Independent Vowels
Independent vowels are non-diacritical characters that stand alone (i.e. without being attached to a consonant symbol) used to represent vowel phonemes occurring at the beginning of syllables. In Khmer they are called ស្រៈពេញតួ (/sraʔ peɲtuə/) which means "complete vowels". The independent vowels are used in a small number of words, mostly of Indic origin, and consequently there is some inconsistency in their use and pronunciations. However, a few words in which they occur are used quite frequently: ឥឡូវ (/ʔəjləw/ "now"), ឪពុក (/ʔəwpuk/ "father"), ឬ (/ʔrɨː/ ~ /rɨː/ "or").
| Independent vowels |
UN romanization | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ឥ | ĕ | ʔe |
| ឦ | ei | ʔəj |
| ឧ | ŏ | ʔ |
| ឨ | ||
| ឩ | ŭ | ʔu |
| ឪ | ŏu | ʔɨw |
| ឫ | rœ̆ | ʔrɨ |
| ឬ | rœ | ʔrɨː |
| ឭ | lœ̆ | ʔlɨ |
| ឮ | lœ | ʔlɨː |
| ឯ | é | ʔae; ʔɛː,ʔeː |
| ឰ | ai | ʔaj |
| ឱ, ឲ | aô, aôy | ʔaːo |
| ឳ | âu | ʔaw |
Read more about this topic: Khmer Script
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“These equal syllables alone require,
Though oft the ear the open vowels tire;”
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744)