If you remove the last four letters from the word “queue,” you are still left with the same pronunciation: “q.” That’s because “queue” is the only five-letter word in the English language that is pronounced the same way as the name of its initial letter. Other words, like “bee,” “tea,” and “jay,” follow this pattern, but none matches the length of “queue.”
The term “queue,” which denotes a line of people, objects, or vehicles, is derived from the Old French words cue or coe, meaning “tail.” During the 16th century, the term “queue” was used in English to refer to a braid of hair trailing down the back of the head and as a descriptor for a line of dancers. In the 18th century, British soldiers styled their hair in “queues,” consisting of a single ponytail fastened with a ribbon.
It wasn’t until the 19th century that the term “queue” acquired its modern definition as a line of people. This evolution likely occurred due to the visual similarity between people waiting in line and the tail of an animal.
Although the word “cue” shares the same pronunciation as “queue,” it has a very different meaning. “Cue” and “queue” are homophones, meaning they sound alike, but their definitions vary. “Cue” can refer to an actor's prompt or the long wooden rod used in games like pool or billiards to strike the ball.
Conversely, “que” isn’t recognized as an English word. Besides being a misspelling of “queue,” when capitalized it serves as an abbreviation for the Canadian province of Quebec. "Que" is also the Spanish word for “what” (pronounced “kay”) and the French word for “that” (pronounced “kuh”).
Get in the queue for more English language tidbits:
- Queuing etiquette varies across cultures. Countries like the UK and Japan are well-known for their orderly queues and abiding by the principle of first-come, first-served, while other cultures adopt more informal or assertive approaches to securing a spot.
- “Rhythm” is the longest word in the English language without a traditional vowel. Other examples where the letter “y” assumes the role of a vowel include “myth,” “fly,” and “nymph.”
- ”E” is the most frequently used letter in the English language, appearing in around 11% of all words. “Z” is the least used letter and is used in less than 1% of words.
- ”Forty” is the only number that has its letters in alphabetical order when spelled out. “One” is the only number with its letters in reverse alphabetical order.
