Modern Meitei/Script/Diacritics
In Meitei writing system (Meetei Mayek), there are diacritics (formally known as "Cheitap Mayek") that when applied to either consonants or vowels will produce specific sounds. Unlike, other Indian scripts, Meitei diacritics are applicable to vowels.
Cheitap mayek | Name | IPA | Latin | Example |
---|---|---|---|---|
ꯥ | aa-tap | a | a | Italy (ꯏꯇꯥꯂꯤ) |
ꯤ | ee-nap | i | e or i | King (ꯀꯤꯡ), Feel (ꯐꯤꯜ) |
ꯨ | uu-nap | u | u or oo | Cool (ꯀꯨꯜ), Fum (ꯐꯨꯝ) |
ꯦ | yet-nap | e | ay or e | Bay (ꯕꯦ), Ken (ꯀꯦꯟ) |
ꯣ | o-nap | o | o | Bo (ꯕꯣ), Cold (ꯀꯣꯜ꯭ꯗ) |
ꯩ | chei-nap | ej | ei | Hei (ꯍꯩ), Fei (ꯐꯩ) |
ꯧ | sou-nap | ow | ou or ow | Sou (ꯁꯧ), Hou (ꯍꯧ), Bowl (ꯕꯧꯜ) |
ꯪ | nung or noong | ɐŋ | ang or ng | Anglo (ꯑꯪꯒ꯭ꯂꯣ), Kangla (ꯀꯪꯂꯥ) |
Diacritics application for consonants
editFor better understanding and easy learning, let's take the consonants one by one:
First consonant - "ꯀ" (K)
edit- ꯀꯥ - kaa (kā)
- ꯀꯤ - kee (kī)
- ꯀꯨ - koo (ku)
- ꯀꯦ - ke
- ꯀꯩ - kei
- ꯀꯣ - ko
- ꯀꯧ - kou (kow)
- ꯀꯪ - kang (kung)
For better understanding and easy learning, let's compare the Meitei writings with those equivalents of Devanagari script and Bengali-Assamese script.
With Devanagari script
edit- ꯀꯥ - kaa (kā) - का
- ꯀꯤ - kee (kī) - कि / की (both कि & की are equivalent to ꯀꯤ)
- ꯀꯨ - koo (ku) - कु / कू (both कु & कू are equivalent to ꯀꯨ)
- ꯀꯦ - ke - के
- ꯀꯩ - kei - कै
- ꯀꯣ - ko - को
- ꯀꯧ - kou (kow) - कौ
- ꯀꯪ - kang (kung) - कं
With Bengali-Assamese script
edit- ꯀꯥ - kaa (kā) - কা
- ꯀꯤ - kee (kī) - কি / কী (both কি & কী are equivalent to ꯀꯤ)
- ꯀꯨ - koo (ku) - কু / কূ (both কু & কূ are equivalent to ꯀꯨ)
- ꯀꯦ - ke - কে
- ꯀꯩ - kei - কৈ
- ꯀꯣ - ko - কো
- ꯀꯧ - kou (kow) - কৌ
- ꯀꯪ - kang (kung) - কং
Second consonant - "ꯁ" (S)
edit- ꯁꯥ - saa (sā)
- ꯁꯤ - see (sī)
- ꯁꯨ - soo (su)
- ꯁꯦ - se
- ꯁꯩ - sei
- ꯁꯣ - so
- ꯁꯧ - sou (sow)
- ꯁꯪ - sang (sung)
With Devanagari script
edit- Note: Meitei script "ꯁ" is equivalent to 4 Devanagari letters — छ, श, ष and स.
- ꯁꯥ - saa (sā) - छा, शा, षा, सा
- ꯁꯤ - see (sī) - छि / छी, शि / शी, षि / षी, सि / सी
- ꯁꯨ - soo (su) - छु / छू, शु / शू, षु / षू, सु / सू
- ꯁꯦ - se - छे, शे, षे, से
- ꯁꯩ - sei - छै, शै, षै, सै
- ꯁꯣ - so - छो, शो, षो, सो
- ꯁꯧ - sou (sow) - छौ, शौ, षौ, सौ
- ꯁꯪ - sang (sung) - छं, शं, षं, सं
With Bengali-Assamese script
edit- Note: Meitei script "ꯁ" is equivalent to 4 Bengali-Assamese letters — ছ, শ, ষ and স.
- ꯁꯥ - saa (sā) - ছা, শা, ষা, সা
- ꯁꯤ - see (sī) - ছি / ছী, শি / শী, ষি / ষী, সি / সী
- ꯁꯨ - soo (su) - ছু / ছূ, শু / শূ, ষু / ষূ, সু / সূ
- ꯁꯦ - se - ছে, শে, ষে, সে
- ꯁꯩ - sei - ছৈ, শৈ, ষৈ, সৈ
- ꯁꯣ - so - ছো, শো, ষো, সো
- ꯁꯧ - sou (sow) - ছৌ, শৌ, ষৌ, সৌ
- ꯁꯪ - sang (sung) - ছং, শং, ষং, সং
Third consonant - "ꯂ" (L)
edit- ꯂꯥ - laa (lā)
- ꯂꯤ - lee (lī)
- ꯂꯨ - loo (lu)
- ꯂꯦ - le
- ꯂꯩ - lei
- ꯂꯣ - lo
- ꯂꯧ - lou (low)
- ꯂꯪ - lang (lung)
With Devanagari script
edit- ꯂꯥ - laa (lā) - ला
- ꯂꯤ - lee (lī) - लि / ली (both लि & ली are equivalent to ꯂꯤ)
- ꯂꯨ - loo (lu) - लु / लू (both लु & लू are equivalent to ꯂꯨ)
- ꯂꯦ - le - ले
- ꯂꯩ - lei - लै
- ꯂꯣ - lo - लो
- ꯂꯧ - lou (low) - लौ
- ꯂꯪ - lang (lung) - लं
With Bengali-Assamese script
edit- ꯂꯥ - laa (lā) - লা
- ꯂꯤ - lee (lī) - লি / লী (both লি & লী are equivalent to ꯂꯤ)
- ꯂꯨ - loo (lu) - লু / লূ (both লু & লূ are equivalent to ꯂꯨ)
- ꯂꯦ - le - লে
- ꯂꯩ - lei - লৈ
- ꯂꯣ - lo - লো
- ꯂꯧ - lou (low) - লৌ
- ꯂꯪ - lang (lung) - লং
Other important consonants
editAfter observing the above examples, one can practise for other consonants too. However, there are some important consonants in Meitei writing system that is equivalent to more than one letters in the respective Devanagari as well as Bengali-Assamese writing systems. For better understanding and easy learning, let's see:
Consonant "ꯉ" (Ng)
editThe sound "ng" is frequently used in Sino-Tibetan languages including Meitei. However, it's rarely used in most Indian languages (Indo-Aryan & Dravidian). By the way, let's proceed:
- ꯉꯥ - ngaa (ngā)
- ꯉꯤ - ngee (ngī)
- ꯉꯨ - ngoo (ngū)
- ꯉꯦ - nge
- ꯉꯩ - ngei
- ꯉꯣ - ngo
- ꯉꯧ - ngou
- ꯉꯪ - ngang (ngung)
With Devanagari script
- Note: Meitei letter "ꯉ" is equivalent to 2 Devanagari letters — "ङ" and "ञ".
- ꯉꯥ - ngaa (ngā) - ङा, ञा
- ꯉꯤ - ngee (ngī) - ङि / ङी, ञि / ञी
- ꯉꯨ - ngoo (ngū) - ङु / ङू, ञु / ञू
- ꯉꯦ - nge - ङे, ञे
- ꯉꯩ - ngei - ङै, ञै
- ꯉꯣ - ngo - ङो, ञो
- ꯉꯧ - ngou - ङौ, ञौ
- ꯉꯪ - ngang (ngung) - ङं, ञं
With Bengali-Assamese script
- Note: Meitei letter "ꯉ" is equivalent to 2 Bengali-Assamese letters — "ঙ" and "ঞ".
- ꯉꯥ - ngaa (ngā) - ঙা, ঞা
- ꯉꯤ - ngee (ngī) - ঙি / ঙী, ঞি / ঞী
- ꯉꯨ - ngoo (ngū) - ঙু / ঙূ, ঞু / ঞূ
- ꯉꯦ - nge - ঙে, ঞে
- ꯉꯩ - ngei - ঙৈ, ঞৈ
- ꯉꯣ - ngo - ঙো, ঞো
- ꯉꯧ - ngou - ঙৌ, ঞৌ
- ꯉꯪ - ngang (ngung) - ঙং, ঞং
Consonant "ꯇ" (T)
edit- ꯇꯥ - taa (tā)
- ꯇꯤ - tee (tī)
- ꯇꯨ - too (tu)
- ꯇꯦ - te
- ꯇꯩ - tei
- ꯇꯣ - to
- ꯇꯧ - tou (tow)
- ꯇꯪ - tang (tung)
With Devanagari script
- Note: Meitei letter "ꯇ" has 2 Devanagari equivalent letters - "ट" and "त".
- ꯇꯥ - taa (tā) - टा, ता
- ꯇꯤ - tee (tī) - टि / टी, ति / ती
- ꯇꯨ - too (tu) - टु / टू, तु / तू
- ꯇꯦ - te - टे, ते
- ꯇꯩ - tei - टै, तै
- ꯇꯣ - to - टो, तो
- ꯇꯧ - tou (tow) - टौ, तौ
- ꯇꯪ - tang (tung) - टं, तं
With Bengali-Assamese script
- Note: Meitei letter "ꯇ" has 2 Bengali-Assamese equivalent letters - "ট" and "ত".
- ꯇꯥ - taa (tā) - টা, তা
- ꯇꯤ - tee (tī) - টি / টী, তি / তী
- ꯇꯨ - too (tu) - টু / টূ, তু / তূ
- ꯇꯦ - te - টে, তে
- ꯇꯩ - tei - টৈ, তৈ
- ꯇꯣ - to - টো, তো
- ꯇꯧ - tou (tow) - টৌ, তৌ
- ꯇꯪ - tang (tung) - টং, তং
Consonant "ꯊ" (Th)
edit- ꯊꯥ - thaa (thā)
- ꯊꯤ - thee (thī)
- ꯊꯨ - thoo (thu)
- ꯊꯦ - the
- ꯊꯩ - thei
- ꯊꯣ - tho
- ꯊꯧ - thou (thow)
- ꯊꯪ - thang (thung)
With Devanagari script
- Note: The Meitei letter "ꯊ" has 2 Devanagari equivalent letters - "ठ" and "थ".
- ꯊꯥ - thaa (thā) - ठा, था
- ꯊꯤ - thee (thī) - ठि / ठी, थि / थी
- ꯊꯨ - thoo (thu) - ठु / ठू, थु / थू
- ꯊꯦ - the - ठे, थे
- ꯊꯩ - thei - ठै, थै
- ꯊꯣ - tho - ठो, थो
- ꯊꯧ - thou (thow) - ठौ, थौ
- ꯊꯪ - thang (thung) - ठं, थं
With Bengali-Assamese script
- Note: The Meitei letter "ꯊ" has 2 Bengali-Assamese equivalent letters - "ঠ" and "থ".
- ꯊꯥ - thaa (thā) - ঠা, থা
- ꯊꯤ - thee (thī) - ঠি / ঠী, থি / থী
- ꯊꯨ - thoo (thu) - ঠু / ঠূ, থু / থূ
- ꯊꯦ - the - ঠে, থে
- ꯊꯩ - thei - ঠৈ, থৈ
- ꯊꯣ - tho - ঠো, থো
- ꯊꯧ - thou (thow) - ঠৌ, থৌ
- ꯊꯪ - thang (thung) - ঠং, থং
Consonant "ꯗ" (D)
edit- ꯗꯥ - daa (dā)
- ꯗꯤ - dee (dī)
- ꯗꯨ - doo (du)
- ꯗꯦ - de
- ꯗꯩ - dei
- ꯗꯣ - do
- ꯗꯧ - dou (dow)
- ꯗꯪ - dang (dung)
With Devanagari script
- Note: The Meitei letter "ꯗ" has 2 Devanagari equivalent letters - "ड" and "द".
- ꯗꯥ - daa (dā) - डा, दा
- ꯗꯤ - dee (dī) - डि / डी, दि / दी
- ꯗꯨ - doo (du) - डु / डू, दु / दू
- ꯗꯦ - de - डे, दे
- ꯗꯩ - dei - डै, दै
- ꯗꯣ - do - डो, दो
- ꯗꯧ - dou (dow) - डौ, दौ
- ꯗꯪ - dang (dung) - डं, दं
With Bengali-Assamese script
- Note: The Meitei letter "ꯗ" has 2 Bengali-Assamese equivalent letters - "ড" and "দ".
- ꯗꯥ - daa (dā) - ডা, দা
- ꯗꯤ - dee (dī) - ডি / ডী, দি / দী
- ꯗꯨ - doo (du) - ডু / ডূ, দু / দূ
- ꯗꯦ - de - ডে, দে
- ꯗꯩ - dei - ডৈ, দৈ
- ꯗꯣ - do - ডো, দো
- ꯗꯧ - dou (dow) - ডৌ, দৌ
- ꯗꯪ - dang (dung) - ডং, দং
Consonant "ꯙ" (Dh)
edit- ꯙꯥ - dhaa (dhā)
- ꯙꯤ - dhee (dhī)
- ꯙꯨ - dhoo (dhu)
- ꯙꯦ - dhe
- ꯙꯩ - dhei
- ꯙꯣ - dho
- ꯙꯧ - dhou (dhow)
- ꯙꯪ - dhang (dhung)
With Devanagari script
- Note: The Meitei letter "ꯙ" has 2 Devanagari equivalent letters - "ढ" and "ध".
- ꯙꯥ - dhaa (dhā) - ढा, धा
- ꯙꯤ - dhee (dhī) - ढि / ढी, धि / धी
- ꯙꯨ - dhoo (dhu) - ढु / ढू, धु / धू
- ꯙꯦ - dhe - ढे, धे
- ꯙꯩ - dhei - ढै, धै
- ꯙꯣ - dho - ढो, धो
- ꯙꯧ - dhou (dhow) - ढौ, धौ
- ꯙꯪ - dhang (dhung) - ढं, धं
With Bengali-Assamese script
- Note: The Meitei letter "ꯙ" has 2 Bengali-Assamese equivalent letters - "ঢ" and "ধ".
- ꯙꯥ - dhaa (dhā) - ঢা, ধা
- ꯙꯤ - dhee (dhī) - ঢি / ঢী, ধি / ধী
- ꯙꯨ - dhoo (dhu) - ঢু / ঢূ, ধু / ধূ
- ꯙꯦ - dhe - ঢে, ধে
- ꯙꯩ - dhei - ঢৈ, ধৈ
- ꯙꯣ - dho - ঢো, ধো
- ꯙꯧ - dhou (dhow) - ঢৌ, ধৌ
- ꯙꯪ - dhang (dhung) - ঢং, ধং
Consonant "ꯅ" (N)
edit- ꯅꯥ - naa (nā)
- ꯅꯤ - nee (nī)
- ꯅꯨ - noo (nu)
- ꯅꯦ - ne
- ꯅꯩ - nei
- ꯅꯣ - no
- ꯅꯧ - nou (now)
- ꯅꯪ - nang (nung)
With Devanagari script
- Note: The Meitei letter "ꯅ" has 2 Devanagari equivalent letters - "ण" and "न".
- ꯅꯥ - naa (nā) - णा, ना
- ꯅꯤ - nee (nī) - णि / णी, नि / नी
- ꯅꯨ - noo (nu) - णु / णू, नु / नू
- ꯅꯦ - ne - णे, ने
- ꯅꯩ - nei - णै, नै
- ꯅꯣ - no - णो, नो
- ꯅꯧ - nou (now) - णौ, नौ
- ꯅꯪ - nang (nung) - णं, नं
With Bengali-Assamese script
- Note: The Meitei letter "ꯅ" has 2 Bengali-Assamese letters - "ণ" and "ন".
- ꯅꯥ - naa (nā) - ণা, না
- ꯅꯤ - nee (nī) - ণি / ণী, নি / নী
- ꯅꯨ - noo (nu) - ণু / ণূ, নু / নূ
- ꯅꯦ - ne - ণে, নে
- ꯅꯩ - nei - ণৈ, নৈ
- ꯅꯣ - no - ণো, নো
- ꯅꯧ - nou (now) - ণৌ, নৌ
- ꯅꯪ - nang (nung) - ণং, নং
Diacritics application for vowels
editThere are three vowels in Meitei writing system, ꯎ (Oo/U), ꯏ (Ee/I) and ꯑ (A). Among these 3 vowels, only ꯑ (A) accepts the application of diacritics to form additional vowels. The other two, ꯎ (Oo/U) and ꯏ (Ee/I) doesn't accept the application of diacritics.
Formation of additional vowels — Application of diacritics to "ꯑ (A)"
edit- ꯑꯥ - aa (ā)
- ꯑꯦ - e
- ꯑꯩ - ei
- ꯑꯣ - o
- ꯑꯧ - ou (ow)
- ꯑꯪ - ang (ung)
Comparison with other Indian abugida writing systems
editFor better understanding and easy learning, let's compare the equivalents of Meitei vowels (additional vowels) with Devanagari script and Bengali-Assamese script.
With Devanagari script
edit- ꯑꯥ - aa (ā) - आ
- ꯑꯦ - e - ए
- ꯑꯩ - ei - ऐ
- ꯑꯣ - o - ओ
- ꯑꯧ - ou (ow) - औ
- ꯑꯪ - ang (ung) - अं
With Bengali-Assamese script
edit- ꯑꯥ - aa (ā) - আ
- ꯑꯦ - e - এ
- ꯑꯩ - ei - ঐ
- ꯑꯣ - o - ও
- ꯑꯧ - ou (ow) - ঔ
- ꯑꯪ - ang (ung) - অং