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Alphabet Somali

Osmanya

Osmanya script was invented in the 1920s by Osman Yusuf Kenadid to write the Somali language. It is named after its inventor and represents the sounds of Somali with 22 letters.

Osmanya Consonants

CaractèreNomRomanisationPrononciation
𐒀Alefalike 'a' in 'art'
𐒁Bablike 'b' in 'ball'
𐒂Tatlike 't' in 'top'
𐒃Jajlike 'j' in 'jam'
𐒄Xaxpharyngeal fricative
𐒅Khakhlike 'ch' in Scottish 'loch'
𐒆Daldlike 'd' in 'day'
𐒇Rarrolled r
𐒈Saslike 's' in 'sun'
𐒉Shinshlike 'sh' in 'shoe'
𐒊Dhadhretroflex d
𐒋Cayncvoiced pharyngeal
𐒌Gaglike 'g' in 'go'
𐒍Faflike 'f' in 'fun'
𐒎Qaquvular stop
𐒏Kaklike 'k' in 'king'
𐒐Lallike 'l' in 'love'
𐒑Mamlike 'm' in 'moon'
𐒒Nanlike 'n' in 'no'
𐒓Wawlike 'w' in 'wet'
𐒔Hahlike 'h' in 'hat'
𐒕Yaylike 'y' in 'yes'

Osmanya Vowels

CaractèreNomRomanisationPrononciation
𐒖Aalike 'a' in 'father'
𐒗Eelike 'e' in 'bed'
𐒘Iilike 'i' in 'sit'
𐒙Oolike 'o' in 'go'
𐒚Uulike 'u' in 'put'
𐒛Aaaalong 'a' sound
𐒜Eeeelong 'e' sound
𐒝Oooolong 'o' sound