Garay Vowel Sign E

Usually open e; in specific spellings, it marks prenasalization. After the ordinary Garay consonant 𐵳 (ka), it supplies an open e, written /ɛ/ in sound notation: 𐵳𐵩 is /kɛ/. A prenasalized stop is a stop sound preceded by a nasal sound. After 𐵴, 𐵵, 𐵹, or 𐵺, this same sign marks that kind of consonant instead. The surrounding letters settle its job.

Garay was created by Assane Faye in Senegal for Wolof and first appeared in print in January 1961. Faye shaped it as an indigenous Wolof alphabet in the period after Senegal's independence, with forms intended to be easier for readers familiar with Arabic writing. Garay runs right to left but keeps its letters separate; it is a distinct alphabet that developed alongside Wolofal, the Arabic-based way of writing Wolof.

Faye also used Garay in textbooks, folktales, and maps, and for a Qur’an with Wolof translation between the Arabic lines. As of 2026, accounts also document its use in women’s groups and adult-literacy teaching.

Why does 𐵩 float or sit oddly?

Because it combines with a consonant, and font support varies. Garay fonts can place this mark differently because 𐵩 attaches to a base letter. In 2026, a Garay orthography note warned that an early prototype font could misplace combining marks. If it floats or sits oddly, check the character order and font before changing the spelling.