Arabic alphabet

Arabic alphabet
Script type
Period
3rd century CE – present[1]
DirectionRight-to-left script 
LanguagesArabic
Related scripts
Parent systems
Egyptian hieroglyphics
  • Proto-Sinaitic
ISO 15924
ISO 15924Arab (160), ​Arabic
Unicode
Unicode alias
Arabic
Unicode range

The Arabic alphabet,[a] or the Arabic abjad, is the Arabic script as specifically codified for writing the Arabic language. It is a unicameral script written from right-to-left in a cursive style, and includes 28 letters,[b] of which most have contextual forms. Unlike the modern Latin alphabet, the script has no concept of letter case. The Arabic alphabet is an abjad, with only consonants required to be written (though the long vowels – ā ī ū – are also written, with letters used for consonants); due to its optional use of diacritics to notate vowels, it is considered an impure abjad.[2]

  1. ^ Daniels, Peter T.; Bright, William, eds. (1996). The World's Writing Systems. Oxford University Press, Inc. p. 559. ISBN 978-0195079937.
  2. ^ Zitouni, Imed (2014). Natural Language Processing of Semitic Languages. Springer Science & Business. p. 15. ISBN 978-3642453588.


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