Do we miss them?

These letters were left out of the English alphabet, and here's why

Image: Ksenia Makagonova

Some letters and symbols were once part of the English alphabet or its ancestors. But time and lack of use eventually made them be dropped, replaced, or forgotten. Most of them come from Old English, Middle English, Latin, or early printing traditions, and their stories are full of phonetic shifts, shortcuts, and the drive toward standardization. Let’s look at them!

Image: Andrey Grinkevich

Thorn was used to represent the "th" sound in words like thin or this. It visually resembled a modern P, which often causes confusion when seen in old manuscripts.

Common in Old English, it eventually got phased out during the Middle English period, replaced by the two-letter combination th. Thorn survives today in modern Icelandic, though!

Image: James Barnett

Eth was another letter used to represent the "th" sound, particularly the voiced version. It looked a bit like a crossed D and appeared alongside thorn in Old English texts.

Over time, English speakers settled on using "th" for both the voiced and voiceless sounds, and eth gradually fell out of use. Like thorn, eth still exists in modern Icelandic.

Image: MART PRODUCTION

Wynn was used to represent the "w" sound in Old English—a sound that Latin lacked a letter for. It resembled a capital "P," though it had no connection to that sound.

Instead of writing two "u"s (as in "uu"), scribes used wynn. Over time, however, "uu" evolved into the modern "w," and wynn was phased out during the Middle English period.

Image: Josué AS

Yogh had a rather confusing role. It could represent several sounds: a throaty "gh" like in "night," a "y" as in "yes," or even a soft "g" like in "genre," depending on context and region. It looked like the number 3 and was used heavily in Middle English.

As spelling and pronunciation evolved, these sounds were either lost or spelled differently (gh, y, j, or g).

Image: Bruno Martins

Ash is a fusion of "a" and "e," borrowed from Latin and used in Old English words like æthel (noble). It represented a distinct vowel sound, somewhere between "a" and "e," like the short "a" in cat.

In early English texts, it was treated as a letter in its own right. Over time, as English spelling standardized, ash was replaced by "a" or "e" depending on pronunciation.

Image: Natalia Y.

Think of Ethel as a relative of ash. This ligature combines "o" and "e" and shows up in Latin borrowings like fœtus, œuvre, and œconomy. As spelling was standardized, it got the axe in favor of plain old "oe" or even just "e."

You’ll still spot it in French and in stylized English writing.

Image: Jo Coenen - Studio Dries 2.6

This curious mark, which resembles a 7, means "and." Created by Cicero’s secretary Tiro in ancient Rome, it became a popular shorthand used by monks and scribes throughout the medieval world, including in Old English.

In Ireland, it persisted longer than almost anywhere else, until the more elegant ampersand (&) eventually took its place.

Image: Mark Wieder

Well, we know this one! But as a symbol, not as a letter from the alphabet. Once upon a time, schoolchildren recited it after "Z": X, Y, Z, and "per se and," which eventually morphed into the word "ampersand."

The symbol itself is a ligature of the Latin word et, meaning "and."

Image: Mark Rasmuson

This one looked like a medieval mashup of a "g" and a "z," and was mostly found in Irish and Old English manuscripts.

It served the same purpose as today’s "g." It stuck around until the Carolingian script took over, giving us the more familiar "g" we know today.

Image: Ot van Lieshout

At first glance, the Long S (ſ) looks like a stretched-out "f" missing its crossbar, but it’s an "s" in disguise. This character was used at the start and middle of words (e.g., ſunshine, bleſſing), but never at the end.

The character was ubiquitous in English printing until the late 1700s, when it was gradually replaced by the modern "s."

Image: Aaron Burden

The letter itself sounded like the "ng" at the end of "fang" or "sing."

The letter resembles an "n" with a tail and remains in use today in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and in languages such as Sami and Māori. However, English spelling never officially adopted it.

Stranger than fiction

They shouldn’t exist! 10 humans with mind-blowing abilities

Image: Joshua Earle

Some people are born with abilities that seem straight out of a comic book. These extraordinary senses—whether heightened sight, smell, or even resistance to pain—are all backed by science. While rare, these real-life superpowers offer a fascinating glimpse into the extremes of human potential. Here are 10 remarkable sensory abilities found in real people.

Image: Arteum.ro

Some people have "super vision" thanks to tetrachromacy, a condition in which they possess four types of cone cells in their eyes instead of the usual three. This allows them to see a broader range of colors, including subtle shades invisible to most people.

Tetrachromacy is more common in women, as the genetic mutation is linked to the X chromosome. Studies suggest that tetrachromats may distinguish up to 100 million colors—far beyond the roughly 1 million that most people can perceive.

Image: Alex Guillaume

Around 25% of people are "supertasters," meaning they have an unusually high number of taste buds. This heightened sensitivity makes them perceive bitter and sweet flavors more intensely than others.

Supertasters often avoid bitter foods like coffee, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts, but they may also experience a richer perception of flavors overall. Their ability is linked to a gene called TAS2R38, which affects taste receptors on the tongue.

Image: National Cancer Institute

Some people have a genetic mutation in the LRP5 gene that makes their bones significantly denser and more fracture-resistant. Their skeletons are almost unbreakable compared to the average person.

This mutation has been studied in families with exceptionally strong bones. Researchers hope it could lead to treatments for osteoporosis, offering insight into improving bone density in aging populations.

Image: Anastasiya Badun

Individuals with superior hearing may have a condition called hyperacusis, which allows them to detect sounds at much lower volumes than the average person. Some can even hear frequencies that are typically beyond human perception.

However, hyperacusis can be a double-edged sword—while it allows for extraordinary auditory sensitivity, it can also cause discomfort or even pain in everyday noisy environments. Some musicians and sound engineers reportedly have a mild form of hyperacusis.

Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya

A rare genetic mutation in the SCN9A gene makes certain people unable to feel pain. They can suffer injuries—or even break bones—without experiencing discomfort.

While this might sound like a superpower, it's actually quite dangerous. Pain is essential for survival, as it signals injury or harm. People with this condition often injure themselves unknowingly and may require constant medical supervision.

Image: Eli DeFaria

Hyperosmia, an enhanced sense of smell, allows some individuals to detect odors that others can’t. This ability is often linked to genetics, but can also be influenced by certain neurological conditions.

Some hyperosmics work as professional "noses" in the perfume industry, identifying and analyzing complex scents. Others use their ability in medicine, detecting diseases like Parkinson’s through smell alone.

Image: K B

Some people possess a genetic mutation in the ACTN3 gene that enhances muscle function and improves resistance to cold. This mutation is more common in Arctic populations, helping them survive extreme conditions.

Dutch athlete Wim Hof, popularly known as "The Iceman," has demonstrated remarkable cold endurance through meditation and breath control. Scientists believe his abilities result from a combination of genetic factors and intense training.

Image: Jamie Street

A small percentage of people can sense Earth’s magnetic field, similar to migratory birds. This ability, known as magnetoreception, is believed to be linked to the presence of cryptochrome proteins in the eye.

While most people are unaware of it, studies have shown that some can unconsciously detect magnetic directions. The exact mechanism is still being studied, but it hints at an ancient, possibly dormant, human navigation system.

Image: Anita Jankovic

Hyperthymesia is an ability where people remember nearly every detail of their lives, down to specific dates and conversations. Only a handful of people worldwide have been diagnosed with it.

Individuals with hyperthymesia can recall past events with photographic precision, often describing experiences from decades ago as if they just happened. Scientists believe their brains process memory differently, though the exact mechanisms remain unknown.

Image: Fitsum Admasu

Elite sprinters often carry a variation of the ACTN3 gene, also known as the "speed gene," which enhances fast-twitch muscle fibers responsible for rapid acceleration.

While training plays a major role, genetic predisposition gives some athletes a significant advantage. This gene variant is found more frequently in world-class sprinters than in the general population.