Avestan Letter Ve

𐬬 is an Avestan letter, transcribed v for a soft, w-like sound. The script preserved Zoroastrian ritual recitation and later carried Pazand, Middle Persian written in Avestan letters. A blank box usually means the font lacks Avestan support.

Text symbol

What 𐬬 means

A smooth, w-like consonant. Scholars write it v; the sound uses rounded lips, with little friction.

Why was the Avestan script created?

To preserve ritual recitation. Avestan scholars adapted Pahlavi, a connected script that reused shapes for several sounds. Pahlavi descended from Aramaic; this v sign was invented independently. Avestan writing may date to the fourth century CE.

The recitation model was sixth-century ritual practice in Western Iran, intended as a norm across the Sasanian Empire. Later, Pazand used Avestan letters for Middle Persian. K7a, the oldest surviving Avestan manuscript, may date to 1268, 1278, or 1288 CE or later.

Part of the collection

𐬀

Avestan, Pahlavi & Sogdian Scripts

Who writes 𐬬

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Questions people ask

Why does 𐬬 show as a box on some devices?

Not every system ships a font for the Avestan block. Where none is installed, the character shows as an empty box; adding a font such as Noto fixes it. The character itself is still correct and copies correctly.