The Sogdian script developed from the Aramaic and was first used during the 4th century AD. The earliest form of the script, shown below, was used to write letters and for inscriptions. A cursive version of the script was used in secular documents, royal proclamations, and Buddhist and Manichaen manuscripts. The Sogdian script largely fell out of use during the 10th century, though was used to some extent until the 13th century.

Sogdian is an extinct member of the eastern branch of Middle Iranian languages once spoken in Sogdiana, a region that includes parts of China (Xinjiang), Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan. Yaqnabi, a language spoken in Tajikistan is thought to be a modern descentant of Sogdian.

Notable features

Sogdian Ancient Letters

Sogdian Ancient Letters

Sogdian Sutra Script

Sogdian Sutra Script

Sample text in Ancient Sogdian Letters

Sample text in Sogdian Ancient Letters


at βaγw xutāw βarak nanyē-θβār kanak
(ēw-)zār βrēwar āfrīwan namācyu spātzānūk kaδ-uti wēšanu βaγān(u)
βyart pišt con xēpθ βantē nanē-βantē


To the Divine Master Barak(?) Nanethvar Kanak a thousand, ten thousand greetings, reverently with bended knees when received by their divinities. Written by his own servent Nanevante.
An Ancient Letter found in a mailbag in the Great Wall of China

Source: The World's Writing Systems; by Peter T. Daniels & William Bright; Oxford University Press 1996


Information about the Sogdian language and alphabet

Consonant alphabets (Abjads)


Learn Chinese Characters with the Omniglot Chinese app | Language Jobs at
Hosted by Kualo