Fidel online Amharic and Tigrigna (Tigrinya) Keyboard

Overview

Fidel, also known as the Ge‘ez script, is the writing system traditionally used in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is an abugida, meaning each symbol represents a consonant-vowel syllable. It is used to write several languages including:

Ge‘ez (liturgical)

Amharic (official language of Ethiopia)

Tigrinya (spoken in Eritrea and Tigray region in Ethiopia)

Gurage, Agew, and others parts of Ethiopia

The word "Fidel" in Amharic and Tigrigna literally means "alphabet" or "letter"

Historical Background

The script originally derived from theSouth Arabian script (Sabaean) around 500 BCE.

The earliest form was a consonant-only abjad.

Around the 4th century CE, Ge‘ez evolved into an abugida, where vowels were incorporated by modifying the consonant characters.

This transformation was likely influenced by religious needs, particularly for writing Christian texts clearly.

Structure and Characteristics

A. Core Characters

The script has 26 base consonants (though older forms had more, and some sounds are now obsolete).

Each consonant has 7 derivative forms, representing different vowels.

B. Vowel Modifications

Each base consonant changes shape slightly depending on the vowel attached. These are known as orders (or forms). For example:

This pattern applies consistently across most consonants.

C. Diacritics

Unlike other abugidas like Devanagari, Fidel does not use separate diacritical marks for vowels. The entire character shape changes to reflect the vowel.

Phonetics

Fidel represents nearly all the consonant and vowel sounds in Amharic and related languages.

Each syllable is a single character.

Ge‘ez is phonemic, meaning what you write is what you say (with some minor exceptions in modern usage).

Writing Style

Written left to right.

No uppercase or lowercase letters.

Punctuation has evolved over time and now includes periods (።), commas (፣), colons (፡), and question marks (፧).

Traditional manuscripts are often beautifully illustrated with religious art

Modern Usage

Amharic, the federal working language of Ethiopia, is written exclusively in Fidel.

Tigrinya, used in Eritrea and tigray region of Ethiopia, also uses the script.

Ge‘ez remains the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Church.

Taught in schools across Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Cultural Significance

Fidel is not just a writing system; it is a cultural symbol of Ethiopian identity and heritage

Tigrinya, used in Eritrea and tigray region of Ethiopia, also uses the script.

It connects Ethiopians with their ancient past, religious traditions, and literary history.

Manuscripts written in Fidel are treasured for their aesthetic, historical, and spiritual value