Tifinagh alphabet: the 33 letters of Tifinagh-IRCAM
The script of Standard Amazigh, with the Latin transcription, an Arabic equivalent and a sound hint for each letter.
- ⴰaفتحةopen vowel, like the “a” in “father”
- ⵉiكسرةlike the “ee” in “see”
- ⵓuضمةlike the “oo” in “moon”
- ⴻeصائت محايدshort neutral vowel, like the “a” in “about”
- ⴱbبas in “bed”
- ⴷdدas in “dog”
- ⴼfفas in “fish”
- ⵍlلas in “lamp”
- ⵎmمas in “moon”
- ⵏnنas in “name”
- ⵔrرa quick tapped r, as in Spanish “pero”
- ⵙsسas in “sun”
- ⵜtتas in “tea”, without a puff of air
- ⵣzزas in “zoo”
- ⴹḍضemphatic d: said with the tongue pulled back and the throat tight
- ⵕṛر مفخمةemphatic r: a heavier, darker r
- ⵚṣصemphatic s: heavier, with the tongue pulled back
- ⵟṭطemphatic t: heavier, with the throat tight
- ⵥẓز مفخمةemphatic z: heavier, with the throat tight
- ⴳgݣhard g, as in “go”
- ⴳⵯgʷݣُg said with rounded lips, like “gw”
- ⴽkكas in “skate”
- ⴽⵯkʷكُk said with rounded lips, like “kw”
- ⵖɣغvoiced sound from the back of the throat, like the French “r” in “rouge” (Arabic غ)
- ⵅxخrough sound from the back of the throat, like “ch” in German “Bach” (Arabic خ)
- ⵇqقk said far back in the throat (Arabic ق)
- ⵃḥحbreathy sound from deep in the throat (Arabic ح)
- ⵄɛعtight sound from the throat, with no English equivalent (Arabic ع)
- ⵀhهas in “hat”
- ⵛcشlike “sh” in “shoe”
- ⵊjجlike the “s” in “measure”, or French “j”
- ⵡwوas in “water”
- ⵢyيas in “yes”
Letters in a table
| Tifinagh | Latin | Arabic (approx.) | How to say it | Shape (Arabic note) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⴰ | a | فتحة | open vowel, like the “a” in “father” | حلقة صغيرة واحدة. صائت يشبه الفتحة |
| ⵉ | i | كسرة | like the “ee” in “see” | زجزاج صغير. صائت يشبه الكسرة |
| ⵓ | u | ضمة | like the “oo” in “moon” | حلقتان صغيرتان فوق بعض. صائت يشبه الضمة |
| ⴻ | e | صائت محايد | short neutral vowel, like the “a” in “about” | حلقتان صغيرتان بينهما خط أفقي. الصائت المحايد |
| ⴱ | b | ب | as in “bed” | حلقة يقسمها خط أفقي |
| ⴷ | d | د | as in “dog” | حرف Λ: مثلث مفتوح من الأسفل |
| ⴼ | f | ف | as in “fish” | حرف H بنهايات صغيرة |
| ⵍ | l | ل | as in “lamp” | خطّان عموديان بينهما خط مائل |
| ⵎ | m | م | as in “moon” | نصف مربع مفتوح من اليمين |
| ⵏ | n | ن | as in “name” | خط عمودي واحد |
| ⵔ | r | ر | a quick tapped r, as in Spanish “pero” | حلقة فارغة (O). الراء الخفيفة |
| ⵙ | s | س | as in “sun” | حلقة في وسطها نقطة |
| ⵜ | t | ت | as in “tea”, without a puff of air | علامة زائد (+). تجدها في بداية المؤنث ونهايته |
| ⵣ | z | ز | as in “zoo” | رجل رافع ذراعيه: رمز «ياز» أي الرجل الحر |
| ⴹ | ḍ | ض | emphatic d: said with the tongue pulled back and the throat tight | حرف E: ثلاثة خطوط أفقية على عمود |
| ⵕ | ṛ | ر مفخمة | emphatic r: a heavier, darker r | حلقة بخط مائل في أسفل اليمين (Q). الراء المفخّمة |
| ⵚ | ṣ | ص | emphatic s: heavier, with the tongue pulled back | حلقة بخط مائل في أعلى اليمين |
| ⵟ | ṭ | ط | emphatic t: heavier, with the throat tight | حرف E وفي وسطه علامة زائد |
| ⵥ | ẓ | ز مفخمة | emphatic z: heavier, with the throat tight | ⵣ وعليه خطّان أفقيان: الزاي المفخّمة |
| ⴳ | g | ݣ | hard g, as in “go” | حرف X مغلق من الأعلى بخط أفقي |
| ⴳⵯ | gʷ | ݣُ | g said with rounded lips, like “gw” | ⴳ مع كأس صغيرة في أعلى اليمين: ݣ بشفتين مضمومتين |
| ⴽ | k | ك | as in “skate” | حرف K مغلق من الأعلى بخط أفقي |
| ⴽⵯ | kʷ | كُ | k said with rounded lips, like “kw” | ⴽ مع كأس صغيرة: ك بشفتين مضمومتين |
| ⵖ | ɣ | غ | voiced sound from the back of the throat, like the French “r” in “rouge” (Arabic غ) | شوكة: نصف مربع مفتوح من الأعلى وتحته ساق |
| ⵅ | x | خ | rough sound from the back of the throat, like “ch” in German “Bach” (Arabic خ) | حرف X وفي أعلاه خط عمودي صغير |
| ⵇ | q | ق | k said far back in the throat (Arabic ق) | إطار على شكل Z وفيه خط قُطري |
| ⵃ | ḥ | ح | breathy sound from deep in the throat (Arabic ح) | خط مائل طويل يلتقي بخط مائل قصير |
| ⵄ | ɛ | ع | tight sound from the throat, with no English equivalent (Arabic ع) | شوكة مقلوبة: نصف مربع مفتوح من الأسفل وفوقه ساق |
| ⵀ | h | ه | as in “hat” | حلقة يقسمها خط عمودي |
| ⵛ | c | ش | like “sh” in “shoe” | نصف حلقة (C) وفي داخلها حلقتان صغيرتان |
| ⵊ | j | ج | like the “s” in “measure”, or French “j” | حرف I الكبير: عمود بخطين أفقيين |
| ⵡ | w | و | as in “water” | كأس: نصف مربع مفتوح من الأعلى |
| ⵢ | y | ي | as in “yes” | البرق: خطّان مائلان متعاكسان |
Neo-Tifinagh and the older script
Tifinagh is an old writing system of the Amazigh people. The version on this page, often called Neo-Tifinagh or Tifinagh-IRCAM, was standardised for the Standard Moroccan Amazigh language and is the one used in Moroccan schools and on public signs. Other Tifinagh traditions, such as the Tuareg script, use some different signs and rules.
Learn to read Tifinagh
The first Academy lessons teach these letters in small groups with exercises, and the first two lessons are free.
Questions
How many letters are in the Tifinagh alphabet?
The Tifinagh-IRCAM alphabet used for Standard Amazigh in Morocco has 33 letters: 4 vowel signs (a, e, i, u) and the consonants, including the emphatic letters and the two rounded letters gʷ and kʷ.
What is Neo-Tifinagh?
Neo-Tifinagh is the modern form of the Tifinagh script. It was standardised for Standard Amazigh by IRCAM (the Royal Institute of the Amazigh Culture) and is the script taught in Moroccan schools. It is based on traditional Tifinagh signs.
Does Tifinagh read left to right?
Yes. Tifinagh-IRCAM is written from left to right, like English, with spaces between words.
What are the emphatic letters?
Emphatic letters (ḍ, ṛ, ṣ, ṭ, ẓ) are said with the tongue pulled back and a tight throat, a heavier version of d, r, s, t and z. Arabic speakers know the same effect from ض, ص, ط and ظ.
Is there a printable alphabet chart?
Yes. Use the Print button on this page to print the chart or save it as a PDF.