ScriptLookup

N’Ko

Q: What type of writing system is N’Ko?

N’Ko is an Alphabet used in the African region. It reads Right-to-left.

Q: How many languages use the N’Ko script?

3 languages use the N’Ko script according to Unicode CLDR data. These languages are spoken by approximately 14M people combined.

ߒߞߏ

Nkoo Right-to-left Living Alphabet African

Sample Text

ߒߞߏ

About N’Ko

The N'Ko script (ߒߞߏ) was created in 1949 by Solomana Kante of Guinea to write the Mande languages of West Africa. The name 'N'Ko' means 'I say' in all Mande languages. Before N'Ko, Mande languages were written either in Arabic script or in Latin-based colonial scripts.

N'Ko is written right-to-left and has 27 letters plus diacritics for tone and vowels. It is an alphabet (not an abjad — vowels are fully written). N'Ko script has been adopted for writing Bambara, Dyula, Mandinka, and other related languages. It is included in the Unicode standard and is actively used in literacy campaigns in Guinea, Mali, and Côte d'Ivoire.

Data sourced from the ISO 15924 registry, Unicode CLDR, and the Unicode Character Database.

Script Family & Lineage

Ancestor Chain

Phoenician › Imperial Aramaic › Nabataean › Arabic › N’Ko

Languages Using N’Ko 3

Bambara bamanakan Mandingo N’Ko ߒߞߏ

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of writing system is N’Ko?

N’Ko is an Alphabet. Alphabets represent both consonants and vowels as distinct letters.

What direction does N’Ko read?

N’Ko is written Right-to-left, meaning text flows from right to left. Words and sentences begin on the right side of the page.

How many languages use the N’Ko script?

3 languages use N’Ko according to Unicode CLDR data. Together these languages are spoken by approximately 14M people worldwide.

When was the N’Ko script created?

The N’Ko script originated around 1949 CE.

Does N’Ko have uppercase and lowercase letters?

N’Ko does not have separate uppercase and lowercase forms. Letters are written in a connected, cursive style. All vowels are written explicitly.

Compare N’Ko With Another Script

Direction, characters, languages — side by side.

Key Facts

ISO Code: Nkoo
ISO Number: 165
Script Type: Alphabet
Direction: Right-to-left
Status: Living
Region: African
Introduced: 1949 CE
Languages: 3
Total Speakers: ~14M