abjad

[/ˈæbdʒæd/ or /ɑbˈdʒɑd/]
nounmasculinepl: abjads
abjad
1. A writing system in which only consonants are represented by letters, with vowels either omitted or optionally indicated by diacritical marks
Arabic and Hebrew are examples of abjad writing systems.
Árabe e hebraico são exemplos de sistemas de escrita abjad.
2. The term derived from the first four letters of the Arabic alphabet (alef, ba, jim, dal) used to denote this type of script
The word 'abjad' itself comes from the names of the first four letters of the Arabic alphabet.
A palavra 'abjad' vem dos nomes das primeiras quatro letras do alfabeto árabe.
This is primarily a linguistic and historical term used in academic discussions about ancient writing systems and comparative linguistics. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation in either English or Portuguese-speaking countries. The term is more prevalent in scholarly contexts discussing the evolution of written language, particularly when studying Semitic languages and their historical development.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
consonantal alphabetconsonantary
Antonyms / Antônimos
abugidaalphabetsyllabary

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
abjad
Used in linguistic and historical contexts; direct borrowing from English
Portugal
abjad
Same usage as Brazilian Portuguese in academic contexts
Linguistics field
sistema abjádico
Alternative descriptive term used in Portuguese academic writing

Related Words

scriptwriting systemphonemediacriticHebrewArabicPhoenician
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