Gothic Letter Lagus

𐌻 is the Gothic alphabet’s letter l. In Gothic words, it represents an l sound, like the first sound in “lamp.” Gothic was a language, and this alphabet was developed in the fourth century to write it, including Wulfila’s Bible translation.

The letter’s name has a separate history. A manuscript from the ninth century glosses its letter-name as laaz. Scholars reconstruct Gothic *lagus with a possible sense of “sea” or “lake,” but the word itself is not directly attested. That uncertain water sense belongs to the name, not the letter’s ordinary reading.

How is 𐌻 connected to Greek lambda and rune ᛚ?

It corresponds to Greek lambda in sound and alphabetic position. A Gothic letter table pairs 𐌻 with Greek capital lambda Λ. In Gothic writing, the letter can also carry the numeral value 30 when marked with dots or a line above.

The Gothic alphabet drew chiefly on Greek, with Latin influence and a possible runic contribution that remains debated. A Gothic letter table also links 𐌻 by name to reconstructed Proto-Germanic *laguz, associated with rune ᛚ. That is a historical name connection; the Gothic letter and rune belong to different scripts.

What does 𐌻 mean when someone sends it?

By itself, it is a Gothic letter, not a complete message. A Gothic reader can read it as part of a word; someone unfamiliar with Gothic may need the source or a transliteration. If it arrives alone, ask for the surrounding word or context before assigning it a meaning.