Yes, English words can end in the letter “j,” although it is relatively uncommon. The letter “j” is not typically found at the end of words in English, as it is not one of the letters that can follow all other letters in the English alphabet, as some other letters can, such as “s,” “n,” and “d.” However, there are a few English words that do end in “j,” and they tend to be borrowed from other languages, particularly Arabic and Punjabi.
One example of an English word that ends in “j” is “hajj,” which refers to the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. The word “hajj” is derived from the Arabic language, where it is spelled with a “ج” or “jim” letter. Another example is the word “raj,” which can mean a rule or dominion, and is also derived from the Hindi word “rāj,” which means “kingdom.” “Raj” can also refer to a coin used in various Asian countries, including India and Pakistan.
Other English words that end in “j” include “hadj,” which is an alternate spelling of “hajj,” and “muj,” a slang term for a man or boy, borrowed from Punjabi. Another example is “halalaj,” which is a type of Serbian folk song.
It is worth noting that while these words technically end in “j,” they are often pronounced with an “i” sound at the end, such as “haj-ee” and “raj-ee.” This is because the “j” sound in English is typically associated with the letter “g” when it is followed by an “e,” “i,” or “y.” For example, the word “jeans” is pronounced with a “j” sound at the beginning, but the “s” at the end is pronounced like a “z” sound, giving it a “jeans-iz” pronunciation.
In conclusion, while it is relatively uncommon for English words to end in the letter “j,” there are a few borrowed words from Arabic and Punjabi that do end in “j,” such as “hajj,” “raj,” and “muj.” However, the pronunciation of these words often involves an “i” sound at the end, rather than a distinct “j” sound