W The Vowel

[nq:1]As a Scrabble player (ok, a Scrabble brand crossword game player) I've had occasion to use two words that use the "w" as a vowel. They are both high-scoring words, "crwth" (a lute-like instrument) and "cwm" (a valley).[/nq]
These are both words of Welsh origin.
"cwm" is a shallow valley.
"crwth" is, as you say, a musical instrument.
OED:
crwth
The Welsh form of CROWD

[nq:2]As a Scrabble player (ok, a Scrabble brand crossword game ... high-scoring words, "crwth" (a lute-like instrument) and "cwm" (a valley).[/nq]
[nq:1]These are both words of Welsh origin. "cwm" is a shallow valley.[/nq]
"1951 Times 27 Nov. 5/7 While 'cwm' may occur+purely as a place-name+technically the word is restricted to the huge cauldron-shaped hollows found high up on heavily gla

[nq:2]These are both words of Welsh origin. "cwm" is a shallow valley.[/nq]
[nq:1]"1951 Times 27 Nov. 5/7 While 'cwm' may occur+purely as a place-name+technically the word is restricted to the huge cauldron-shaped hollows found high up on heavily glaciated slopes." - OED[/nq]
I took the definition from a booklet of "Welsh Place Names, Their Meanings Explained" written by a Welshman. Perhap

[nq:1]As a Scrabble player (ok, a Scrabble brand crossword game player) I've had occasion to use two words that use ... in the English language that use the "w" as a vowel, or use another unlikely letter as a vowel. Anyone?[/nq]
I am no native spekaer, mind, but I know that some native speakers use "p" in the word "pwned" ;-).

qt

[nq:2]As a Scrabble player (ok, a Scrabble brand crossword game ... vowel, or use another unlikely letter as a vowel. Anyone?[/nq]
[nq:1]I am no native spekaer, mind, but I know that some native speakers use "p" in the word "pwned" ;-).[/nq]
Oh, I know there are other uses of "w" as a vowel, because of its classification as a "semi-vowel/semi-consonant". However, QT, you have pointed out a

[nq:1]And, I ask, is "w" in "two" a vowel?[/nq]
Since it's a consonant in related words like "twice," "twelve," and "twenty," I'd say no, it's a silent consonant.
¬R Blather, Rinse, Repeat.
http://users.bestweb.net/~notr/telecom.html

[nq:2]And, I ask, is "w" in "two" a vowel?[/nq]
[nq:1]Since it's a consonant in related words like "twice," "twelve," and "twenty," I'd say no, it's a silent consonant.[/nq]
Thanks. I know it wis a throw-away question, but the insertion and deletion of the consonant kind of confuses the issue. (Is there some source that is definitive on this matter?)
"M-W Online:
Main Entry:
Pr

[nq:1]As a Scrabble player (ok, a Scrabble brand crossword game player) I've had occasion to use two words that use ... in the English language that use the "w" as a vowel, or use another unlikely letter as a vowel. Anyone?[/nq]
Unrelated, except that it invovles a W. How is the Polish name Ewa pronounced? In Polish.

[nq:2]As a Scrabble player (ok, a Scrabble brand crossword game ... vowel, or use another unlikely letter as a vowel. Anyone?[/nq]
[nq:1]Unrelated, except that it invovles a W. How is the Polish name Ewa pronounced? In Polish.[/nq]
I don't know about specifically Polish, but if it is the same as in the rest of East-Central Europe, it should be "eh-vah", the stress on the 'e'.

[nq:1]Now, I know some Germans and speakers of other European languages have a tendency to do "tventy", (in other words, to consonantalize the "w"), don't others tend to vocalize (vowelize) the "w"? I mean, don't they say too-enty?[/nq]
I think you're conflating two questions here: Whether the W sound* is a vowel sound, and whether the *letter W is used as a vowel or a consonant. The W