Ben (Armenian letter)

Ben
Ben
Բ բ
Usage
Writing system	Armenian alphabet
Type	Alphabetic
Language of origin	Armenian
Phonetic usage	b (Eastern Armenian) ; pʰ (Western Armenian, in some places in the Eastern)
Unicode codepoint	U+0532, U+0562
Alphabetical position	2nd; Numerical value: 2
History
Development	Possibly Β β or Ϝ ϝ Բ բ; ;
Time period	Since 405 to present
Other
Associated numbers	2
	This article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨ ⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.

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

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[edit]

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[edit]

Character information
Preview	Բ		բ
Unicode name	ARMENIAN CAPITAL LETTER BEN		ARMENIAN SMALL LETTER BEN
Encodings	decimal	hex	dec	hex
Unicode	1330	U+0532	1378	U+0562
UTF-8	212 178	D4 B2	213 162	D5 A2
Numeric character reference	Բ	Բ	բ	բ

Gallery[edit]

Rounded erkat'agir
Angular erkat'agir
Bolorgir
Notrgir
Shghagir
Handwritten form

External links[edit]

Բ on Wiktionary
բ on Wiktionary

References[edit]

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

[1] Aleksandra Krawczuka (editor): Wielka Historia Świata, vol. 3. Świat okresu cywilizacji klasycznych.' Oficyna Wydawnicza FOGRA, 2005, p. 586. ISBN 83-85719-84-9.

[one-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)

[:0-4] "Numbers in Armenian". omniglot.com. Retrieved 2020-10-12.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]