Ayb
Ա ա
Shghagir form of Ayb
Usage
Writing systemArmenian script
TypeAlphabetic
Language of originArmenian language
Phonetic usage[ɑ]
Unicode codepointU+0531, U+0561
Alphabetical position1
Numerical value: 1
History
Development
Yerkatagir
  • Grchagir
    • Bolorgir
      • Notrgir
        • Ա ա
Time period405 to present
Other
Associated numbers1
Writing directionLeft-to-Right

Ayb (majuscule: Ա; minuscule: ա; Armenian: այբ) is the first letter of the Armenian alphabet. It has a numerical value of 1.[1] It represents the open back unrounded vowel (/ɑ/) in both variants of the Armenian language. This letter and the letter Ben (Բ բ) are the two first letters in the Armenian alphabet and forms the etymology of the Armenian word այբուբեն (aybuben), meaning "alphabet." It is one of the letters originally created by Mesrop Mashtots in the 5th century.

Its prototype is considered to be the Greek letter α (alpha) with the upper arc cut off. A number of Armenian letters are formed in a similar fashion.

It is homoglyphic to the IPA symbol for the close back unrounded vowel, the Cyrillic letter Sha (Шш), the former Zhuang letter Ɯɯ used from 1957 to 1986, and the Nushkuri form of the Georgian letter oni (ⴍ).

Distribution

The letter Ա occurs mainly in initial or medial word positions and very rarely in final position. This is explained by the fact that the Proto-Armenian language dropped off word-final vowels in multisyllabic words.

Meanings

As a unit it is a symbol of God. This is because the words "Աստվաց" (God) and "Արարիչ" (Creator) begin with it. Thus, the symbolism of it corresponds to the Greek letter "alpha" in the Book of Revelation, where the Lord says, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end." (Revelation 1:8).

Computing codes

Character information
PreviewԱա
Unicode name ARMENIAN CAPITAL LETTER AYB ARMENIAN SMALL LETTER AYB
Encodingsdecimalhexdechex
Unicode1329U+05311377U+0561
UTF-8212 177D4 B1213 161D5 A1
Numeric character referenceԱԱաա

Braille form

See also

References

  1. "ա տառը բացատրություն, a tary bacatrutyun, ա տառը հոմանիշ, ա տառը ռուսերեն թարգմանություն, ա տառը հականիշ, ա տառը անգլերեն թարգմանություն, ա տառը դարձվածքներ". bararanonline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  • Ա on Wiktionary
  • ա on Wiktionary
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