The Lezgin language has been written in several different alphabets over the course of its history. These alphabets have been based on three scripts: Perso-Arabic script, Latin script, and Cyrillic script.
Until 1928, Lezgin was written in Arabic script, which was taught in religious schools. In the early 1920s, it was used in a few secular textbooks.
In parallel with the Arabic alphabet, as alphabet based on Cyrillic compiled by Baron Peter von Uslar in the 1860s was used. In 1911, a slightly modified version of this alphabet was published as a primer used in secular schools.
In 1928, under the Soviet Union's process of Romanization, a Lezgin Latin alphabet was created and this was altered in 1932.
In 1938, as with most other Soviet languages, a new Cyrillic alphabet was created for Lezgin. Changes after its introduction include adding the letter ààand replacing ãàÃÂàwith ãàÃÂÃÂ. This alphabet is still used in various publications.
The Lezgin Perso-Arabic alphabet was as follows:
The Latin alphabet of 1928âÂÂ1932's displayed all phonemes in contrast to the current alphabet but did not differentiate aspirated and non-aspirated consonants (k and kð, p-pð, t-tð, q-qð, táÃÂ-táÃÂð, and tás-tásð). The alphabet was as follows:
The first Latin alphabet was changed in 1932 as follows:
There are 54 consonants in Lezgin. Aspiration is not normally indicated in the orthography, despite the fact that it is phonemic. The current Lezgin Cyrillic alphabet is as follows:
Notes: