Javanese Letter Sa

ꦱ writes the Javanese syllable sa. For the Javanese sa pronunciation, the consonant is the s sound; its built-in vowel is traditionally open, closer to o than a. A vowel sign changes that vowel, while the pangkon cancellation mark removes it. In a consonant cluster, ꦱ can take a reduced joined form called pasangan.

Javanese script descends from Kawi, an older script that drew on Pallava writing. Central Javanese inscriptions in Old Javanese are dated 743 CE and 787 CE. The script carried religious, legal, heroic, moral, and historical writing. The Aji Saka legend explains the traditional letter order; it is a traditional story, not a literal origin account.

By around 1945, Latin writing and Bahasa Indonesia had largely displaced Javanese script in ordinary public use. Javanese script was also used to write Sundanese in the 17th–19th centuries. Its Kawi roots connect its history with Balinese writing.

How do I type Javanese sa?

Use a Javanese keyboard or transliteration method. A Javanese-aware text shaper arranges vowel marks and reduced pasangan forms when you enter a whole word.