See also: Ֆ, $, , , and

ֆ U+0586, ֆ
ARMENIAN SMALL LETTER FEH
օ
[U+0585]
Armenian և
[U+0587]

Armenian edit

Etymology edit

Introduced in the 11th century (first attested in 1037). Probably modeled on Ancient Greek φ (ph).

Pronunciation edit

Letter edit

ֆ

ֆ lowercase (uppercase Ֆ)

  1. The 39th and last letter of the Armenian alphabet, called ֆե (fe). Represents voiceless labiodental fricative: [f]. Transliterated as f.

Usage notes edit

  • Old Armenian did not have an [f] sound; in borrowed words it was replaced by փ (pʿ) (especially from Greek) and/or հ (h) (especially from Iranian when preceding -r-); compare փիլիսոփայ (pʿilisopʿay), հրաման (hraman), օրհնեմ (ōrhnem).
  • Because this letter is a late addition, it has no numerical value.
  • In Traditional Armenian orthography this is the 38th letter.
  • Words with ֆ (f) are either borrowings or are of onomatopoeic origin (though it is sometimes found in dialectal developments of some genuine Armenian words).

See also edit

References edit

  • Dum-Tragut, Jasmine (2009) Armenian: Modern Eastern Armenian (London Oriental and African Language Library; 14), Amsterdam, Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company, § 1.1.2.2, page 18