Modern Meitei/Script/Diacritics

In Meitei writing system (Meetei Mayek), there are diacritics (formally known as "Cheitap Mayek") that when applied to either consonants or vowels will produce specific sounds. Unlike, other Indian scripts, Meitei diacritics are applicable to vowels.

Cheitap letters(Cheitap mayek)

Cheitap mayek	Name	IPA	Latin	Example
ꯥ	aa-tap	a	a	Italy (ꯏꯇꯥꯂꯤ)
ꯤ	ee-nap	i	e or i	King (ꯀꯤꯡ), Feel (ꯐꯤꯜ)
ꯨ	uu-nap	u	u or oo	Cool (ꯀꯨꯜ), Fum (ꯐꯨꯝ)
ꯦ	yet-nap	e	ay or e	Bay (ꯕꯦ), Ken (ꯀꯦꯟ)
ꯣ	o-nap	o	o	Bo (ꯕꯣ), Cold (ꯀꯣꯜ꯭ꯗ)
ꯩ	chei-nap	ej	ei	Hei (ꯍꯩ), Fei (ꯐꯩ)
ꯧ	sou-nap	ow	ou or ow	Sou (ꯁꯧ), Hou (ꯍꯧ), Bowl (ꯕꯧꯜ)
ꯪ	nung or noong	ɐŋ	ang or ng	Anglo (ꯑꯪꯒ꯭ꯂꯣ), Kangla (ꯀꯪꯂꯥ)

Diacritics application for consonants

For better understanding and easy learning, let's take the consonants one by one:

First consonant - "ꯀ" (K)

1. ꯀꯥ - kaa (kā)
2. ꯀꯤ - kee (kī)
3. ꯀꯨ - koo (ku)
4. ꯀꯦ - ke
5. ꯀꯩ - kei
6. ꯀꯣ - ko
7. ꯀꯧ - kou (kow)
8. ꯀꯪ - kang (kung)

For better understanding and easy learning, let's compare the Meitei writings with those equivalents of Devanagari script and Bengali-Assamese script.

With Devanagari script

1. ꯀꯥ - kaa (kā) - का
2. ꯀꯤ - kee (kī) - कि / की (both कि & की are equivalent to ꯀꯤ)
3. ꯀꯨ - koo (ku) - कु / कू (both कु & कू are equivalent to ꯀꯨ)
4. ꯀꯦ - ke - के
5. ꯀꯩ - kei - कै
6. ꯀꯣ - ko - को
7. ꯀꯧ - kou (kow) - कौ
8. ꯀꯪ - kang (kung) - कं

With Bengali-Assamese script

1. ꯀꯥ - kaa (kā) - কা
2. ꯀꯤ - kee (kī) - কি / কী (both কি & কী are equivalent to ꯀꯤ)
3. ꯀꯨ - koo (ku) - কু / কূ (both কু & কূ are equivalent to ꯀꯨ)
4. ꯀꯦ - ke - কে
5. ꯀꯩ - kei - কৈ
6. ꯀꯣ - ko - কো
7. ꯀꯧ - kou (kow) - কৌ
8. ꯀꯪ - kang (kung) - কং

Second consonant - "ꯁ" (S)

1. ꯁꯥ - saa (sā)
2. ꯁꯤ - see (sī)
3. ꯁꯨ - soo (su)
4. ꯁꯦ - se
5. ꯁꯩ - sei
6. ꯁꯣ - so
7. ꯁꯧ - sou (sow)
8. ꯁꯪ - sang (sung)

With Devanagari script

• Note: Meitei script "ꯁ" is equivalent to 4 Devanagari letters — छ, श, ष and स.

1. ꯁꯥ - saa (sā) - छा, शा, षा, सा
2. ꯁꯤ - see (sī) - छि / छी, शि / शी, षि / षी, सि / सी
3. ꯁꯨ - soo (su) - छु / छू, शु / शू, षु / षू, सु / सू
4. ꯁꯦ - se - छे, शे, षे, से
5. ꯁꯩ - sei - छै, शै, षै, सै
6. ꯁꯣ - so - छो, शो, षो, सो
7. ꯁꯧ - sou (sow) - छौ, शौ, षौ, सौ
8. ꯁꯪ - sang (sung) - छं, शं, षं, सं

With Bengali-Assamese script

• Note: Meitei script "ꯁ" is equivalent to 4 Bengali-Assamese letters — ছ, শ, ষ and স.

1. ꯁꯥ - saa (sā) - ছা, শা, ষা, সা
2. ꯁꯤ - see (sī) - ছি / ছী, শি / শী, ষি / ষী, সি / সী
3. ꯁꯨ - soo (su) - ছু / ছূ, শু / শূ, ষু / ষূ, সু / সূ
4. ꯁꯦ - se - ছে, শে, ষে, সে
5. ꯁꯩ - sei - ছৈ, শৈ, ষৈ, সৈ
6. ꯁꯣ - so - ছো, শো, ষো, সো
7. ꯁꯧ - sou (sow) - ছৌ, শৌ, ষৌ, সৌ
8. ꯁꯪ - sang (sung) - ছং, শং, ষং, সং

Third consonant - "ꯂ" (L)

1. ꯂꯥ - laa (lā)
2. ꯂꯤ - lee (lī)
3. ꯂꯨ - loo (lu)
4. ꯂꯦ - le
5. ꯂꯩ - lei
6. ꯂꯣ - lo
7. ꯂꯧ - lou (low)
8. ꯂꯪ - lang (lung)

With Devanagari script

1. ꯂꯥ - laa (lā) - ला
2. ꯂꯤ - lee (lī) - लि / ली (both लि & ली are equivalent to ꯂꯤ)
3. ꯂꯨ - loo (lu) - लु / लू (both लु & लू are equivalent to ꯂꯨ)
4. ꯂꯦ - le - ले
5. ꯂꯩ - lei - लै
6. ꯂꯣ - lo - लो
7. ꯂꯧ - lou (low) - लौ
8. ꯂꯪ - lang (lung) - लं

With Bengali-Assamese script

1. ꯂꯥ - laa (lā) - লা
2. ꯂꯤ - lee (lī) - লি / লী (both লি & লী are equivalent to ꯂꯤ)
3. ꯂꯨ - loo (lu) - লু / লূ (both লু & লূ are equivalent to ꯂꯨ)
4. ꯂꯦ - le - লে
5. ꯂꯩ - lei - লৈ
6. ꯂꯣ - lo - লো
7. ꯂꯧ - lou (low) - লৌ
8. ꯂꯪ - lang (lung) - লং

Other important consonants

After observing the above examples, one can practise for other consonants too. However, there are some important consonants in Meitei writing system that is equivalent to more than one letters in the respective Devanagari as well as Bengali-Assamese writing systems. For better understanding and easy learning, let's see:

Consonant "ꯉ" (Ng)

The sound "ng" is frequently used in Sino-Tibetan languages including Meitei. However, it's rarely used in most Indian languages (Indo-Aryan & Dravidian). By the way, let's proceed:

1. ꯉꯥ - ngaa (ngā)
2. ꯉꯤ - ngee (ngī)
3. ꯉꯨ - ngoo (ngū)
4. ꯉꯦ - nge
5. ꯉꯩ - ngei
6. ꯉꯣ - ngo
7. ꯉꯧ - ngou
8. ꯉꯪ - ngang (ngung)

With Devanagari script

• Note: Meitei letter "ꯉ" is equivalent to 2 Devanagari letters — "ङ" and "ञ".

1. ꯉꯥ - ngaa (ngā) - ङा, ञा
2. ꯉꯤ - ngee (ngī) - ङि / ङी, ञि / ञी
3. ꯉꯨ - ngoo (ngū) - ङु / ङू, ञु / ञू
4. ꯉꯦ - nge - ङे, ञे
5. ꯉꯩ - ngei - ङै, ञै
6. ꯉꯣ - ngo - ङो, ञो
7. ꯉꯧ - ngou - ङौ, ञौ
8. ꯉꯪ - ngang (ngung) - ङं, ञं

With Bengali-Assamese script

• Note: Meitei letter "ꯉ" is equivalent to 2 Bengali-Assamese letters — "ঙ" and "ঞ".

1. ꯉꯥ - ngaa (ngā) - ঙা, ঞা
2. ꯉꯤ - ngee (ngī) - ঙি / ঙী, ঞি / ঞী
3. ꯉꯨ - ngoo (ngū) - ঙু / ঙূ, ঞু / ঞূ
4. ꯉꯦ - nge - ঙে, ঞে
5. ꯉꯩ - ngei - ঙৈ, ঞৈ
6. ꯉꯣ - ngo - ঙো, ঞো
7. ꯉꯧ - ngou - ঙৌ, ঞৌ
8. ꯉꯪ - ngang (ngung) - ঙং, ঞং

Consonant "ꯇ" (T)

1. ꯇꯥ - taa (tā)
2. ꯇꯤ - tee (tī)
3. ꯇꯨ - too (tu)
4. ꯇꯦ - te
5. ꯇꯩ - tei
6. ꯇꯣ - to
7. ꯇꯧ - tou (tow)
8. ꯇꯪ - tang (tung)

With Devanagari script

• Note: Meitei letter "ꯇ" has 2 Devanagari equivalent letters - "ट" and "त".

1. ꯇꯥ - taa (tā) - टा, ता
2. ꯇꯤ - tee (tī) - टि / टी, ति / ती
3. ꯇꯨ - too (tu) - टु / टू, तु / तू
4. ꯇꯦ - te - टे, ते
5. ꯇꯩ - tei - टै, तै
6. ꯇꯣ - to - टो, तो
7. ꯇꯧ - tou (tow) - टौ, तौ
8. ꯇꯪ - tang (tung) - टं, तं

With Bengali-Assamese script

• Note: Meitei letter "ꯇ" has 2 Bengali-Assamese equivalent letters - "ট" and "ত".

1. ꯇꯥ - taa (tā) - টা, তা
2. ꯇꯤ - tee (tī) - টি / টী, তি / তী
3. ꯇꯨ - too (tu) - টু / টূ, তু / তূ
4. ꯇꯦ - te - টে, তে
5. ꯇꯩ - tei - টৈ, তৈ
6. ꯇꯣ - to - টো, তো
7. ꯇꯧ - tou (tow) - টৌ, তৌ
8. ꯇꯪ - tang (tung) - টং, তং

Consonant "ꯊ" (Th)

1. ꯊꯥ - thaa (thā)
2. ꯊꯤ - thee (thī)
3. ꯊꯨ - thoo (thu)
4. ꯊꯦ - the
5. ꯊꯩ - thei
6. ꯊꯣ - tho
7. ꯊꯧ - thou (thow)
8. ꯊꯪ - thang (thung)

With Devanagari script

• Note: The Meitei letter "ꯊ" has 2 Devanagari equivalent letters - "ठ" and "थ".

1. ꯊꯥ - thaa (thā) - ठा, था
2. ꯊꯤ - thee (thī) - ठि / ठी, थि / थी
3. ꯊꯨ - thoo (thu) - ठु / ठू, थु / थू
4. ꯊꯦ - the - ठे, थे
5. ꯊꯩ - thei - ठै, थै
6. ꯊꯣ - tho - ठो, थो
7. ꯊꯧ - thou (thow) - ठौ, थौ
8. ꯊꯪ - thang (thung) - ठं, थं

With Bengali-Assamese script

• Note: The Meitei letter "ꯊ" has 2 Bengali-Assamese equivalent letters - "ঠ" and "থ".

1. ꯊꯥ - thaa (thā) - ঠা, থা
2. ꯊꯤ - thee (thī) - ঠি / ঠী, থি / থী
3. ꯊꯨ - thoo (thu) - ঠু / ঠূ, থু / থূ
4. ꯊꯦ - the - ঠে, থে
5. ꯊꯩ - thei - ঠৈ, থৈ
6. ꯊꯣ - tho - ঠো, থো
7. ꯊꯧ - thou (thow) - ঠৌ, থৌ
8. ꯊꯪ - thang (thung) - ঠং, থং

Consonant "ꯗ" (D)

1. ꯗꯥ - daa (dā)
2. ꯗꯤ - dee (dī)
3. ꯗꯨ - doo (du)
4. ꯗꯦ - de
5. ꯗꯩ - dei
6. ꯗꯣ - do
7. ꯗꯧ - dou (dow)
8. ꯗꯪ - dang (dung)

With Devanagari script

• Note: The Meitei letter "ꯗ" has 2 Devanagari equivalent letters - "ड" and "द".

1. ꯗꯥ - daa (dā) - डा, दा
2. ꯗꯤ - dee (dī) - डि / डी, दि / दी
3. ꯗꯨ - doo (du) - डु / डू, दु / दू
4. ꯗꯦ - de - डे, दे
5. ꯗꯩ - dei - डै, दै
6. ꯗꯣ - do - डो, दो
7. ꯗꯧ - dou (dow) - डौ, दौ
8. ꯗꯪ - dang (dung) - डं, दं

With Bengali-Assamese script

• Note: The Meitei letter "ꯗ" has 2 Bengali-Assamese equivalent letters - "ড" and "দ".

1. ꯗꯥ - daa (dā) - ডা, দা
2. ꯗꯤ - dee (dī) - ডি / ডী, দি / দী
3. ꯗꯨ - doo (du) - ডু / ডূ, দু / দূ
4. ꯗꯦ - de - ডে, দে
5. ꯗꯩ - dei - ডৈ, দৈ
6. ꯗꯣ - do - ডো, দো
7. ꯗꯧ - dou (dow) - ডৌ, দৌ
8. ꯗꯪ - dang (dung) - ডং, দং

Consonant "ꯙ" (Dh)

1. ꯙꯥ - dhaa (dhā)
2. ꯙꯤ - dhee (dhī)
3. ꯙꯨ - dhoo (dhu)
4. ꯙꯦ - dhe
5. ꯙꯩ - dhei
6. ꯙꯣ - dho
7. ꯙꯧ - dhou (dhow)
8. ꯙꯪ - dhang (dhung)

With Devanagari script

• Note: The Meitei letter "ꯙ" has 2 Devanagari equivalent letters - "ढ" and "ध".

1. ꯙꯥ - dhaa (dhā) - ढा, धा
2. ꯙꯤ - dhee (dhī) - ढि / ढी, धि / धी
3. ꯙꯨ - dhoo (dhu) - ढु / ढू, धु / धू
4. ꯙꯦ - dhe - ढे, धे
5. ꯙꯩ - dhei - ढै, धै
6. ꯙꯣ - dho - ढो, धो
7. ꯙꯧ - dhou (dhow) - ढौ, धौ
8. ꯙꯪ - dhang (dhung) - ढं, धं

With Bengali-Assamese script

• Note: The Meitei letter "ꯙ" has 2 Bengali-Assamese equivalent letters - "ঢ" and "ধ".

1. ꯙꯥ - dhaa (dhā) - ঢা, ধা
2. ꯙꯤ - dhee (dhī) - ঢি / ঢী, ধি / ধী
3. ꯙꯨ - dhoo (dhu) - ঢু / ঢূ, ধু / ধূ
4. ꯙꯦ - dhe - ঢে, ধে
5. ꯙꯩ - dhei - ঢৈ, ধৈ
6. ꯙꯣ - dho - ঢো, ধো
7. ꯙꯧ - dhou (dhow) - ঢৌ, ধৌ
8. ꯙꯪ - dhang (dhung) - ঢং, ধং

Consonant "ꯅ" (N)

1. ꯅꯥ - naa (nā)
2. ꯅꯤ - nee (nī)
3. ꯅꯨ - noo (nu)
4. ꯅꯦ - ne
5. ꯅꯩ - nei
6. ꯅꯣ - no
7. ꯅꯧ - nou (now)
8. ꯅꯪ - nang (nung)

With Devanagari script

• Note: The Meitei letter "ꯅ" has 2 Devanagari equivalent letters - "ण" and "न".

1. ꯅꯥ - naa (nā) - णा, ना
2. ꯅꯤ - nee (nī) - णि / णी, नि / नी
3. ꯅꯨ - noo (nu) - णु / णू, नु / नू
4. ꯅꯦ - ne - णे, ने
5. ꯅꯩ - nei - णै, नै
6. ꯅꯣ - no - णो, नो
7. ꯅꯧ - nou (now) - णौ, नौ
8. ꯅꯪ - nang (nung) - णं, नं

With Bengali-Assamese script

• Note: The Meitei letter "ꯅ" has 2 Bengali-Assamese letters - "ণ" and "ন".

1. ꯅꯥ - naa (nā) - ণা, না
2. ꯅꯤ - nee (nī) - ণি / ণী, নি / নী
3. ꯅꯨ - noo (nu) - ণু / ণূ, নু / নূ
4. ꯅꯦ - ne - ণে, নে
5. ꯅꯩ - nei - ণৈ, নৈ
6. ꯅꯣ - no - ণো, নো
7. ꯅꯧ - nou (now) - ণৌ, নৌ
8. ꯅꯪ - nang (nung) - ণং, নং

Diacritics application for vowels

There are three vowels in Meitei writing system, ꯎ (Oo/U), ꯏ (Ee/I) and ꯑ (A). Among these 3 vowels, only ꯑ (A) accepts the application of diacritics to form additional vowels. The other two, ꯎ (Oo/U) and ꯏ (Ee/I) doesn't accept the application of diacritics.

Formation of additional vowels — Application of diacritics to "ꯑ (A)"

1. ꯑꯥ - aa (ā)
2. ꯑꯦ - e
3. ꯑꯩ - ei
4. ꯑꯣ - o
5. ꯑꯧ - ou (ow)
6. ꯑꯪ - ang (ung)

Comparison with other Indian abugida writing systems

For better understanding and easy learning, let's compare the equivalents of Meitei vowels (additional vowels) with Devanagari script and Bengali-Assamese script.

With Devanagari script

1. ꯑꯥ - aa (ā) - आ
2. ꯑꯦ - e - ए
3. ꯑꯩ - ei - ऐ
4. ꯑꯣ - o - ओ
5. ꯑꯧ - ou (ow) - औ
6. ꯑꯪ - ang (ung) - अं

With Bengali-Assamese script

1. ꯑꯥ - aa (ā) - আ
2. ꯑꯦ - e - এ
3. ꯑꯩ - ei - ঐ
4. ꯑꯣ - o - ও
5. ꯑꯧ - ou (ow) - ঔ
6. ꯑꯪ - ang (ung) - অং