Ben (Armenian letter)

Ben (majuscule: Բ, minuscule: բ; Armenian: բեն) is a letter of the Armenian alphabet, used in the Armenian language.

Ben
Բ բ
Upper and lower case of letter ben
Usage
Writing systemArmenian alphabet
Typealphabetic
Language of originArmenian
Unicode codepointU+0532, U+0562
Alphabetical position2nd
History
Development
  • Բ բ
Time periodSince 405/406
Other
Writing directionLeft-to-Right

It was one of the original letters in the Armenian alphabet created by Mesrop Mashtots in 405 AD.[1]

It is speculated to be derived from the Greek letter Beta with the rightmost curves cut off somewhat. Along with the letter Ayb, it forms the word "այբուբեն" (alphabet).

Usage

It is the 2nd letter of the Armenian alphabet, used in the Armenian language. In Eastern Armenian dialect, it is usually pronounced as the voiced bilabial plosive [b], though in some sub-dialects, it can be pronounced as the voiceless bilabial plosive [p], or as the aspirated voiceless bilabial plosive [pʰ]. In the Western Armenian dialect, it is pronounced as the aspirate voiceless bilabial plosive [pʰ].[2] In English, it is transliterated as the letter B.[3] In Armenian numeral system, the letter corresponds to the number 2.[4]

Encodings
Character information
PreviewԲբ
Unicode name ARMENIAN CAPITAL LETTER BEN ARMENIAN SMALL LETTER BEN
Encodingsdecimalhexdechex
Unicode1330U+05321378U+0562
UTF-8212 178D4 B2213 162D5 A2
Numeric character referenceԲԲբբ

References
  1. Aleksandra Krawczuka (edditor): Wielka Historia Świata, vol. 3. Świat okresu cywilizacji klasycznych.' Oficyna Wydawnicza FOGRA, 2005, p. 586. ISBN 83-85719-84-9.
  2. Takayuki Yoshimura. Modern Eastern Armenian Grammar I. Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, 2021. p. 1, 12.
  3. Transliteration of Armenian by Thomas T. Pedersen, in KNAB (Kohanimeandmebaas, Place Names Database) of Eesti Keele Instituut (Institute of the Estonian Language).
  4. "Numbers in Armenian". omniglot.com. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
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