Kayah Li Digit Three

It is the Kayah Li numeral for three. In Kayah Li writing, it fills the same everyday role as three does in other number systems.

In March 1962, teacher Htae Bu Phae devised Kayah Li for the Eastern and Western Kayah Li languages, spoken in Myanmar and Thailand and also known as Karenni. The name Kayah Li is commonly glossed as “Red Karen.” The script offered a distinct Kayah writing system amid Burmese-based and Latin-based spellings. Its letter order and some forms show influence from Myanmar writing and Brahmi, an ancient South Asian writing tradition; Kayah Li has its own distinctive digits.

By 1975, the Kayah Literature Association promoted the script and documented local folklore. In the 1980s, schoolbooks, dictionaries, and magazines were printed in it. From 1984, refugee communities in Thailand used Kayah Li for education and to maintain Kayah identity; some families crossed into Thailand so children could attend school there.

What does ꤃ mean in a message?

It is the numeral three; the message around it supplies any extra meaning. A reader who knows Kayah Li sees an ordinary number. Someone unfamiliar with the script may not recognize it. Sent by itself, it is not a dependable reaction or code.

Why can ꤃ appear as a box?

Usually, the font does not include Kayah Li characters. This is a text character, and the font supplies its shape. A font with Kayah Li coverage can display it.