syllabary

[ sil-uh-ber-ee ]

noun

, plural syl·la·bar·ies.

1. a list or catalog of syllables.
2. a set of written symbols, each of which represents a syllable, used to write a given language:

   the Japanese syllabary.

syllabary

/ ˈsɪləbərɪ /

noun

1. a table or list of syllables
2. a set of symbols used in certain writing systems, such as one used for Japanese, in which each symbol represents a spoken syllable

Word History and Origins

Origin of syllabary¹

From the New Latin word syllabārium, dating back to 1580–90. See syllable, -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of syllabary¹

C16: from New Latin syllabārium, from Latin syllaba syllable

Example Sentences

In the early 1800s Cherokee polymath Sequoyah invented the Cherokee syllabary of written characters.

From Scientific American

Hill placed a Cherokee syllabary character above each column to spread awareness of the lyrical language.

From New York Times

Each column has a letterpress piece with a Cherokee syllabary to spread awareness of the written language.

From New York Times

Bouabré became convinced they were the remains of an ancient writing system, and he wanted to use them as the basis for a new alphabet, or syllabary.

From Washington Post

His use of written French reaffirms that Bouabré never conceived of his art, or indeed his Bété syllabary, as a private language.

From New York Times