ᰀ
k Unaspirated onset consonant.
ᰀᰈᰫ
ᰀᰥᰤᰩᰵ
ᰣᰦᰀᰶ
kʲ (lightly palatalised) before e and i.
ᰀᰧᰳᰶ
Combinations
ʈ can be written ᰀ᰷ᰥ, although Unicode has a new letter, ᱍ, for writing that sound.
ᰀ᰷ᰥᰬ
ᰀ᰷ᰥᰩᰱ
`, '\u{1C01}': `ᰁ
kl- Onset cluster. Clusters in Lepcha with the medial -l- create idiosynchratic ligatures that are each written using a dedicated code point.
ᰁᰨ
ᰁᰬᰭ
`, '\u{1C02}': `ᰂ
kʰ Aspirated onset consonant.
ᰂᰫ
ᰂᰦᰭ
`, '\u{1C03}': `ᰃ
ɡ Unaspirated onset consonant.
ᰃᰦᰰ
ᰃᰤᰫ
ɡʲ (lightly palatalised) before e and i.
ᰃᰬᰭᰜᰦᰳ
Combinations
ɖ can be written ᰃ᰷ᰥ, but a new letter is also available for that sound: ᱏ.
ᰃ᰷ᰥᰬ
ᰃ᰷ᰥᰩᰱ
`, '\u{1C04}': `ᰄ
gl- Onset cluster. Clusters in Lepcha with the medial -l- create idiosynchratic ligatures that are each written using a dedicated code point.
ᰄᰧ
ᰄᰤᰳ
`, '\u{1C05}': `ᰅ
ŋ Onset consonant.
ᰅᰭᰶ
ᰅᰫ
ᰅᰨᰯ
There is a tendency to sometimes pronounce this as h, so 'fish' would be hu, and 'to look' would be həʔk̚.p,15
`, '\u{1C06}': `ᰆ
c Unaspirated onset consonant.
ᰆᰨ
ᰀᰆᰬᰲ
`, '\u{1C07}': `ᰇ
cʰ Aspirated onset consonant.
ᰇᰨ
ᰆᰬᰇᰩᰭ
`, '\u{1C08}': `ᰈ
ʒ Onset consonant. Many speakers no longer distinguish between this sound and z.p,19
ᰈᰬᰲ
ᰛᰬᰰᰈᰩᰵ
`, '\u{1C09}': `ᰉ
ɲ Onset consonant.
ᰉᰬᰳ
ᰉᰧᰰᰶ
`, '\u{1C0A}': `ᰊ
t Unaspirated onset consonant.
ᰊᰃᰥᰤᰫ
ᰊᰩᰲ
ᰎᰊᰪᰵ
`, '\u{1C0B}': `ᰋ
tʰ Aspirated onset consonant.
ᰋᰫᰭ
ᰋᰤᰩᰭ
`, '\u{1C0C}': `ᰌ
d Unaspirated onset consonant.
ᰌᰶ
ᰙᰦᰌᰧᰵ
ᰌᰦᰲᰈᰫ
`, '\u{1C0D}': `ᰍ
n Unaspirated onset consonant.
ᰍᰦᰮ
ᰍᰶᰜᰦ
ᰣᰦᰍᰩᰮ
`, '\u{1C0E}': `ᰎ
p unaspirated consonant.
ᰎᰧ
ᰘᰪᰭᰎᰩᰳ
`, '\u{1C0F}': `ᰏ
pl- Onset cluster. Clusters in Lepcha with the medial -l- create idiosynchratic ligatures that are each written using a dedicated code point.
ᰏᰭ
ᰏᰤᰶ
`, '\u{1C10}': `ᰐ
pʰ Aspirated onset consonant.
ᰐᰨ
ᰐᰧᰯ
`, '\u{1C11}': `ᰑ
f Onset consonant.
ᰑᰦ
ᰑᰧᰭᰶ
ᰑᰪᰵᰑᰧᰵ
`, '\u{1C12}': `ᰒ
fl- Onset cluster. Clusters in Lepcha with the medial -l- create idiosynchratic ligatures that are each written using a dedicated code point.
ᰒᰬᰳ
ᰒᰧᰭᰶ
`, '\u{1C13}': `ᰓ
b Unaspirated onset consonant.
ᰓᰪ
ᰓᰦᰰ
`, '\u{1C14}': `ᰔ
bl- Onset cluster. Clusters in Lepcha with the medial -l- create idiosynchratic ligatures that are each written using a dedicated code point.
ᰔᰦ
ᰔᰬᰰ
`, '\u{1C15}': `ᰕ
m Onset consonant.
ᰕᰧ
ᰕᰩᰰ
ᰢᰨᰕᰫ
`, '\u{1C16}': `ᰖ
ml- Onset cluster. Clusters in Lepcha with the medial -l- create idiosynchratic ligatures that are each written using a dedicated code point.
ᰖᰤᰦ
ᰣᰦᰖᰬᰮ
`, '\u{1C17}': `ᰗ
t͡s Unaspirated onset consonant.
ᰗᰫᰭ
ᰗᰪᰲᰗᰪᰲ
`, '\u{1C18}': `ᰘ
t͡sʰ Aspirated onset consonant.
ᰘᰩ
ᰣᰨᰘᰩᰵ
`, '\u{1C19}': `ᰙ
z or d͡z Onset consonant. Many speakers no longer distinguish between this sound and ʒ.p,19
ᰙᰨ
ᰙᰦᰌᰧᰵ
ᰣᰦᰙᰩᰮ
`, '\u{1C1A}': `ᰚ
j Onset consonant.
ᰚᰶ
ᰚᰨᰭ
`, '\u{1C1B}': `ᰛ
r Onset consonant.
ᰛᰪ
ᰃᰨᰛᰫᰵ
Medial equivalent is ᰥ.
`, '\u{1C1C}': `ᰜ
l Onset consonant.
ᰜᰧᰶ
ᰍᰶᰜᰦ
ᰃᰬᰭᰜᰦᰳ
See also the various letters used for medial l.
`, '\u{1C1D}': `ᰝ
h Onset consonant.
ᰝᰦᰱ
ᰝᰧᰱᰶ
Combinations
ʈʰ can be written ᰝ᰷ᰥ, but a new letter is also available for that sound: ᱎ.
ᰝ᰷ᰥᰧ
ᰝ᰷ᰥᰧᰮᰶ
r̥ may occur when this is combined with medial r.
ᰝᰥᰨ
ᰝᰥᰤᰦᰮ
`, '\u{1C1E}': `ᰞ
l̥- Nominally, an onset cluster. Clusters in Lepcha with the medial -l- create idiosynchratic ligatures that are each written using a dedicated code point. In this case, however, the combination generally represents a single, aspirated sound.
ᰞᰨ
ᰞᰨᰭ
ᰞᰤᰮ
`, '\u{1C1F}': `ᰟ
v~w Onset consonant. The distinction between spoken v and w is fading, but still tends to be maintained in writing.p,21
ᰟᰧ
ᰣᰦᰟᰤᰨ
ᰟᰧᰭᰶ
`, '\u{1C20}': `ᰠ
s Onset consonant.
ᰠᰌᰪ
ᰠᰨ
ʃ before the vowel i.
`, '\u{1C21}': `ᰡ
ʃ Onset consonant.
ᰡᰧ
ᰡᰭᰶ
`, '\u{1C22}': `ᰢ
w~v Onset consonant. The distinction between spoken v and w is fading, but still tends to be maintained in writing.p,21
ᰢᰨᰕᰫ
ᰢᰫᰲᰌᰨ
`, '\u{1C23}': `ᰣ
ʔ Used as vowel-carrier for standalone vowels.
ᰣᰦᰀᰶ
ᰣᰧᰭᰶ
ᰣᰫᰵ
ʔə when used alone, ie. representing a standalone version of the inherent vowel. Allophone is ʌ.
ᰠᰨᰣᰮᰶ
Combinations
ᰣᰤ represents the sound ʔj.
ᰣᰤᰦ
ᰣᰤᰩᰭ
`, '\u{1C24}': `ᰤ
-j- Medial consonant.
ᰃᰤᰫ
ᰕᰤᰨᰰ
ᰖᰤᰦ
ʔj is also common.
ᰣᰤᰦ
ᰣᰤᰬᰰ
Combinations
-rj- is the only combination of 2 medials in the same onset. Use ᰥᰤ.
ᰊᰃᰥᰤᰫ
ᰀᰥᰤᰩᰵ
`, '\u{1C25}': `ᰥ
-r- Medial consonant.
ᰀᰥᰰᰶ
ᰊᰃᰥᰧᰀᰪᰱ
Combinations
-rj- is the only combination of 2 medials in the same onset. Use ᰥᰤ.
ᰊᰃᰥᰤᰫ
ᰀᰥᰤᰩᰵ
r̥ is ᰝᰥ.
ᰝᰥᰨ
ᰝᰥᰤᰦᰮ
ᰣᰦᰝᰥᰬᰳ
This medial was also used after a letter with nukta to represent the retroflex sounds.
ᰀ᰷ᰥᰬ
ᰝ᰷ᰥᰧ
ᰃ᰷ᰥᰧ
`, '\u{1C26}': `ᰦ
a vowel. Allophones include ɑ.
ᰑᰦ
ᰣᰦᰀᰶ
ᰋᰦᰮᰎᰩᰳ
`, '\u{1C27}': `ᰧ
i vowel. Allophones include i~iː in open syllables.
ᰎᰧ
ᰑᰧᰭᰶ
ᰜᰧᰳᰶ
The glyph appears to the left of the onset consonant(s).
Combinations
ᰶ may be used with syllables that have this vowel.
ᰜᰧᰶ
ᰉᰧᰰᰶ
`, '\u{1C28}': `ᰨ
o consonant.
ᰆᰨ
ᰣᰤᰨᰲ
ᰉᰧᰜᰨᰱ
The glyph appears to the left of the onset consonant(s).
`, '\u{1C29}': `ᰩ
ɔ consonant.
ᰃᰩ
ᰣᰩᰳ
ᰘᰪᰭᰎᰩᰳ
The glyph appears to the left and across the top of the onset consonant(s).
`, '\u{1C2A}': `ᰪ
ɯ vowel. Allophone ɨ.
ᰛᰪ
ᰣᰪᰯᰓᰫ
ᰗᰪᰲᰗᰪᰲ
`, '\u{1C2B}': `ᰫ
u vowel.
ᰌᰫ
ᰣᰫᰳ
ᰋᰧᰀᰫᰵ
`, '\u{1C2C}': `ᰬ
e in open syllables and before -ŋ and -k.
ᰎᰬ
ᰁᰬᰭ
ɛ or e or ɪ in free variation in most other closed syllables.
ᰎᰬᰯ
ᰡᰬᰲ
`, '\u{1C2D}': `
ᰭ
-ʔk̚ or -k̚ Unvoiced, unreleased, syllable-final consonant.
ᰏᰭ
ᰑᰧᰭᰶ
ᰘᰪᰭᰎᰩᰳ
`, '\u{1C2E}': `ᰮ
-m Syllable-final consonant.
ᰓᰦᰮ
ᰕᰥᰤᰩᰮ
ᱎᰧᰮᰶ
`, '\u{1C2F}': `ᰯ
-l Syllable-final consonant.
ᰚᰬᰯ
ᰣᰪᰯᰓᰫ
`, '\u{1C30}': `ᰰ
-n Syllable-final consonant.
ᰅᰫᰰ
ᰛᰬᰰᰈᰩᰵ
ᱍᰧᰰᰶᰇᰬᰰ
`, '\u{1C31}': `ᰱ
-ʔp̚ or -p̚ Unvoiced, unreleased, syllable-final consonant.
ᰜᰦᰱ
ᰝᰧᰱᰶ
`, '\u{1C32}': `ᰲ
-r Syllable-final consonant.
ᰈᰬᰲ
ᰌᰦᰲᰈᰫ
`, '\u{1C33}': `ᰳ
-ʔt̚ or -t̚ Unvoiced, unreleased, syllable-final consonant.
ᰇᰬᰳ
ᰗᰩᰳ
ᰊᰧᰳᰶᰛᰬᰎᰩᰳ
`, '\u{1C34}': `ᰴ
-ŋ Syllable-final consonant. Only used after the inherent vowel.
ᰆᰴ
For this sound after a vowel sign use ᰵ.
ᰝᰬᰵ
`, '\u{1C35}': `ᰵ
-ŋ Syllable-final consonant.
ᰠᰪᰵ
ᰙᰦᰌᰧᰵ
The glyph for this character is positioned to the left of the onset consonant and any pre-base vowel sign. However, it is still typed and stored after the onset consonant and/or the vowel sign. It doesn't come before ᰶ though.
ᰌᰧᰵᰶ
ᰑᰪᰵᰑᰧᰵ
This character is not used after an inherent vowel. In that case, use ᰴ.
ᰆᰴ
`, '\u{1C36}': `ᰶ
Although this diacritic occurs commonly in Lepcha spelling, it's function appears to be a subject of debate. Plaisier describes it as follows:
Although the original function of the [RAN] sign is still unclear, it is often present in closed syllables, in which case the circumflex sign should be written above the final consonant sign. It has been suggested that the function of the [RAN] is to indicate stress or pitch, in order to distinguish stressable syllables from syllables that never appear in a stressed position, and this hypothesis may well be correct (Plaisier 2003: 28-29, Sprigg 1983: 316). However, because the function of the [RAN] sign is unclear to most writers, nowadays the sign is used by the Lepcha in a variety of ways and opinions vary strongly as to which is the correct usage.
It is only used over a consonant with an inherent vowel (including the vowel-carrier), or a consonant with ᰧ. It is typed and stored after any final consonant in a syllable.
ᰌᰶ
ᰅᰭᰶ
ᰑᰧᰭᰶ
ᰣᰧᰳᰶ
`, '\u{1C37}': `᰷
Used to write retroflex sounds, originally from Tibetan loan words.
ʈ can be written ᰀ᰷ᰥ.
ʈʰ can be written ᰝ᰷ᰥ.
ɖ can be written ᰃ᰷ᰥ.
ᰀ᰷ᰥᰬ
ᰝ᰷ᰥᰧ
ᰃ᰷ᰥᰧ
However, there are now new letters for these sounds.
ʈ can be written ᱍ.
ʈʰ can be written ᱎ.
ɖ can be written ᱏ.
ᱍᰬ
ᱎᰧ
ᱏᰧ
`, '\u{1C3B}': `᰻
`, '\u{1C3C}': `᰼
`, '\u{1C3D}': `᰽
`, '\u{1C3E}': `᰾
`, '\u{1C3F}': `᰿
`, '\u{1C40}': `᱀
0 Digit.
`, '\u{1C41}': `᱁
1 Digit.
`, '\u{1C42}': `᱂
2 Digit.
`, '\u{1C43}': `᱃
3 Digit.
`, '\u{1C44}': `᱄
4 Digit.
`, '\u{1C45}': `᱅
5 Digit.
`, '\u{1C46}': `᱆
6 Digit.
`, '\u{1C47}': `᱇
7 Digit.
`, '\u{1C48}': `᱈
8 Digit.
`, '\u{1C49}': `᱉
9 Digit.
`, '\u{1C4D}': `ᱍ
ʈ Unaspirated onset consonant, mostly associated with Tibetan loan words.
ᱍᰬ
ᱍᰧᰰᰶᰇᰬᰰ
This sound was previously written ᰀ᰷ᰥ.
ᰀ᰷ᰥᰬ
ᰀ᰷ᰥᰩᰱ
`, '\u{1C4E}': `ᱎ
ʈʰ Aspirated onset consonant, mostly associated with Tibetan loan words.
ᱎᰧ
ᱎᰧᰮᰶ
This sound was previously written ᰝ᰷ᰥ.
ᰝ᰷ᰥᰧ
ᰝ᰷ᰥᰧᰮᰶ
`, '\u{1C4F}': `ᱏ
ɖ Unaspirated onset consonant, mostly associated with Tibetan loan words.
ᱏᰧ
ᱏᰩᰱ
This sound was previously written ᰃ᰷ᰥ.
ᰃ᰷ᰥᰬ
ᰃ᰷ᰥᰩᰱ
`, }