The Manipuri Alphabet (Meitei Mayek) — full chart

Meitei Mayek (ꯃꯤꯇꯩ ꯃꯌꯦꯛ) is the indigenous script of Manipuri (Meiteilon). It has 27 main letters called Iyek Ipee, 8 final-form letters called Lonsum, vowel signs called Cheitap, and its own numerals. Every letter is named after a part of the human body — Kok means head, Sam means hair, Mit means eye.

1. Iyek Ipee — the 27 main letters

Each letter carries an inherent short "a" sound. Read them left to right.

2. Lonsum Iyek — the 8 final letters

Lonsum letters are used at the end of a syllable, where the consonant has no vowel after it.

3. Cheitap Iyek — vowel signs

Cheitap signs attach to a letter to change its vowel, the way matras work in other Indic scripts. For example ꯃ (ma) + ꯤ (inap) = ꯃꯤ (mi, "person").

4. Punctuation and tone marks

5. Meitei Mayek numerals

Try writing your first words

• ꯃꯤ — mi — person
• ꯏꯃꯥ — ima — mother
• ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔ — Manipur
• ꯈꯨꯔꯨꯝꯖꯔꯤ — khurumjari — hello / greetings