ᨫ

ᨫ (jha)

1. The 17th letter and ninth consonant of the Tai Tham Pali alphabet. In Pali it represents the voiced, aspirated palatal consonant /ɟʰ/, written <jh> in the Roman script.
   • Pali ᩏᨷᨩ᩠ᨫᩣᨿ (upajjhāya, “teacher”)

There are two very different designs for this letter, one resembling ᨧ᩠ᨿ and the other resembling ᨩ᩠ᨿ, for which compare the contrast between Burmese ဈ and Mon ၛ. It has even been suggested that the latter Tai Tham form be encoded as ᨩ᩠ᨿ, but there are subtle differences.

In the modern vernacular languages, this letter represents the consonant /s/. The graphic distinction of ᨨ and ᩈ on one hand and ᨫ on the other corresponds to a difference of tone. Native words use ᨪ (non-Lao) or ᨩ (Lao) rather than ᨫ.

• ᨩ (previous letter of the Pali alphabet)
• ᨬ (next letter of the Pali alphabet)