Abjad

What is an Abjad?

An abjad is a special way of writing where we only use signs for the consonants — the letters like b, c, d — and we leave the vowels — like a, e, i, o, u — for the reader to guess. This is different from the alphabet we use every day, which has signs for both consonants and vowels.

Where Did Abjads Come From?

The idea of calling this type of writing an "abjad" was first suggested in 1990 by Peter T. Daniels. Some writing systems, like the ones used for Arabic and Hebrew scripts, are called "impure abjads." In these systems, vowels can sometimes be shown using special marks, but often they are still left for the reader to figure out. This makes reading these languages a bit like solving a puzzle.

Fun Facts About Abjads

• The name abjad comes from the first four letters of the Arabic alphabet. These letters are ʾa, b, j, and d.
• Abjads work well with some languages because these languages build words from a root of three consonants. The vowels help show meaning changes in words.

Why Do People Use Abjads?

Abjads are used for many languages around the world, like Arabic, Kashmiri, Persian, and Urdu. They are special because they focus on the important sounds — the consonants — and let the reader use their knowledge of the language to fill in the vowels.

Abjads have been used for thousands of years and are still used today in many places!