Lepcha Letter Cha

It is a consonant letter used to write Lepcha. The Library of Congress romanization gives it the name “cha”; unmarked, it carries an inherent “a” vowel. Lepcha syllables can add a dependent vowel sign or an explicit final-consonant sign.

The Lepcha script developed directly from Tibetan writing, with its letterforms reoriented into horizontal lines from left to right and separate marks added for final consonants. Lepcha tradition credits Chakdor Namgyal with devising it around 1720; other accounts place its development in the seventeenth century.

Written Lepcha served Buddhist translation and teaching, later carrying Indigenous myths and prayers, Christian printing, and administrative documents. Sikkim recognized Lepcha as an official language in 1977; textbooks and publications then broadened its public role.

How do I type ᰇ?

Use a Lepcha-capable keyboard or input method. It must produce Lepcha characters; a font with Lepcha coverage is also needed to display them.

The Library of Congress romanization table maps C to “cha.” On a standard Latin keyboard, C enters Latin C unless a Lepcha input method converts it.

Why does Lepcha text look different?

Vowel marks may render away from their stored positions. They follow the base letter in text order, but the signs romanized as i, o, and oo appear to its left; e appears below. Some final-consonant marks sit above the syllable.