Lisu Letter Pha

It is a separate Lisu letter, not Latin P.

It marks aspirated p: say p with a small puff of air. The P-like shape comes from Latin forms adapted for Lisu; similar outlines do not share letter identity.

In a Lisu syllable, a consonant normally includes an unstated vowel like the “a” in “father” unless a vowel letter follows. A tone letter comes after the syllable.

How do I type ꓒ?

Enter A4D2 in a hexadecimal Unicode input method. For Lisu text, use a font that supports the script.

Who shaped the Lisu script?

Ba Thaw began it; Fraser and Lisu clergy revised it.

Ba Thaw was a Karen evangelist who adapted Latin letter forms for Lisu during 1908–1914. James O. Fraser and Lisu Christian clergy then revised the writing system. Christian publishing is documented from 1921, and a Lisu primer—a beginner’s reading book—from 1922.

The script first served practical Christian literacy through catechisms (books explaining Christian teaching), scripture, hymnbooks, and lessons. By 2021 it also supported Lisu language education, literature, cultural work, and online communication. This is the Fraser or Old Lisu tradition, distinct from later Latin-based Lisu orthographies.