Crossword-puzzle constructors often employ words with a vowel-consonant-consonant-vowel pattern, or VCCV. That’s the cruciverbal inspiration Quiz Guy John Chaneski’s VCCV puzzle. For example, if the clue is teen woe, what’s the four-letter answer begins and ends with a vowel? This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “VCCV Brain Stretcher”
You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it.
I’m Martha Barnette.
And I’m Grant Barrett, and we’re joined by our quiz guide, John Chaneski.
Hi, John.
Hi, Grant.
Hi, Martha.
What is up?
I have a really wordy word puzzle for you today.
You know, when you’re solving a crossword, sometimes you can figure out if the letters you’re missing are vowels or consonants.
And one of the relatively uncommon word patterns is VCCV, or vowel, consonant, consonant, vowel.
To my mind, it’s like as if the peanut butter and jelly were on the outside of the bread.
You know what I mean?
Got it?
Exactly.
Now, let’s pretend I’m solving a crossword.
And luckily, ABBA is not one of my answers.
But I’ll give you a short clue, two-syllable clue, two-word, two-syllable clue to a vowel, consonant, consonant, vowel word I’m missing.
For example, teen woe would be a clue for acne.
Acne.
Oh, okay.
All of these are two-syllable words with the pattern vowel, consonant, consonant, vowel.
V-C-C-V.
All right?
And if you want, I’ll give you the vowels that are sandwiching the consonants.
I’ve got that much already while I’m solving.
Here we go.
The first one is backtalk.
Backtalk.
Backtalk.
Yeah.
Begins with an E and ends with an O.
Echo.
Echo is right.
Very good.
How about sax type?
Alto.
Alto, yes, very good.
All of these are two-syllable words.
Wheel bar.
Wheel bar, like a tire iron?
Wheel bar.
Not a tire iron.
Like a crowbar.
But it’s a bar.
How about an axle?
Axle is correct.
Vowel, consonant, consonant, vowel.
Right.
How about brown shade?
Ecru.
Ecru, yes, very good.
Oh, I was going to say umbra.
But that’s Latin, sorry.
Yeah, that’s okay.
We allow a Latin here.
Oh, it’s a bit.
Sure.
How about proof word?
Proof word.
Yes.
No, not exam.
That doesn’t work.
Proof.
Is it alcohol proof or mathematical proof?
No, more like philosophical proof.
Oh, so a logical thing maybe?
Yeah.
Begins with an E, ends with an O.
Ergo.
Ergo, yes.
Very good.
Armbone.
Ulna.
Ulna.
Vowel, constant, constant, vowel.
Very good.
Take back.
Take back.
Take back.
Take back.
Undo.
Oh, good.
Undo, yes.
Very good.
Control Z, as it were.
Big brute.
Ogre.
Ogre is right.
Very nice, Martha.
Finally, this one’s a tricky clue.
Southside.
With the crossword puzzle question mark that means pun.
Question mark at the end.
That’s right.
Southside.
Oh, oh, I got it, I think.
Yeah.
For Southside, I would say okra.
Okra is right.
Yes, very good, Martha.
That’s great.
Oh, a southern side dish.
A side dish, yes.
Outside okra.
Okay, that’s my quiz for VCCV, vowel, consonant, consonant, vowel.
Outstanding, John.
Thank you very much.
We’ll talk to you next week.
Thank you.
Talk to you next week.
And if you’d like to talk with us about language, call us 877-929-9673 or send your questions and comments and stories to words@waywordradio.org.
