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post	Introduction to Pahlavi Vendidad script	Reading Avesta using the old scripts	2022-09-15 00:00:00	pahlavi-vendidad-avesta-intro/	false	language	Mahdi	<link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/khusro.css"">

Pahlavi is the name associated with a group of scripts used to write Middle Persian and Avesta, ... (better research and introduction)

This language is written and read right-to-left, however in this blog post because the main body of text is English, the text is aligned on the left-side.

This blog post requires a browser that supports custom fonts, since I am using the Khusro Pahlavi font. If you cannot see this blog post properly, a PDF version of this blog post is available here.

Alphabet

There are 14 primary letters in Pahlavi Vendidad, some of which are used for multiple sounds. First, let's look at each letter of the alphabet individually.

n

Sound: n, v, r, u, û, o, ô, rarely l

Modern Persian equivalents: ن، و، ر، گاهی ل

Notes: Joins with preceding f, gE, s, a, l, Z and G, but not with any succeeding letter. Pahlavi words ending with t, c, p, k and n, can optionally add an extra final n.

Examples:

1. n (û): a conjunction, meaning and, or; و.
2. nnn (van): a tree, forest, jungle
3. kyn (nêvak): good, beautiful, virtuous; نیک.
4. nDXn (nihān): secret, concealed; نهان.
5. rpn (vafra): ice, snow, hail, sleet; برف.

f / i

Sound: i, y, e, d, j, g

Modern Persian equivalents: ی، د، ج، گ

Notes:

1. In the body of a word it retains its form f before n, i, b, k as y, I!, __B!, q and H!; in all other cases it lapses into i.
2. f (ê or î): used as an izâfat اضافت to show relation between two words, as possessor and the person or a thing possessed, in which case f shows the genitive case.
3. Combines with all preceding letters except n,_ b,_k,_t,c and with all succeeding letters except n, b,_Ë where it takes the forms y, __B!,_M!.
4. f used as the numeral "one" when it follows a substantive, e.g. f_aB! (gabrâ-ê) a man; f_TlË (mart-ê) a man; مردی.
5. i used to represent numeral "one", e.g. ZLi (ê-raz): one hundred; یک صد, KLi (ê-rag): one thousand; یک هزار.

Examples: 2. rFnp_f_rTXË (mâtar-î-pûsar): mother of the boy; مادرِ پسر. 3. Using izâfat is optional, and when it is dropped, it is necessary that the qualifying adjective or the thing possessed must precede the thing possessed or qualified; e.g. rTXË_rFnp (pûsar mâtar), and it is the rule that a Q (zak) or fQ (zak-î) is added before the two words, so: rTXË_rFnp_fQ (zak-î pûsar mâtar) 4. It is also used as a rendering of Avesta relative pronouns OvjE, WvjE, TavjE, who, which and what.

gE / F

Sound: s

Modern Persian equivalent: س

Notes:

1. The gE form of this letter is used when it is the final word of a simple word, or when that simple word is part of a compound word, e.g. gEAr (râs), gEann (vînâs), Rak_gEann (vînâs-kâr)
2. The gE form of this letter is also used when before B,_Ë,_n, e.g. t_gE (sût), vH_gEA (asmân)
3. The gE form of this letter is also used to represent the numerical cipher 40, forty J___A_jEc (chêhal); چهل

Examples:

1. N_gE (dîv): satan, Dev, a demon, an evil spirit; دیو.
2. s|rF (srôsh): one who obeys or hears; the name of the angel who protects mankind by night and day against the attacks of the Daevas, and guards the souls of the dead for the first three nights. He may be compared with Gabriel of Semitic mythology, as a principle messenger of God. He is always styled as n b|rsA_=_s|rF (srôsh-î-ahlôb): holy srosh; metaphorically means "obedience", "humility".; سروش.
3. nvjXpF (spâhân): The city of Ispahan, former capital city of Iran; اصفهان.

s

Sound: š (sh)

Modern Persian equivalent: ش

Notes:

1. In Indian manuscripts this letter is generally given as DE, which can be read as š, dâ, gâ, jâ, yâ, ih.

Examples:

1. ivjX (šûi): a husband; شوی، شوهر.
2. nnTFvjX (šôstan): to wash, to cleanse, to purify; شستن.
3. anks (šikôh): pomp, grandeur, majesty, dignity; شکوه.

a

Sound: a, â, kh, h

Modern Persian equivalents: آ، خ، ه

Notes:

1. Can be used as a prefix, denoting "not" or negation, e.g. gEA_nv (a-vînâs): sinless.

Examples:

1. v (hû): a prefix indicating "good", "well"; opposite of sy (dûš) bad
2. tËy (hû-mat): good thought
3. nvL_Ia (aîrân): the home of the Aryans, the Iran proper; ایران.
4. DEnTEa (aêtîh): existence, being; هستی.

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The table below is taken from Glossary of Pahlavi Vendidad (1953) by Dinsham D. Kapadia, which illustrates how the letters of the alphabet mix when they appear together.