Armenian Alphabet
The Armenian alphabet consists of 39 letters and was created in 405 CE. It is one of the oldest alphabets still in use today.
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About the Armenian Alphabet
The Armenian alphabet is a unique writing system created specifically for the Armenian language. It consists of 39 letters (originally 36, with 3 added later) and is notable for being one of the few alphabets created by a single person at a specific point in time. The alphabet is used for both Eastern and Western Armenian.
History
The Armenian alphabet was created in 405 CE by Mesrop Mashtots, an Armenian linguist and theologian. He designed it to translate the Bible into Armenian and promote literacy. The original alphabet had 36 letters; three more were added in the 12th century. The alphabet has remained largely unchanged for over 1,600 years.
Key Features
- Written from left to right
- 39 letters (36 original + 3 later)
- Created in 405 CE
- Unique alphabet for Armenian
- Uppercase and lowercase forms
- Over 1,600 years old