Meaning & use
abjad alphabet
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountabletechnical
A writing system in which each symbol mainly represents a consonant, and vowels are usually not written.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'an abjad alphabet' or 'two abjad alphabets'. Often used before another noun: abjad alphabet script.
Patterns
- an abjad alphabet
- the abjad alphabet system
Arabic and Hebrew are written with an abjad alphabet, so short vowels are often left out.
In an abjad alphabet, readers must know the language to fill in the missing vowels.
The teacher explained that an abjad alphabet is different from a full alphabet like Greek.
Word forms
| plural | abjad alphabets |
|---|
Common combinations
- abjad alphabet script
- The ancient text was written in an abjad alphabet script.
- use an abjad alphabet
- Many Semitic languages use an abjad alphabet.
- read an abjad alphabet
- It takes practice to read an abjad alphabet fluently.
- abjad alphabet system
- The abjad alphabet system has roots in ancient Phoenician writing.
Synonyms and how they differ
- consonantal alphabet
- A more descriptive term for the same thing; it emphasizes that consonants are the main symbols.
- abjad
- The short form; it is more common in technical writing than the full phrase 'abjad alphabet'.
Opposites
Word family
- abjad noun
- A writing system of the abjad type.
- abjadic adjective
- Relating to an abjad alphabet.
Commonly confused: abjad alphabet or alphabet? abjad alphabet or syllabary?
abjad alphabet vs alphabet
An alphabet has symbols for both consonants and vowels; an abjad alphabet mainly writes consonants.
abjad alphabet vs syllabary
A syllabary uses symbols for whole syllables, not just consonants.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'abjad alphabet' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The correct answer is B because an abjad alphabet is a writing system where vowels are usually not written. An is wrong because English uses a full alphabet. C is wrong because it is a writing system, not a spoken language. D is wrong because abjad alphabets mainly use consonant letters, not vowel letters.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “abjad alphabet”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.