The Armenian alphabet consists of 39 unique letters that preserve one of the world's oldest writing systems[1]. Created by Saint Mesrop Mashtots in 405 AD, this remarkable script known as Հայկական այբուբեն (Haykakan aybuben) serves the Armenian language, an independent branch of the Indo-European language family. The alphabet begins with Ա (Ayb) and ends with Ֆ (Feh), featuring distinctive letters that have remained virtually unchanged for over 1,600 years. Each letter has its own name and represents specific sounds that capture the phonetic richness of Armenian, from simple vowels to complex consonant clusters. Spoken by approximately 6.7 million people[2] worldwide, primarily in Armenia, this alphabet serves as a cornerstone of Armenian cultural identity and literary heritage.
Armenian Uppercase Letters
The Armenian alphabet features 39 distinctive uppercase letters (Ա-Ֆ) each with its own name and meaning, creating a complete writing system for this ancient Indo-European language.
Uppercase Letters
Armenian Lowercase Letters
The Armenian lowercase letters (ա-ֆ) mirror their uppercase counterparts and are used in everyday writing. These letters form words that carry the heritage of one of the world's oldest Christian civilizations.
For example:
In the word "հայերեն" (Armenian language), the name of the language itself, the letters հ (ho), ա (ayb), յ (yi), ե (ech), ր (reh), ե (ech), ն (now) combine to express the identity of this ancient people and their enduring linguistic tradition.
Lowercase Letters
Armenian Numbers
Punctuation and Symbols
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
References:
- [1] Dum-Tragut, Jasmine. "Armenian: Modern Eastern Armenian". John Benjamins Publishing Company.
- [2] Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia. "Population Census 2011". Retrieved from https://www.armstat.am/en/?nid=80
- [3] Vaux, Bert. "The Armenian Language". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Armenian-language
Sambhu Raj Singh ·