v, the twenty-second letter of the english alphabet, is a vocal consonant. v and u are only varieties of the same character, u being the cursive form, while v is better adapted for engraving, as in stone. the two letters were formerly used indiscriminately, and till a comparatively recent date words containing them were often classed together in dictionaries and other books of reference (see u). the letter v is from the latin alphabet, where it was used both as a consonant (about like english w) and as a vowel. the latin derives it from it from a form (v) of the greek vowel / (see y), this greek letter being either from the same semitic letter as the digamma f (see f), or else added by the greeks to the alphabet which they took from the semitic. etymologically v is most nearly related to u, w, f, b, p; as in vine, wine; avoirdupois, habit, have; safe, save; trover, troubadour, trope. see u, f, etc.-as a numeral, v stands for five, in english and latin.