What ꔥ means
It writes the Vai syllable transcribed into Latin letters as “in.”
Vai is a syllabary: a writing system whose signs each represent a syllable. The Vai script was created around 1833 by Vai speakers to write their language. Its earliest known surviving sample is dated 1834. It served ordinary needs such as correspondence and record-keeping, especially in trade.
Early records show variant forms and occasional misreadings by outsiders. Standardization efforts in 1899 and 1962 aimed to narrow that variation. Vai's syllabic design influenced Mende, Loma, and Kpelle; evidence also points to influence on Bassa and Bamum. A possible Cherokee influence on Vai remains debated.
How do I type ꔥ?
A Unicode Vai keyboard or transliteration tool is the practical input route for Vai text.
An old 8-bit Vai font uses a font-specific encoding rather than Unicode, so text made with it may fail when moved to another app. For new text, use Unicode input and a font with Vai coverage.
Vai is written left to right, and words are not usually separated by spaces. Keep ꔥ with the surrounding Vai syllables; adding spaces can split the written word.
Don't confuse it with
2Questions people ask
2Is ꔥ an emoji?
No. As of 2026, Unicode provides no emoji presentation for ꔥ; it is used as a text syllable in Vai.
Can old Vai writing use a different form?
Yes. Early Vai records preserve variant forms, and writing standards changed over time. Read an older form within its manuscript's period and convention before equating its outline with a modern character.
How to type ꔥ
ꔥ\A525Codes and encoding1 code points
A visible symbol can contain several code points. JS .length counts UTF-16 units; UTF-8 counts bytes.