Tai Le letter Fa

It is a consonant letter used inside a Tai Le syllable. In modern spelling, the vowel follows the consonant, and any tone mark follows the whole syllable. The surrounding syllable supplies the reading.

The broader Lik Tai writing tradition connected with Tai Le is documented by a reference from 1396; the earliest dated example identified is a scroll from China's Ming dynasty dated 1407. Scholars place Lik Tai's development in Möng Maw between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries. Burmese influence is documented; one study argues the 1407 script form was closer to Ahom than to later Lik Tho Ngok. This history concerns the wider script tradition, not proof that this exact modern letter appeared on the scroll.

The script served vernacular writing in Tai languages. Dehong materials preserve old Buddhist Jataka tales, stories about the Buddha's earlier lives, alongside modern printed texts. One scholarly interpretation sees early adoption as practical and as a way for Tai rulers to build prestige. Reforms after 1954 rationalized the writing system; the 1988 revision moved tone marks to separate spacing letters. These were spelling changes, not changes to ᥜ's role.

How do I type ᥜ?

Use a Tai Le keyboard layout for words and sentences. A dedicated layout is more dependable than guessing which Latin key produces this letter.

A square box in place of ᥜ means the active font has no Tai Le glyph. The character is still present in the text; a font with Tai Le coverage can display it.