ViolaCnr7137989 at 14:36, 29 March 2026

2026-03-29T14:36:36Z

>Cewbot: Fix broken anchor: 2020-10-17T20:33:14Z #Middle Brahmi or "Kushana Brahmi" (1st-3rd centuries CE)→Brahmi script#Middle Brahmi or "Kushana Brahmi" (1st–3rd centuries CE)

2021-04-13T18:22:29Z

Fix broken anchor: 2020-10-17T20:33:14Z #Middle Brahmi or "Kushana Brahmi" (1st-3rd centuries CE)→Brahmi script#Middle Brahmi or "Kushana Brahmi" (1st–3rd centuries CE)

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{{Indic glyph |letname = Ā |previousletter = A |nextletter = I

|devacp = 0906 |deva2cp = 093E |devaimg = Devanagari aa.svg |deva2img = Devanagari aa sign.png
|bengcp = 0986 |beng2cp = 09BE |bengimg = Bengali Letter Aa.svg


|gurucp = 0A06 |gujrcp = 0A86 |oryacp = 0B06 |tamlcp = 0B86 |tamlimg = Tamil-alphabet-ஆஆ.svg
|telucp = 0C06 |kndacp = 0C86
|guru2cp = 0A3E |gujr2cp = 0ABE |orya2cp = 0B3E |taml2cp = 0BBE |telu2cp = 0C3E |knda2cp = 0CBE

|mlymcp = 0D06 |sinhcp = 0D86
|mlym2cp = 0D3E |sinh2cp = 0DCF |thaicp = 0E32 |laoocp = 0EB2 |tibtcp = 0F71

|mymrcp = 102B |khmrcp = 17B5
|mymr2cp = 102C |khmr2cp = 17B6 |talucp = 19B1 |lanacp = 1A63 |lana2cp = 1A64

|balicp = 1B06 |saurcp = A883 |tavtcp = AAB1
|bali2cp = 1B35 |lepccp = 1C26 |saur2cp = A8B5 |javacp = A9B4 |chamcp = AA29 |mteicp = ABE5

|kharcp = 10A0C |kharletname = Kharoshthi Vowel Length Mark

|kthicp = 11084 |cakmcp = 11103 |shrdcp = 11184 |khojcp = 11201
|kthi2cp = 110B0 |cakm2cp = 11145 |shrd2cp = 111B3 |khoj2cp = 1122C

|sindcp = 112B1 |grancp = 11306 |tirhcp = 11482 |modicp = 11601 |takrcp = 11681
|sind2cp = 112E0 |gran2cp = 1133E |tirh2cp = 114B0 |modi2cp = 11630 |takr2cp = 116AD

|brahcp = 11006 |kushanaimg = Gupta ashoka aa.svg |guptaimg = Gupta allahabad aa.svg |ashokaimg = Brahmi aa.svg |brahletname = Brahmi 'Aa'
|brah2cp = 11038 |kushan2img = |gupta2img = |ashoka2img = Brahmi aa sign.svg |brah2letname = Brahmi sign 'Aa'
|tochimg =
|siddcp = 11581 |siddimg = Siddham aa.svg |siddletname = Siddhaṃ 'Aa'
|sidd2cp = 115AF |sidd2img = Siddham aa halfmark 1.svg |sidd2letname = Siddhaṃ sign 'Aa'

|ipa = ɑː |iast = ā |iscii = A5 |iscii2 = DA


|newacp = 11401 |dogrcp = 11801 |diakcp = 11901 |nandcp = 119A1 |bhkscp = 11C01 |gonmcp = 11D01 |gongcp = 11D61

|newa2cp = 11435 |ahomcp = 11721 |dogr2cp = 1182C |diak2cp = 11930 |nand2cp = 119D1 |bhks2cp = 11C2F |marccp = 11CB0 |gonm2cp = 11D31 |gong2cp = 11D8A

}}

'''Ā''' is a vowel of Indic abugidas. In modern Indic scripts, Aa is derived from the early "[[Ashoka]]" Brahmi letter [[Image:Brahmi aa.svg|13px|Ā]] after having gone through the [[Gupta script|Gupta]] letter [[File:Gupta allahabad aa.svg|13px]]. As an Indic vowel, "Ā" comes in two normally distinct forms: 1) as an independent letter, and 2) as a vowel sign for modifying a base consonant. Bare consonants without a modifying vowel sign have the inherent short "A" vowel.

==Āryabhaṭa numeration==

{{further|Āryabhaṭa numeration}}

[[Aryabhata]] used Devanagari letters for numbers, very similar to the [[Greek numerals]], even after the invention of [[Indian numerals]]. The "Ā" modifier could be used to indicate a consonant's base value, although the unmodified consonant had this value as well. The independent vowel letter आ was not used to indicate any numeric value in the Aryabhata system.<ref name="Ifrah">{{cite book|last=Ifrah|first=Georges|title=The Universal History of Numbers. From Prehistory to the Invention of the Computer|url=https://archive.org/details/universalhistory00ifra_411|url-access=limited|year=2000|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|location=New York|isbn=0-471-39340-1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/universalhistory00ifra_411/page/n468 447]–450}}</ref>

==Historic Ā==
There are three different general early historic scripts - [[Brahmi script|Brahmi]] and its variants, [[Kharosthi|Kharoṣṭhī]], and [[Tocharian alphabet|Tocharian]], the so-called ''slanting Brahmi''. Aa as found in standard [[Brahmi]], [[Image:Brahmi aa.svg|13px|Aa]] was a simple geometric shape, with variations toward more flowing forms by the Gupta [[Image:Gupta allahabad aa.svg|13px|Aa]]. Like all Brahmic scripts, Tocharian Ā [[Image:Tocharian letter aa.gif|18px|Aa]] has an accompanying vowel mark for modifying a base consonant. In Kharoṣṭhī, the only independent vowel letter is for the inherent A. All other independent vowels, including Ā are indicated with vowel marks added to the letter A.

===Brahmi Ā===

The Brahmi letter Ā [[Image:Brahmi aa.svg|13px|Aa]], is [[Brahmi script#origin|probably derived]] from the Aramaic [[Alef]] [[File:Aleph.svg|13px]], and is thus related to the modern Latin [[A]] and Greek [[Alpha]].<ref name="Buhler">{{cite web |last1=Bühler |first1=Georg |title=On the Origin of the Indian Brahmi Alphabet |url=https://archive.org/details/onoriginofindian00bhuoft/page/n3/mode/2up |website=archive.org |publisher=Karl J. Trübner |accessdate=10 June 2020}}</ref> Several identifiable styles of writing the Brahmi Aa can be found, most associated with a specific set of inscriptions from an artifact or diverse records from an historic period.<ref>[[:File:Brahmi script consonants according to James Prinsep March 1838.jpg|Evolutionary chart]], Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol 7, 1838 [https://archive.org/stream/journalofasiatic775asia#page/n101]</ref> As the earliest and most geometric style of Brahmi, the letters found on the [[Edicts of Ashoka]] and other records from around that time are normally the reference form for Brahmi letters, with vowel marks not attested until later forms of Brahmi back-formed to match the geometric writing style.

{|class="wikitable"
|+Brahmi Ā historic forms
|-
!Ashoka ([[Brahmi script#Early Brahmi or "Ashokan Brahmi" (3rd-1st century BCE)|3rd-1st c. BCE]]) !! Girnar (~150 BCE) !! Kushana ([[Brahmi script#Middle Brahmi or "Kushana Brahmi" (1st–3rd centuries CE)|~150-250 CE]]) !! Gujarat (~250 CE) !! Gupta ([[Gupta script|~350 CE]])
|-
| [[File:Brahmi aa.svg|37px]] || [[Image:Gupta girnar aa.svg|37px]] || [[Image:Gupta ashoka aa.svg|37px]] || [[Image:Gupta gujarat aa.svg|37px]] || [[Image:Gupta allahabad aa.svg|37px]]
|}

===Tocharian Ā===

The Tocharian letter [[Image:Tocharian letter aa.gif|25px|Aa]] is derived from the Brahmi [[Image:Brahmi aa.svg|13px|Aa]]. Unlike some of the consonants, Tocharian vowels do not have a [[Tocharian alphabet#Script|Fremdzeichen]] form.

{|class="wikitable"
|+Tocharian consonants with Ā vowel marks
|-
! Kaa !! Khaa !! Gaa !! Ghaa !! Caa !! Chaa !! Jaa !! Jhaa !! Nyaa !! Ṭaa !! Ṭhaa !! Ḍaa !! Ḍhaa !! Ṇaa
|-
| [[File:Tocharian letter kaa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter khaa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter gaa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter ghaa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter caa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter chaa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter jaa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter jhaa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter nyaa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter ttaa.gif|37px]] ||  || [[File:Tocharian letter ddaa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter ddhaa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter nnaa.gif|37px]]
|-
! Taa !! Thaa !! Daa !! Dhaa !! Naa !! Paa !! Phaa !! Baa !! Bhaa !! Maa !! Yaa !! Raa !! Laa !! Vaa
|-
| [[File:Tocharian letter taa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter thaa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter daa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter dhaa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter naa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter paa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter phaa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter baa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter bhaa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter maa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter yaa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter raa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter laa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter vaa.gif|37px]]
|-
! Śaa !! Ṣaa !! Saa !! Haa
|-
| [[File:Tocharian letter shaa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter ssaa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter saa.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter haa.gif|37px]]
|}

===Kharoṣṭhī Ā===

The Kharoṣṭhī letter Ā is indicated with the vowel length mark [[File:Довгий голосний (залежний знак). Письмо кхароштхі. Kharosthi vowel length mark.svg|15px]]. As an independent vowel, Ā is indicated by adding this vowel mark to the independent vowel letter [[A (Indic)#Kharoṣṭhī A|A]] [[File:Буква А (незалежний знак). Письмо кхароштхі. Kharoshthi letter A.svg|15px|A]].

==Devanagari Ā==
{{main|Devanagari aa}}

{{multiple image
| width = 100px
| image1 = Devanagari aa.svg
| alt1 = Ā vowel
| image2 = Devanagari aa sign.png
| alt2 = Ā vowel sign
| footer = Devanagari independent Ā and Ā vowel sign.
}}
'''Ā''' ('''आ''') is a vowel of the [[Devanagari]] [[abugida]]. It ultimately arose from the [[Brahmi]] letter [[Image:Brahmi aa.svg|13px|Ā]], after having gone through the [[Gupta script|Gupta]] letter [[File:Gupta allahabad aa.svg|13px|Ā]]. Letters that derive from it are the [[Gujarati script|Gujarati]] letter '''આ''', and the [[Modi alphabet|Modi]] letter 𑘁.

===Devanagari Using Languages===
The Devanagari script is used to write the [[Hindi language]], [[Sanskrit]] and the majority of [[Indic languages]]. In most of these languages, आ is pronounced as {{IPA-hi|ā|}}. Like all Indic scripts, Devanagari vowels come in two forms: an independent vowel form for syllables that begin with a vowel sound, and a vowel sign attached to base consonant to override the inherent /ə/ vowel. 

==Bengali Ā==
{{main|aa (Bengali)}}
{{multiple image
| width = 100px
| image1 = Bengali Letter {{#if:aa|{{#invoke:string2|title|aa}}}}.svg
| alt1 = Ā vowel
| image2 = Bengali {{#if:aa|{{#invoke:string2|title|aa}}}} vowel sign.svg
| alt2 = Ā vowel sign
| footer = Bengali independent Ā and Ā vowel sign.
}}

'''Ā''' ('''আ''') is a vowel of the [[Bengali script|Bengali]] [[abugida]]. It is derived from the [[Siddhaṃ]] letter [[Image:Siddham aa.svg|13px|Ā]], and is marked by a similar horizontal head line, but less geometric shape, than its Devanagari counterpart, आ.

===Bengali Script Using Languages===
The Bengali script is used to write several languages of eastern India, notably the [[Bengali language]] and [[Assamese language|Assamese]]. In most languages, আ is pronounced as {{IPA-bn|ā|}}. Like all Indic scripts, Bengali vowels come in two forms: an independent vowel form for syllables that begin with a vowel sound, and a vowel sign attached to base consonant to override the inherent /ɔ/ vowel. 

==Gujarati Ā==
{{multiple image
| width = 100px
| image1 = Gujarati vowel Aa.svg
| alt1 = Ā vowel
| image2 = Gujarati vowel sign Aa.svg
| alt2 = Ā vowel sign
| footer = Gujarati independent Ā and Ā vowel sign.
}}
'''Ā''' ('''આ''') is a vowel of the [[Gujarati script|Gujarati]] [[abugida]]. It is derived from the Devanagari Ā [[Image:Devanagari aa.svg|13px|aa]], and ultimately the [[Brahmi]] letter [[Image:Brahmi aa.svg|13px|aa]].

===Gujarati-using Languages===
The Gujarati script is used to write the [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] and [[Kutchi language|Kutchi]] languages. In both languages, આ is pronounced as {{IPA-gu|ā|}}. Like all Indic scripts, Gujarati vowels come in two forms: an independent vowel form for syllables that begin with a vowel sound, and a vowel sign attached to base consonant to override the inherent /ə/ vowel.

==Javanese Ā==
{{main|Aa (Javanese)}}

==Telugu Ā==
{{multiple image
| width = 100px
| image1 = Telugu vowel Aa.svg
| alt1 = Telugu independent vowel Ā
| image2 = Telugu Aa vowel sign.svg
| alt2 = Telugu vowel sign Ā
| footer = Telugu independent vowel and vowel sign Ā.
}}
'''Ā''' ('''ఆ''') is a vowel of the [[Telugu script|Telugu]] [[abugida]]. It ultimately arose from the [[Brahmi]] letter [[Image:Brahmi aa.svg|13px|Ā]]. It is closely related to the [[Kannada script|Kannada]] letter '''ಆ'''. Like in other Indic scripts, Telugu vowels have two forms: and independent letter for word and syllable-initial vowel sounds, and a vowel sign for changing the inherent "a" of Telugu consonant letters. Vowel signs in Telugu can interact with a base consonant in one of three ways: 1) the vowel sign touches or sits adjacent to the base consonant without modifying the shape of either 2) the vowel sign sits directly above the consonant, replacing its v-shaped headline, 3) the vowel sign and consonant interact, forming a ligature.

[[File:Telugu letter Haa.svg|thumb|150px|Telugu Hā, showing a consonant+vowel ligature]]

[[File:Telugu Aa matra.svg|thumb|center|550px|Telugu Ā vowel sign on క, ఖ, గ, ఘ & ఙ: Kā, Khā, Gā, Ghā and Ngā. Note that how the vowel sign interacts with the base consonant is dependent on the location of the headline, the absence of a headline, and the presence of a tail to attach to.]]

==Malayalam Ā==
{{multiple image
| width = 100px
| image1 = Malayalam vowel Aa.svg
| alt1 = Malayalam independent vowel Ā
| image2 = Malayalam vowel sign Aa.svg
| alt2 = Malayalam vowel sign Ā
| footer = Malayalam independent vowel and vowel sign Ā.
| align = left
}}
'''Ā''' ('''ആ''') is a vowel of the [[Malayalam script|Malayalam]] [[abugida]]. It ultimately arose from the [[Brahmi]] letter [[Image:Brahmi aa.svg|13px|Ā]], via the [[Grantha script|Grantha]] letter [[Image:Grantha vowel Aa.svg|x15px|Ā]] ''aa''. Like in other Indic scripts, Malayalam vowels have two forms: an independent letter for word and syllable-initial vowel sounds, and a vowel sign for changing the inherent "a" of consonant letters. Vowel signs in Malayalam usually sit adjacent to its base consonant - below, to the left, right, or both left and right, but are always pronounced after the consonant sound.

==Odia Ā==
{{multiple image
| width = 100px
| image1 = Odia vowel aa.svg
| alt1 = Odia independent vowel Ā
| image2 = Odia vowel sign aa.svg
| alt2 = Odia vowel sign Ā
| footer = Odia independent vowel and vowel sign Ā.
}}
'''Ā''' ('''ଆ''') is a vowel of the [[Odia script|Odia]] [[abugida]]. It ultimately arose from the [[Brahmi]] letter [[Image:Brahmi aa.svg|13px|Ā]], via the [[Siddhaṃ script|Siddhaṃ]] letter [[Image:Siddham aa.svg|x15px|Ā]] ''aa''. Like in other Indic scripts, Odia vowels have two forms: an independent letter for word and syllable-initial vowel sounds, and a vowel sign for changing the inherent "a" of consonant letters. Vowel signs in Odia usually sit adjacent to its base consonant - below, to the left, right, or both left and right, but are always pronounced after the consonant sound. No base consonants are altered in form when adding a vowel sign, and there are no consonant+vowel ligatures in Odia.

{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Devanagari_abugida}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aa (Indic)}}
[[Category:Indic letters]]

Ā (Indic) - Revision history

ViolaCnr7137989 at 14:36, 29 March 2026

>Cewbot: Fix broken anchor: 2020-10-17T20:33:14Z #Middle Brahmi or "Kushana Brahmi" (1st-3rd centuries CE)→Brahmi script#Middle Brahmi or "Kushana Brahmi" (1st–3rd centuries CE)