Language/Abkhazian/Grammar/The-Abkhazian-Alphabet

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Abkhazian Grammar → Introduction to Abkhazian Language → The Abkhazian Alphabet

As a native speaker of the Abkhazian language, I am excited to introduce you to the Abkhazian alphabet, which consists of 62 characters. The Abkhazian script is a Cyrillic-based alphabet with some unique symbols that do not exist in Russian Cyrillic. Learning the Abkhazian alphabet is the first step towards proficiency in the language. In this lesson, we will learn the alphabet, the pronunciation of each character, and some interesting facts, making it a fun and fascinating experience.

Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons: Conditional Mood & Comparative and Superlative Adverbs in Abkhazian.

The Abkhazian Alphabet

The Abkhazian alphabet is also used to write the Abaza and Adygean languages. It was revised and standardized in 1909 by Russian linguist Nikolay Marr. The alphabet consists of 62 letters, including 7 vowels and 55 consonants.

Abkhazian Vowels

Abkhazian has 7 vowels, consisting of three front vowels, three back vowels, and one central vowel. Here are the vowels in the Abkhazian Alphabet along with their pronunciation:

Abkhazian	Pronunciation	English Translation
а	a	father
е	e	pet
ә	ə	about (schwa in English)
и	i	machine
о	o	note
у	u	flute
ы	ə̥	cut

Abkhazian has a unique vowel, ə̥ which sounds like ə and is often used in the language.

Abkhazian Consonants

Abkhazian has 55 consonants. The letters of the Abkhazian alphabet are phonetic, meaning each letter represents a unique sound. The following table summarizes the Abkhazian consonants with their pronunciation:

Abkhazian	Pronunciation	English Translation
б	b	bat
в	v	van
г	g	give
ҕ	ɣ	Arabic ghayn
д	d	dog
ж	ʒ	pleasure
з	z	zoo
и	j/ʤ	jump
й	j/ʤ	yacht
к	k	kite
л	l	let
м	m	man
н	n	no
ң	ŋ	sing
п	p	pit
р	r	red
с	s	sun
т	t	ten
ф	f	fan
х	h	hat
ц	ts	bats
ч	tʃ	chin
ш	ʃ	shower
щ	ʃʃ/jʒ	sheep
ъ	-	-
ь	-	-
ӡ	dz	adze
ҟ	qʼ	glottal stop
џ	dʒ	judge
ҳ	h	hat (aspirated)
ҷ	ch/dʒ	chess/judge
ҕь	-	-
қь	-	-
ҟә	-	-
қа	-	-
қы	-	-
қъ	-	-
қьы	-	-
аҩ	aw	cow
иҩ	ew	new
уҩ	ow	how

As you can see, Abkhazian has unique symbols like ҕ, ң, and ҳ, and it also has digraphs such as аҩ, иҩ, and уҩ. The apostrophes in ҕь and қь indicate glottalization, which is a speech sound produced by a partial closure of the vocal cords.

In Abkhazian, some consonants have two forms – "soft" and "hard" – depending on their position in the word. We do not have any specific rule of thumb to differentiate them, but extensive reading and conversations help learners to differentiate them effectively.

Abkhazian has some consonant clusters at the beginning and end of words, such as тәпәҧ (tapepәh), meaning "book." These clusters are not hard to master when you learn the alphabet and pronunciation.

Handwriting

Abkhazian texts are written vertically from top to bottom and from left to right. When writing, people use a handwritten cursive script that is different from printed text. One interesting fact about Abkhazian handwriting is that it is much more connected than in most other alphabets because there are no spaces between words. Hence, it may be hard for new learners to read at the beginning level because connected writing makes a sentence look like a long word.

Conclusion

Learning the Abkhazian alphabet is the first step towards language proficiency. In this lesson, we covered the 62 letters of the Abkhazian alphabet, their unique pronunciation, handwriting styles, and some fun facts about the language. Don't worry if you couldn't memorize all the letters and sounds in one lesson. With some practice and devotion, you will master it soon.

Sources

Well done on mastering this lesson! Don't miss these related pages to expand your knowledge: Negation & Verbs to Be and Have in Abkhazian.

Table of Contents - Abkhazian Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Introduction to Abkhazian Language

Introducing Yourself and Others

Abkhazian Verbs

Abkhazian Customs and Traditions

Everyday Activities and Routines

Abkhazian Cases

Abkhazian History and Geography

Shopping and Commerce in Abkhazia

Abkhazian Prepositions

Abkhazian Folklore and Mythology

Weather and Climate in Abkhazia

Abkhazian Adverbs

Abkhazian Sports and Recreation

Health and Wellness in Abkhazia

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