The Voice of the Steppe: The Old Mongolian Alphabet.

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The Old Mongolian Alphabet

Discover the Hudum Mongol Bichig, a unique vertical script from the Mongol Empire.

Legacy of the Mongol Script

Чингисийн чулууны бичиг

ᠴᠢᠩᠭᠢᠰ
ᠤᠨ

 ᠴᠢᠯᠠᠭᠤᠨ ᠤ ᠪᠢᠴᠢᠭ

The Old Mongolian script, known as Hudum Mongol Bichig, was developed around 1204 when Genghis Khan’s scribe Tata-tonga adapted the Uyghur alphabet for the Mongolian language. Written vertically from top to bottom and left to right, it is the only script of its kind still in use. Derived from Syriac via Sogdian and Uyghur, it served the Mongol Empire for over 800 years, recording Buddhist texts and imperial decrees.

Though replaced by Cyrillic in Mongolia in 1946, it remains in use in Inner Mongolia, China. In 2025, Mongolia plans to reintroduce it alongside Cyrillic for official documents, reviving its cultural significance. Below, explore its letters, each shown with their initial forms and pronunciations.

[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolian_script)[](https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/the-complex-geopolitics-of-mongolias-language-reform/)

Letters of Hudum Mongol Bichig

ᠠ
A
/a/
A
ᠡ
E
/e/
E
ᠢ
I
/i/
I
ᠣ
O
/o/
O
ᠤ
U
/u/
U
ᠥ
Ö
/ø/
Ö
ᠦ
Ü
/y/
Ü
ᠨ
N
/n/
N
ᠪ
B
/b/
B
ᠫ
P
/p/
P
ᠬ
H
/x/
H
ᠭ
G
/ɡ/
G
ᠮ
M
/m/
M
ᠯ
L
/l/
L
ᠰ
S
/s/
S
ᠱ
Sh
/ʃ/
Sh
ᠲ
T
/t/
T
ᠳ
D
/d/
D
ᠴ
Ch
/tʃ/
Ch
ᠵ
J
/dʒ/
J
ᠶ
Y
/j/
Y
ᠷ
R
/r/
R

Phonetics of the Script

A traditional Mongolian manuscript in vertical script

The Old Mongolian script is a true alphabet with 26 letters: 7 vowels, 2 diphthongs, and 17 consonants. Letters change shape based on their position (initial, medial, final) in a word, requiring memorization of forms. Its vertical orientation, unique among scripts, aligns left to right, reflecting its Uyghur roots rotated 90 degrees to mimic Chinese writing.

While it struggles with modern Mongolian phonetics due to limited vowel symbols, the Galik alphabet, introduced in 1587 by Ayuush Güüsh, added characters for Tibetan and Sanskrit loanwords. The script’s calligraphy remains a cultural treasure, especially in Inner Mongolia.

Mongolian Vocabulary

Modern Mongolian calligraphy in the traditional script
  • morin: horse
  • temür: iron
  • naran: sun
  • usun: water
  • khün: person
  • ger: yurt, home
  • khagan: emperor, khan
  • süü: milk

These words, often found in inscriptions and texts, reflect the nomadic and imperial life of the Mongols, emphasizing nature, kinship, and power.

Visual Journey

Explore the beauty of Mongolian calligraphy and the history of the traditional script in this video, showcasing its revival in modern times.

Uncover the Hudum Mongol Bichig, where vertical letters in vibrant frames tell the story of a nomadic empire’s enduring script.

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