The Early Cyrillic alphabet was a writing system developed in Bulgaria during the 10th century A.D. for the writing of Old Church Slavonic. With Christianity having been made the official state religion in 864, King Boris I commissioned the creation of the alphabet. Climent of Ochrid developed the alphabet and named it for his teacher, St. Cyril, a missionary who, along with his brother, Methodius, is credited with inventing the Glagolitic alphabet, an earlier Slavic alphabet and an influence on this one. In the following centuries, the Early Cyrillic was replaced by a later form, the Modern Cyrillic alphabet, which is still widely in use throughout Asia and Eastern Europe.
The alphabet
| Image
| Unicode
| Name
(Cyrillic)
| Name
(transliterated)
| Name
(IPA)
| Transliteration
| IPA
| Notes
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Azu.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Azu.png
| А а
| АЗЪ
| azǔ
| [aʒʌ]
| a
| [a]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Buky.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Buky.png
| Б б
| БѸКИ
| buky
| [buki]
| b
| [b]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Viedi.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Viedi.png
| В в
| ВѢДИ
| vědě
| [vɛdi]
| v
| [v]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Glagoli.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Glagoli.png
| Г г
| ГЛАГОЛИ
| glagoli
| [glagoli]
| g
| [g]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Dobro.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Dobro.png
| Д д
| ДОБРО
| dobro
| [dobro]
| d
| [d]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Yesti.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Yesti.png
| Є є
| ѤСТЬ
| estǐ
| [iɛstɪ]
| e
| [ɛ]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Zhiviete.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Zhiviete.png
| Ж ж
| ЖИВѢТЄ
| živěte
| [ʒivɛtɛ], [ʒivjɛtɛ]
| ž, zh
| [ʒ]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Dzelo.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Dzelo.png
| Ѕ ѕ
| ЅѢЛО
| dzělo
| [ʣɛlo], [ʣjɛlo]
| dz, Z
| [dz], [z]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Zemlia.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Zemlia.png
| З з
| ЗЄМЛIА
| zeml’ja
| [zemlja]
| z
| [z]
| See note 1
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Izhe.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Izhe.png
| И и
| ИЖЄ
| iže
| [iʒɛ]
| i
| [i]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_I.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter I.png
| І і / Ї ї
| И
| i
| [i]
| i, I
| [i]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Kako.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Kako.png
| К к
| КАКО
| kako
| [kako]
| k
| [k]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Liudiye.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Liudiye.png
| Л л
| ЛЮДИѤ
| ljudije
| [ljudijɛ]
| l
| [l]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Myslite.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Myslite.png
| М м
| МЫСЛИТЄ
| mūslite
| [muslitɛ]
| m
| [m]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Nashi.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Nashi.png
| Н н
| НАШЬ
| našǐ
| [naʃɪ]
| n
| [n]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Onu.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Onu.png
| О о
| ОНЪ
| onǔ
| [onʌ]
| o
| [o]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Pokoi.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Pokoi.png
| П п
| ПОКОИ
| pokoi
| [pokoj]
| p
| [p]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Koppa.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Koppa.png
| Ҁ ҁ
| КОППА?
| koppa?
| [koppa], [kopa]
| q
| [q], [ʔ]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Ritsi.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Ritsi.png
| Р р
| РЬЦИ
| rǐci
| [rɪʦi]
| r
| [r]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Slovo.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Slovo.png
| С с
| СЛОВО
| slovo
| [slovo]
| s
| [s]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Tvrido.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Tvrido.png
| Т т
| ТВРЬДО
| tvrǐdo
| [tvrɪdo], [tfrɪdo]
| t
| [t]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Uku.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Uku.png
| Ѹ ѹ
| ѸКЪ
| ukǔ
| [ukʌ]
| u
| [u]
| See note 2
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Fritu.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Fritu.png
| Ф ф
| ФРЬТЪ
| frǐtǔ
| [frɪtʌ]
| f
| [f]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Khieru.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Khieru.png
| Х х
| ХѢРЪ
| xěrǔ
| [xɛrʌ]? [xjɛrʌ]?
| x
| [x]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Otu.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Otu.png
| Ѡ ѡ
| ОТЪ
| otǔ
| [otʌ]
| ō, w
| [oː]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Tsi.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Tsi.png
| Ц ц
| ЦИ
| ci
| [ʦi]
| c
| [ʦ]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Chrivi.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Chrivi.png
| Ч ч
| ЧРЬВЬ
| červ
| [ʧrɪvɪ]
| č, ch
| [ʧ]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Sha.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Sha.png
| Ш ш
| ША
| ša
| [ʃa]
| š, sh
| [ʃ]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Shta.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Shta.png
| Щ щ
| ШТА
| šta
| [ʃta]
| št, sht, šč, shch
| [ʃt], [ʃʧ]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Yeru.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Yeru.png
| Ъ ъ
| ѤРЪ
| jerǔ
| [jɛrʌ]
| ǔ, u:
| [ʌ]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Yery.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Yery.png
| Ы ы
| ѤРЫ
| jerū
| [jɛry]
| ū
| [y]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Yeri.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Yeri.png
| Ь ь
| ѤРЬ
| jerǐ
| [jɛrɪ]
| ǐ, i:
| [ɪ]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Yati.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Yati.png
| Ѣ ѣ
| ЯТЬ
| jatǐ
| [jatɪ]
| ě, je
| [jɛ]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Yu.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Yu.png
| Ю ю
| Ю
| ju
| [ju]
| ju
| [iu]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Ya.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Ya.png
| Я я
| (И)Я
| ja
| [ja]
| ja
| [ja]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Yusu_Maliy.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Yusu Maliy.png
| Ѧ ѧ
| ѦСЪ
| ęsǔ
| [ɛ̃s]
| ę, ẽ
| [ɛ̃]
| See note 3
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Yusu_Maliy_Yotirovaniy.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Yusu Maliy Yotirovaniy.png
| Ѩ ѩ
| ѨСЪ
| jęsǔ
| [jɛ̃s]
| ję, jẽ
| [jɛ̃]
| See note 4
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Yusu_Bolshiy.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Yusu Bolshiy.png
| Ѫ ѫ
| ѪСЪ
| ǫsǔ
| [ɔ̃s]
| ǫ, õ
| [ɔ̃]
| See note 5
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Yusu_Bolshiy_Yotirovaniy.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Yusu Bolshiy Yotirovaniy.png
| Ѭ ѭ
| ѬСЪ
| jǫsǔ
| [jɔ̃s]
| jǫ, jõ
| [jɔ̃]
| See note 6
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Ksi.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Ksi.png
| Ѯ ѯ
| КСИ
| ksi
| [k͡si]
| ks
| [k͡s]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Psi.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Psi.png
| Ѱ ѱ
| ПСИ
| psi
| [p͡si]
| ps
| [p͡s]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Fita.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Fita.png
| Ѳ ѳ
| ФИТА
| fita
| [fita]
| θ, th, T, F
| [t], [θ], [f]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Izhitsa.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Izhitsa.png
| Ѵ ѵ
| ИЖИЦА
| ižica
| [iʒiʦa]
| ü
| [ɪ], [y]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Ye.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Ye.png
| Ѥ ѥ
| (И)Ѥ
| jeː
| [jɛ]
| jeː
| [iɛ]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Dierv.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Dierv.png
| Ћ ћ
| ДѤРВ
| đerv, djerv
| [ʤɛrv], [djɛrv]
| đ, dj
| [ʤ], [dj]
| See note 7
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_Tvrido_Otu.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter Tvrido Otu.png
| Ѿ ѿ
| ТВРЬДО ОТЪ
| tvrǐdo otǔ
| [tvrɪdo otʌ], [tfrɪdo otʌ]
| tō, tw
| [toː]
|
|
Missing image
Early_Cyrillic_letter_O.png
Image:Early Cyrillic letter O.png
|
|
| See note 8
|
Notes
- Zemlya: The first form developed into the second.
- Ouku: The first form developed into a vertical ligature, shown in the second form.
- Ęsǔ: In Russian, this glyph is called ЮСЪ МАЛЫЙ (jusǔ malūi; IPA: [jusʌ malyi]).
- Jęsǔ: In Russian, this glyph is called ЮСЪ МАЛЫЙ ЁТИРОВАНИЙ (jusǔ malūi jotirovanij; IPA: [jusʌmalyi jotirovanij]). This glyph is rare.
- Ǫsǔ: In Russian, this glyph is called ЮСЪ БОЛЬШИЙ (jusǔ bolǐšij; IPA: [jusʌ bolyʃiː]). This glyph is rare.
- Jǫsǔ: In Russian, this glyph is called ЮСЪ БОЛЬШИЙ ЁТИРОВАНИЙ (jusǔ bolǐšij jotirovanij; IPA: [jusʌ bolyʃiː jotirovanij]). This glyph is rare.
- Đerv: This letter is present in the Glagolitic alphabet, but its sound had disappeared by the time Cyrillic started to be used. In Russian, Gherv or Dzherv is only used in modern scientific texts where Cyrillic is used to transliterate Glagolitic; the character is found in some Balkan languages, notably the languages of the former Yugoslavia.
- Ornate omega: The name of this glyph is unknown; it would seem to be used in interjections, especially before vocatives.
Numerals, diacritics and punctuation
Each letter also had a numeric value, inherited from the corresponding Greek alphabet letter. A titlo over a sequence of letters indicated their use as a number. See Cyrillic numerals, Titlo.
Several diacritics, adopted from Polytonic Greek orthography, were also used (these may not appear correctly in all web browsers):
- а´ oksia, indicating a stressed syllable (Unicode U+1FFD), similar to an acute accent
- а` varia, indicating stress on the last syllable (U+1FEF), similar to a grave accent
- а҄ kamora, indicating palatalization (U+0484), similar to an inverted breve
- а҅ dasy pneuma, rough breathing mark (U+0485)
- а҆ zvatel'tse, or psilon pneuma, soft breathing mark (U+0486)
- а҃ titlo, indicating abbreviations, or letters used as numerals (U+0483)
- ӓ trema, diaeresis (U+0308)
- а҆´ Combined zvatel'tse and oksia is called iso.
- а҆` Combined zvatel'tse and varia is called apostrof.
Punctuation marks:
References
- A Berdnikov and O Lapko, "Old Slavonic and Church Slavonic in TEX and Unicode", EuroTEX '99 Proceedings (http://www.uni-giessen.de/partosch/eurotex99/berdnikov2.pdf), September 1999
- DJ Birnbaum, "Unicode for Slavic Medievalists" (http://clover.slavic.pitt.edu/~repertorium/resources/unicode_sofia_1_post.pdf), September 28, 2002
- M Everson and R Cleminson, "Final proposal for encoding the Glagolitic script in the UCS", Expert Contribution to the ISO N2610R (http://std.dkuug.dk/jtc1/sc2/wg2/docs/n2610r.pdf), September 4, 2003
- V Lev, "The history of the Ukrainian script (paleography)", in Ukraine: a concise encyclopdia, volume 1. University of Toronto Press, 1963, 1970, 1982. ISBN 0802031056
- V Simovyc and JB Rudnyckyj, "The history of Ukrainian orthography", in Ukraine: a concise encyclopdia, volume 1 (op cit).
- J Zamora, "Help me learn Church Slavonic", online (http://justin.zamora.com/slavonic/alphabet/letter-names.html)
- Ukrainian Wikipedia, "Кирилиця" (Cyrillic)
See also
Missing image
CommonsLogo.png
Commons
uk:Кирилиця
|
