Un (Meitei letter)

Un
Usage
Writing systemMeitei (Meetei Mayek)
TypeAbugida
In UnicodeU+ABCE

Un (also spelled Oon; Meitei: ꯎ) is the fifteenth letter of the Meitei script (Meetei Mayek). Unlike most of the preceding letters in the core alphabet, it primarily represents a vowel sound, specifically the close back rounded vowel ([u]).[1] In accordance with the unique naming system of the Meitei alphabet, the letter is named after and visually represents a hair follicle or the skin of the human body.[2][3]

Origin and etymology

Ancient Meitei character "OON" (ꯎ) represents as well as means "skin" or "hair follicle".

The name Un translates directly to a "hair follicle" or "skin" in the Meitei language (Manipuri). Within the script's core 18 original letters (Eyek Ipee), the characters follow a conceptual logic mapping out the physical components of human anatomy, following Huk (joint/articulation) as the framework moves outward to the body's outer layer.[4][5][6][7]

According to traditional Meitei philosophy and ancient manuscripts known as Puyas, the graphic shape of the letter mimics the pore or pocket of a hair follicle on the skin's surface. During the late 20th-century script revival movement, this character was officially standardized by the Government of Manipur to its current digital shape.[8][9][10][11]

Meitei mythology and cosmogony

The alphabet ꯎ (Un) holds a prominent theological position in Meitei accounts of genesis. It is associated with the sixth day of the week, Eelai (Friday), which celebrates the complete physical assembly and outward appearance of the human being. Grouped alongside ꯌ and ꯍ, the character ꯎ represents the God Father Creator Himself, anchoring the physical creation of the living body and spine to its ultimate divine source.[4][5][6][7]

Linguistic and phonetic usage

Sound value

In modern Meitei, Un functions as an independent vowel character representing the close back rounded vowel ([u]). When written on its own without any modifiers, it represents the pure syllable sound /u/.[12][13]

Positional variations

  • Syllable-initial: When appearing at the beginning of a syllable or word, it acts as an independent vowel base.[14][12][13]
  • Syllable-final (Lonsum): The letter Un does not have a dedicated final consonant form (Lonsum) because it is inherently a vowel character. When used at the end of a syllable, it forms part of a diphthong combination.[14][12][13]

Tonal interaction

As Meitei is a tonal language, the pitch of the syllable containing Un is altered depending on the attached vowel diacritics (Cheitap) or the accompanying tone markers to signify distinct meanings.[12][13]

Computer encoding

Un was added to the Unicode Standard in October 2009 with the release of version 5.2. It is located inside the "Meetei Mayek" block.[15]

CharacterUnicode Code Point[16][17]NameCharacter Reference
ꯎU+ABCEMEETEI MAYEK LETTER UNꯎ

Equivalent letters

In comparative typography, the phonetic properties of Un align with corresponding initial vowel characters in other major ancestral and regional writing systems. Because Un functions as an independent vowel base rather than a consonant carrier, its cross-script mappings correspond to standalone vowel structures, arranged in strict alphabetical order by script family:

Script FamilyEquivalent GlyphTransliteration
Aramaic𐡅U
Bengali-AssameseউU
Ashokan Brahmi𑀉U
BurmeseဥU
DevanagariउU
GujaratiઉU
Gupta Brahmi𑀉
(Brahmi glyph)		U
GurmukhiੳU
KannadaಉU
MalayalamഉU
OdiaଉU
Perso-Arabic (Urdu)اوU
Phoenician𐤅U
TamilஉU
TeluguఉU
ThaiอုU
TibetanཨུU

See also

References

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  1. ↑ "Teaching Meitei Mayek: A New Approach" (PDF). Language in India.
  2. ↑ Noren, akoijambam (1993). Supchanlaba Meetei Lonmit Amasung Lonchat Pathap.
  3. ↑ Kangjiya, Ng (1978). Kanglei Eyekki Waree.
  4. 1 2 Thokchao Pangkanpa, Thokchom (1958). Wakoklon Thilel Sallai Amailon Pukok (in Manipuri). Manipur University Library. India: Digital Library of India; Internet Archive.
  5. 1 2 "Discovery of Kangleipak 11". e-pao.net.
  6. 1 2 "Discovery of Kangleipak 12". e-pao.net.
  7. 1 2 "Meetei Mayek 18 Subagee Kanglon Amasung Wangulon". Internet Archive; Digital Library of India (in Manipuri).
  8. ↑ Arambarn Parratt, Saroj Nalini, ed. (2009), "Meetei Mayek or Meetei script chart", The Court Chronicle of the Kings of Manipur, Foundation Books, pp. 145–148, ISBN 978-81-7596-638-3, retrieved 2026-07-15
  9. ↑ "Transliteration from Hindi Script to Meetei Mayek : ( A Rule Based Approach )". www.semanticscholar.org. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  10. ↑ "Meitei Mayek Alphabets". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  11. ↑ "Meetei Mayek: The Script". tabish.freeshell.org. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Ray, Sohini (2009). "Writing the Body: Cosmology, Orthography, and Fragments of Modernity in Northeastern India". Anthropological Quarterly. 82 (1): 129–154. ISSN 0003-5491.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Sarangthem, Bobita; Lokendro, Laishram (2022-01-01). "Script and sound system of Meiteilon". Journal of Language and Culture.
  14. 1 2 "Meitei Mayek Transliteration: A Comprehensive Guide". okram.co.in. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  15. ↑ "Meitei Mayek Unicode 2009". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  16. ↑ "Meetei Mayek | Official Unicode Consortium code chart" (PDF). Unicode.
  17. ↑ "Meetei Mayek | Charts | Name list". unicode.org. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
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