ㆍ

Etymology

From Middle Korean [Term?].

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɒ/, [ɔ]

Letter

ㆍ (â)

1. The Jeju vowel, ㆍ

Etymology

Invented by Sejong the Great of Joseon to represent the Sun.

Pronunciation

(historical reading, circa 1700)

• IPA^(key): /ɨ~ɯ/ (word-internally in native terms)
• IPA^(key): /ʌ/ (word-initially, or in Sino-Korean words)

(modern classroom reading)

• IPA^(key): /a/ (regardless of position)
• Homophone: ㅏ (a)

Letter

ㆍ • (a)

1. (obsolete) A former vowel which merged phonetically with /ɨ~ɯ/ word-internally in late Middle Korean and with /a/ word-initially in the late eighteenth century; in the orthography, it continued to be used until the major spelling reforms of the 1930s eliminated it.
2. Used instead of ㅏ (a) in order to give an antique flair in advertising, brand names, etc., even when etymologically spurious.