Mongolian Unicode Script

The Mongolian script is a unique writing system used primarily for the Mongolian language and historically for several other languages across Inner Asia. It originated around the 12th century, adapted from the Old Uyghur alphabet, and is characterized by its vertical script orientation written from top to bottom in columns that are arranged from left to right across the page. Unlike many writing systems, the Mongolian script is not alphabetical but is rather an abugida, incorporating both consonant letters and vowel diacritics. The shapes of the letters change depending on their position in a word—initial, medial, or final—imparting a distinctive flow and elegance to the script. This script intricately captures the phonetic nuances of Mongolian and has been adapted over the centuries to accommodate the linguistic requirements of different language groups.

The Unicode block for Mongolian, which spans from U+1800 to U+18AF, was added to the Unicode Standard to ensure the digital preservation and accessibility of this historic script, facilitating its use in modern technology. It includes a comprehensive range of letters, punctuation marks, and special symbols specific to Mongolian script. The encoding allows for the representation of complex Mongolian text and supports the rendering of its vertical text flow, even accommodating its traditional ligatures and stylistic variations. While the Cyrillic script is also widely used for Mongolian today, especially in modern Mongolia, the Unicode support for the traditional Mongolian script plays a crucial role in cultural preservation and the revival of historical manuscripts, scholarly work, and in maintaining a connection with Mongolian heritage across the world.

Below you will find all the characters that are in the 'Mongolian' unicode script category. Currently there are 171 characters in this category.