ꯌ + ◌ꯨ
ꯌꯨ
+
ꯝ
Alphabets
The Manipuri alphabet ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯃꯌꯦꯛ
Meet every letter of Manipuri, hear how it sounds, and learn how letters join to make words.
About Manipuri
Meitei Mayek (ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯃꯌꯦꯛ) is written from left to right. Each consonant carries a built-in "a"; vowel signs (cheitap) change it, and lonsum letters such as ꯛ write a consonant without a vowel at the end of a syllable. The first 18 letters, the iyek ipee, are named after parts of the body; nine more letters (lom iyek) write sounds from other languages.
- 27
- letters
- 8
- vowel signs
- 8
- lonsum letters
- L → R
- writing direction
Vowels ꯆꯩꯇꯥꯞ
Vowels are written as signs on a consonant – shown here on ꯀ. At the start of a word they sit on ꯑ (atiya).
Nasal sign
Nung – a nasal "ng" sound.
Consonants ꯏꯌꯦꯛ
The consonants are arranged by where in the mouth the sound is made. Tap a letter to hear it.
Iyek ipee ꯏꯌꯦꯛ ꯏꯄꯤ
the 18 original letters, named after parts of the body
Lom iyek ꯂꯣꯝ ꯏꯌꯦꯛ
nine letters for borrowed sounds
Lonsum letters ꯂꯣꯟꯁꯨꯝ
consonants at the end of a syllable – Ctrl or Alt on the keyboard
How letters join to make words
Manipuri words are built syllable by syllable. Three simple rules cover almost everything.
-
1
Every consonant has a built-in "a"
On its own, ꯀ is read ka.
ꯀ +ꯑ =ꯀ -
2
A vowel sign replaces the "a"
Add a cheitap to change the vowel.
ꯀ +◌ꯥ =ꯀꯥ -
3
Lonsum ends a syllable
A lonsum letter is a consonant with no vowel.
ꯌꯨ +ꯝ =ꯌꯨꯝ
Where does the vowel sign go?
After
ꯀꯥ ꯀꯤ ꯀꯩ
Written after the consonant.
Below
ꯀꯨ
Hangs under the consonant.
Above
ꯀꯦ ꯀꯣ ꯀꯧ
Sits on top of the consonant.
Build real words
ꯏ
+
ꯁ + ◌ꯤ
ꯁꯤ
+
ꯡ
ꯃ
+
ꯅ + ◌ꯤ
ꯅꯤ
+
ꯄ + ◌ꯨ
ꯄꯨ
+
ꯔ
Ready to type in Manipuri?
Use the on-screen keyboard to write these letters, or translate your first sentence.