The Buryat alphabet: 36 letters and first steps in reading

Using the chart

The three additional letters are highlighted. The textbook displays Ө in the combination Өө; our chart presents the letter itself alongside its lowercase form. The sequence follows Burlang.Nom’s teaching page.

Do not treat a familiar-looking letter as a complete pronunciation instruction. In an initial lesson, separate recognising a written sign from hearing its sound in a word.

Sources: Burlang.Nom — the Buryat alphabet

First exercise: one short text

Choose a short textbook passage with an explanation or a teacher’s recording. Find familiar letters, then mark Ө, Ү and Һ separately. Copy one line, preserving every sign, and compare it with the original.

For listening practice, use the same passage: listen, follow the text and ask about particular words. Avoid reconstructing a whole line’s pronunciation from a Russian transcription in an unrelated comment.

Typing Ө, Ү and Һ

You can copy characters from the chart. For regular use, configure a keyboard layout or text replacement on your device; available layouts depend on the system. Test typing in a plain note before inserting a word into the dictionary.

After copying from a scan, check each unfamiliar letter manually. If a search returns nothing, compare the spelling with the original before concluding that the dictionary lacks the word.

What to study after the alphabet

Choose one situation: introducing yourself, understanding a greeting or reading a family caption. Keep a few words with their sources and questions for a teacher. This gives the chart an immediate use while keeping the workload manageable.

An alphabet is not a promise of rapid fluency. Return to it while reading, but gradually add listening, word study and short conversations. Our beginner route helps you record a first small result.

Sources and scope

Sources consulted on 8 October 2026. Section citations support factual information; practical steps are editorial suggestions. This material does not claim expert endorsement.

1. Burlang.Nom — the Buryat alphabet ↗

   A teaching chart with 36 letters, including Ө, Ү and Һ. Follow the textbook’s lessons to study the sounds.

2. Burlang.Toli — Buryat–Russian and Russian–Buryat dictionary ↗

   Word lookup in both directions. A dictionary entry does not establish that a whole sentence is correct.

The photograph is used under the Pexels License. Its photographer and original are linked in the caption; photo terms differ from those of the project’s own text. Pexels License ↗