Latin alphabet
Alphabet used to write the Latin language / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Latin alphabet, also known as the Roman alphabet, is the collection of letters originally used by the ancient Romans to write the Latin language. Largely unaltered with the exception of a couple splits (of the letters ⟨I⟩ from ⟨J⟩, and ⟨U⟩ from ⟨V⟩), additions (such as ⟨W⟩), and extensions (such as letters with diacritics), it forms the Latin script that is used to write most languages of modern Europe, Africa, America and Oceania. Its basic modern repertoire is standardised as the ISO basic Latin alphabet.
For the usage of this alphabet in modern languages, see Latin script.
Quick Facts Latin, Script type ...
Latin | |
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Script type | |
Time period | c. 700 BC – present |
Official script | Roman Republic and Roman Empire (with Greek alphabet used in the east) |
Languages | Latin |
Related scripts | |
Parent systems | |
Child systems | Numerous Latin alphabets; also more divergent derivations such as Osage |
Sister systems | |
ISO 15924 | |
ISO 15924 | Latn (215), Latin |
Unicode | |
Unicode alias | Latin |
See Latin characters in Unicode | |
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. |
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