#Djinba

[gwendolynlerman]

Writing systems

Latin

The Latin, or Roman, script was originally adapted from the Etruscan alphabet during the 7th century BCE to write Latin. The earliest known inscription dates from the 6th century BCE. 

The letters -y- and -z- were taken from the Greek alphabet to write Greek loan words. Other letters were added from time to time as it was adapted for other languages.

The modern Latin script is used to write hundreds of different languages. Each language uses a slightly different set of letters, and they are pronounced in various ways.

It is the basis for the largest number of alphabets of any writing system and is the most widely adopted writing system in the world.

Notable features

Type of writing system: alphabet

Direction of writing: left to right in horizontal lines

Number of letters: 26 (standard letters)

Used to write: Aari, Abaza, Abellen, Abenaki, Abkhaz, Abui, Acehnese, Achagua, Achang, Acheron, Achi, Acholi, Achuar-Shiwiar, Achumawi, Adaizan, Adamua Fulfulde, Adzera, Afaan Oromo, Afar, Afrikaans, Aguaruna, A-Hmao, Ahtna, Ainu, Aja, Ajië, Akan, Akatek, Aklan, Akurio, Alabama, Albanian, Aleut, Algonquin, Alsatian, Altay, Alur, Alutiiq, Alyawarr, Amahuaca, Amarakaeri, Amarasi, Amele, ǂ’Amkoe, Amis, Andoa, Angami, Anuki, Anutan, Apache, Apma, Apurinã, Arabela, Aragonese, Araki, Aranese, Arapaho, Arawak, Arbëresh, Are, Arikara, Aringa, Aromanian, Arrernte, Arvanitic, Asháninka, Ashéninka, Assiniboine, Asturian, Atayal, Atikamekw, Atong, ‘Auhelawa, Avokaya, Awa Pit, Awara, Awing, Aymara, Azeri, Babine-Witsuwit’en, Bade, Bai, Baka, Bakairi, Balangao, Bambara, Baniwa, Banjar, Bantoanon, Baoulé, Barai, Barbareño, Bari, Bariba, Bartangi, Bashkir, Basque, Bassa, Bavarian, Beaver, Belarusian, Beli, Bemba, Bench, Betawi, Biete, Bikol, Biloxi, Bininj Kunwok, Bislama, Blackfoot, Blagar, Blin, Boholano, Bokar, Bolinao, Bongo, Bontoc, Bora, Bosnian, Botolan, Bouyei, Brahui, Breton, Bribri, Bugis, Buglere, Buhutu, Bulu, Bundjalung, Bunun, Burushaski, Busa, Bushi, Bwaidoka, Cabécar, Caddo, Caluyanon, Candoshi-Shapra, Cape Verdean Creole, Caquinte, Carib, Carijona, Carolinian, Casiguran Dumagat Agta, Catalan, Cayuga, Cebuano, Central Sinama, Chami, Chamicuro, Chamorro, Chang, Cha’palaa, Chatino, Chavacano, Chechen, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Chinanteco, Cimbrian, Chichewa, Chickasaw, Chilcotin, Chinook, Chipeyan, Chippewa, Chitimacha, Chiwere, Choctaw, Chokwe, Ch’ol, Chorti, Chrau, Chru, Chukchansi, Chuukese, Cipu, Cocopah, Coeur d’Alene, Cofán, Comanche, Comorian, Comox, Cora, Cornish, Corsican, Cree, Creek, Croatian, Crow, Cubeo, Cumbric, Curripaco Cuyonon, Cypriot Arabic, Czech, Daga, Dagaare, Dagbani, Dalmatian, Danish, Dananshan Miao, Dargwa, Daur, Dawan, Dayak, Daza, Deg Xinag, Dena’ina, Dengebu, Dhao, Dholuo, Dhuwal, Digaro Mishmi, Digo, Dinka, Ditidaht, Dijanang, Djinba, Dogrib, Domari, Dongotono, Drehu, Drung, Duala, Dupaningan, Duri, Dusun, Dutch, Edo, Efik, Ekoka !Kung, Elfdalian, Emae, Emilian-Romagnol, English, Enindhilyagwa, Eperara, Esperanto, Estonian, Ewe, Ewondo, Extremadura, Eyak, Fala, Fanagalo, Fang, Fante, Faroese, Fijian, Fiji Hindi, Finnish, Flemish, Folkspraak, Fon, Fox, Franco-Provençal, French, French Guianese Creole, Frisian, Friulian, Fula, Fur, Futuna-Aniwa, Futunan, Fuyu Kyrgyz, Ga, Gagauz, Galician, Gallo, Galoli, Gamilaraay, Ganda, Garawa, Garifuna, Garo, Gawwada, Gen, Genoese, German, Ghadamès, Ghomara, Gija, Gitxsan, Goemai, Gonja, Gooniyandi, Gottscheerish, Greenlandic, Griko, Guadeloupean Creole, Guambiano, Guanano, Guarani, Guaymí, Guere, Guernésiais, Gugadja, Glui, Guinea-Bissau Creole, Guugu Yalandji, Guugu Yimiyhirr, Gwere, Gwich’in, Haida, Haisla, Haitian Creole, Halkomelem, Hamer, Hän, Hani, Hausa, Hawaiian, Hawu, Heiltsuk, Herero, Hidatsa, Hiligaynon, Hiri Motu, Hixkaryana, Hmar, Hmong Dau, Hmong Njau, Hmu, Hoava, Ho-Chunk, Hopi, Huambisa, Hungarian, Huarijio, Huasteco, Huichol, Huilliche, Hunsrik, Hupa, Iban, Ibibio, Icelandic, Ido, Idu Mishmi, Ifugao, Igbo, Ikizu, Ikpeng, Ilocano, Inapari Sami, Indonesian, Ingrian, Ingush, Interglossa, Interlingua, Interslavic, Innu-aimun, Iñapari, Iñupiaq, Ipai, Iraqw, Irish, Ishkashimi, Isnag, Istriot, Italian, Iu Mien, Ivatan, Ivilyuat, Ixil, Jabo, Jakaltek, Jamaica, Jaminjung, Japreria, Jaqaru, Jarai, Jarawa, Javanese, Jebero, Jersey Norman French, Jicarilla, Jingulu, Jita, Jola-Fonyi, Jru, Judeo-Spanish, Jul’hoan, Juhuri, Jur Modo, Kabiye, Kabyle, Kadazandusun, Kadugli, Kagayanen, Kaingang, Kaiwá, Kakabai, Kala Lagaw Ya, Kam, Kambari, Kamda, Kanakavanu, Kanasi, Kanga, Kaninuwa, Kanuri, Kapampangan, Kapingamarangi, Kaqchikel, Karaim, Karakalpak, Karamojong, Karbi, Karelian, Karuk, Kasem, Kashaya, Kashibo, Kashinawa, Kashubian, Kaska, Kaurna, Kavalan, Kawaiisu, Kazakh, Keiga, Keliko, Keres, Ket, Khakas, Khasi, Khinalug, Khoekhoe, Khorasani Turkic, Khufi, Ki’che, Kichwa, Kickapoo, Kikuyu, Kiliwa, Kimbundu, Kinaray-a, Kinyarwanda, Kiribati, Kirundi, Kisi, Kissi, Kituba, Klallam, Klamath, Klingon, Koho, Koasati, Kom, Kongo, Konjo, Konkani, Kosraen, Koti, Kove, Koyukon, Kri, Krongo, Kumeyaay, Kumyk, Kuna, Kuot, Kunjen, Kurmanji Kurdish, Kurti, Kutenai, Kuuk Thaayorre, Kven, Kwak̓wala, Laalaa, Lacandon, Lahu, Lampung, Latin, Latino sine Flexione, Latgalian, Latvian, Ledo Kaili, Lele, Leonese, Lezgi, Lingala, Lingua Franca Nova, Ligurian, Lilloet, Limba, Limburgish, Liq’wala, Lithuanian, Livonian, Llanito, Lojban, Lombard, Lopit, Lote, Lotuko, Loup, Lower Tanana, Lokoya, Lozi, Ludic, Luganda, Lugbara, Luiseño, Lule Sami, Lumun, Luobohe Miao, Lushootseed, Luxembourgish, Maasai, Machiguenga, Macushi, Ma’di, Madurese, Makah, Makasarese, Makonde, Makhuwa, Malagasy, Malay, Malecite-Passamaquoddy, Maltese, Mam, Mandan, Mandar, Mandinka, Mangareva, Manggarainese, Maninka, Mankanya, Mano, Manx, Maore, Maori, Mapuche, Maranao, Marba, Maricopa, Marshallese, Masbateño, Mashan Miao, Maskelynes, Massachusett, Martu Wangka, Mato, Maung, Mauritian Creole, Mayo, Mazahua, Mazatec, Matigsalug, Mbula, Mbum, Megleno-Romanian, Mele-Fila, Menominee, Meriam Mir, Mescalero-Chiricahua, Miami, Michif, Mikasuki, Mi’kmaq, Miju, Minangkabau, Mirandese, Miriwoong, Miskito, Mixtec, Miya, Mizo, Mòcheno, Mohawk, Mohegan, Mohican, Mojave, Mokilese, Moldovan, Monégasque, Monguor, Mono, Montagnais, Montenegrin, Moriori, Morokodo, Moronene, Mortlockese, Moru, Mossi, Motu, Mozarabic, Mualang, Muna, Mundari, Munsee, Muong, Murrinh-Patha, Murui Huitoto, Musey, Musi, Mutsun, Mwaghavul, Mwani, Mwotlap, Nagamese, Nahuatl, Nanti, Narim, Naro, Narrangansett, Naskapi, Natchez, Nauruan, Navajo, Naxi, Ndrumbea, Ndyuka, Neapolitan, Nenets, Nez Perce, Ngaanyatjarra, Ngiyambaa, Nigizim, Nheengatu, Nias, Nihali, Nisga’a, Niuafo’ou, Niuean, Nkore, Nobiin, Nomatsiguenga, Noonm Noogar, Norfuk, Norn, North Frisian, North Slavey, Northern Emberá, Northern Ndebele, Northern Paiute, Norther Pomo, Northern Sami, Northern Sotho, Norwegian, Northwest Maidu, Novial, Nuer, Nukuoro, Nukuria, Nunggubuyu, Nupe, Nuu-Chah-Nulth, Nuxalk, Nllng, Nyelâyu, Nyole, Nzema, Occidental, Occitan, Okanagan, Okinawan, Olu’bo, Onge, Onandaga, O’odham, Oowekyala, Omaha, Oneida, Old Norse, Ona, Ontong Java, Oromo, Oroqen, Oroshor, OshiWambo, Ossetian, Otomi, Ottawa, Paakantyi, Paama, Páez, Paicî, Paipai, Paite, Paiwan, Palauan, Palenquero, Panare, Pangasinana, Papantla Totonac, Papiamento, Paraujuano, Paresi, Patwin, Pauna, Pawnee, Paya, Pazeh, Pemon, Penrhyn, Piapoco, Picard, Piedmontese, Pikin, Pilagám, Pingelapese, Pintupi, Pipil, Pirahã, Pite Sami, Pitjantjatjara, Pochuri, Pohnpeian, Polci, Polish, Pomo, Pontic Greek, Portuguese, Potawatomi, Powhatan, Pukapukan, Puluwatese, Purepecha, Puyuma, Q’anjob��al, Q’eqchi’, Qo Xiong, Quapaw, Quechan, Quechua, Quiripi, Rade, Raga, Rakahanga-Manihiki, Rapa Nui, Rarotongan, Rennellese, Réunion Creole, Rifian, Ripuarian, Rohingya, Ronga, Rotokas, Romani, Romanian, Romániço, Romansh, Rotuman, Roviana, Rukai, Rushani, Saanich, Saaroa, Safen, Sahaptin, Saisiyat, Sakao, Sakapultek, Salar, Saliba, Salish, Sambal, Samoan, Sanglechi, Sango, Saramaccan, Santa, Sardinian, Sarikoli, Sarnámi Hindustani, Sasak, Saterland Frisian, Satawalese, Savosavo, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Secoya, Sedang, Seediq, Sekani, Sena, Seneca, Serbian, Serer, Seri, Serrano, Seychelles Creole, Seto, Shavante, Shawiya, Shawnee, Sheko, Shetlandic, Shilha, Shilluk, Shipibo, Shona, Shoshone, Shuar, Shughni, Shuswap, Siar, Sicilian, Sierra Leonean Creole, Sikaiana, Silesian, Sio, Sioux, Skolt Sami, Slovak, Slovene, Slovio, Soga, Somali, Soninke, Sonsorelese, Sorbian, South Slavey, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sami, Southern Sotho, Southern Tiwa, Spanish, Squamish, Sranan, Saint Lucian Creole, Stellingwarfs, Stoney, Sumbawa, Sundanese, Supyire, Susu, Swahili, Swati, Swedish, Taa, Tagabawà, Tagalog, Tahitian, Tahltan, Taíno-Borikenaíki, Tairoa, Taiwanese, Tai Ya, Takuu, Talysh, Tamahaq, Tamasheq, Tammari, Taos, Tarahumara, Tami, Tanacross, Tangale, Tangkhul Naga, Tariana, Tatar, Tausūg, Tboli, Tedim, Tehuelche, Teiwa, Terêna, Temne, Tepehuán, Teribe, Ter Sami, Tetum, Thompson, Ticuna, Tii, Tiipai, Tikopia, Timbisha, Tiriyó, Tiwi, Tlapanec, Tlingit, Toba Qom, Tocho, Tojolabal, Tok Pisin, Tokelauan, Tolai, Tolaki, Tolowa, Tombulu, Tondano, Tongan, Tongva, Toposa, Toqabaqita, Toraja-Sa’dan, Torres-Strait Creole, Tsafiki, Tshiluba, Tshimshian, Tsonga, Tsotsil, Tsou, Tsuut’ina, Tswa, Tswana, Tuareg, Tucano, Tumak, Tumbuka, Tunica, Turkish, Turkmen, Turoyo, Tuscarora, Tutchone, Tuvaluan, Tuvan, Twi, Tzeltal, Tz’utujil, Ubang, Ubir, Udege, Udi, Uduk, Ulithian, Umbundu, Ume Sami, UNami, Upper Kuskokwin, Upper Tanana, Urarina, Uyghur, Uzbek, Vadi, Vaeaku-Taumako, Värmlandic, Vastese, Venda, Venetian, Veps, Vietnamese, Volapük, Võro, Vurës, Wa, Wa’di, Wakhi, Wallisian, Walloon, Wambaya, Wandamen, Wantoat, Warlpiri, Waray-Waray, Wardaman, Washo, Wayana, Wayuu, Welsh, Wemba Wemba, Wendat, West Frisian, Western Rote, Wichita, Wik-Mungkan, Winnebago, Wintu, Wiradjuri Wolaytta, Woleaian, Wolof, Wukchumni, Wymysorys, Xârâcùù, Xhosa, Yabem, Yaghnobi, Yami, Yaminawa, Yanesha’, Yang Zhuang, Yao, Yapese, Yaqui, Yazghulami, Yemba, Yimchungrü, Yindjibarndi, Yolngu, Yoruba, Yucatek Maya, Yuchi, Yucuna, Yup’ik, Yurok, Záparo, Zapotec, Zarma, Zazaki, Zeelandic, Zenaga, Zigula, Zinza, Zou, Zulu, Zuni, and Zuwara Berber

Before a vowel or between vowels -i- used to be pronounced /j/. Elsewhere it was pronounced /i/.

Accented letters can be used to modify the pronunciation of a letter, to indicate emphasis in a sentence, pitch or intonation of a word or syllable, vowel length or the stress in a word, and to visually distinguish homophones.

Latin alphabet

Accented letters

Some extra letters

Ligatures