1. The "VV" Digraph: In many Germanic languages, "W" is represented by the digraph "VV". This is the case in:
* German: "W" is written as "VV" in words like "Wasser" (water), "Woche" (week), and "Weihnachten" (Christmas).
* Dutch: "W" is also written as "VV" in words like "water" (water), "week" (week), and "wagen" (wagon).
* Swedish: "W" is sometimes written as "VV" in words like "vatten" (water), "vecka" (week), and "vinter" (winter).
2. The "Double U" Symbol: The symbol "W" itself has a long history, predating the letter's inclusion in the alphabet. It originated as a ligature of two "U"s, likely representing the sound "uu" or "w" in certain contexts. This is evident in:
* Old English: "W" was often written as a double "U" in manuscripts, particularly in words like "wine" and "wife."
* Medieval Latin: The "W" symbol was used as a shorthand for "UU" in some Latin texts.
3. The "V" Sound: While not a direct cognate, the letter "V" often represents the same sound as "W" in many languages, particularly in words of Germanic origin. This is because the "W" sound evolved from the "V" sound in Proto-Germanic.
4. Other Symbols: Some languages have their own unique symbols or combinations for the "W" sound, such as the "U" with a "tail" in Hungarian (ő) or the "V" with a "hook" in Polish (ł).
It's important to note that the development of the letter "W" and its pronunciation varies greatly across languages and time periods. The connections above provide a glimpse into the historical and linguistic evolution of this letter and its sound.