spelled as Romeo and Juliet. Similarly, the 1611 King James Bible used Iesus and Ioseph instead of the now-familiar Jesus and Joseph.

To reduce confusion, scholars introduced J as a distinct letter in the 16th century, although it took decades for it to become widely accepted. The transition from I to J was slow but steady, gaining traction by the early 17th century. The letter J first appeared in print in 1524, thanks to Gian Giorgio Trissino, an Italian Renaissance grammarian, who formally distinguished the two symbols in his treatise on Italian grammar.

Interestingly, the lowercase j inherited its distinctive dot from its predecessor, i. This small mark is called a tittle, derived from the Latin word titulus, meaning “title” or “small mark.”

J is one of only two letters missing from the periodic table of elements—the other being Q. Despite its relatively recent addition to the alphabet, J has become indispensable, appearing in countless words and names across multiple languages.

So, the next time you write a J, take a moment to appreciate that you’re using the alphabet’s youngest and most rebellious member—one that took centuries to earn its rightful place. In many ways, J is the teenager of the alphabet—a bold upstart with a cause, breaking away from its older sibling I and forging its own identity.

Much like a defiant adolescent, J challenged the status quo. For centuries, the consonant I carried the burden of representing both the I and J sounds, creating linguistic confusion. But J refused to remain in I’s shadow. With its distinct shape and sound, it struck out on its own, gradually gaining acceptance in written language.

Even its design reflects a youthful flair—the hooked tail of the J gives it a playful, swashbuckling vibe, making it stand out from its straighter, more conservative alphabetical relatives. And let’s not forget its stylish tittle—the jaunty dot above the lowercase j, like a teenager adding a flourish to their signature.

Just like identical twins developing unique fingerprints, I and J remind us that even in language, change is the only constant. Some European languages (like German) still use J for its original “Y” sound—proof that letters, like people, can play different roles in different cultures!

Though a latecomer, J has made up for lost time, becoming an essential part of modern language. From joy and justice to jazz and jeans, this once-forgotten letter now headlines words brimming with energy, creativity, and individuality—proving that sometimes the youngest sibling makes the biggest splash.