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MEM
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{{Phoenician glyph|letname=Mem|archar=ﻡ|sychar=Ü¡Ü¡|hechar=מ,×?|amchar=mem|gechar=መ|phchar=mem|ipa=m|num=13|gem=40}}
{{Arabic alphabet}}
{{Hebrew alphabet}}
{{Syriac alphabet}}
'''Mem''' (also spelled '''Meem''' or '''Mim''') is the thirteenth letter of many
Semitic abjads, including
Phoenician language Phoenician,
Aramaic language Aramaic,
Hebrew language Hebrew {{Ivrit|מ}} and
Arabic alphabet {{ArabDIN|mīm}} {{ar|ﻡ}}. Its value is
IPA {{IPA|[m]}}.
The Phoenician letter gave rise to the
Greek alphabet Greek Mu (letter) Mu (Μ),
Etruscan alphabet Etruscan Image:EtruscanM-01.png 14px|M {{Unicode|�}},
Latin alphabet Latin M, and
Cyrillic alphabet Cyrillic М.
Origins of Mem:
Mem is usually assumed to come from a pictogram of water (''mayim'' in
Hebrew language modern Hebrew, ''mye'' in modern Arabic).
Mem in Hebrew:
Hebrew Pronunciation:
Mem is pronounced as a
bilabial nasal stop, (
IPA:/
bilabial nasal m/), like the English
M.
Variations on Written form/Pronunciation:
In Hebrew, Mem, like
Kaph,
Nun (letter) Nun,
Pe (letter) Pe, and
Tzadi, has a final form, used at the end of words. Its shape changes from this: '''מ''' to this: '''×?'''. The pronunciation is not changed.
Significance of Mem:
In
gematria, Mem represents the number 40. Its final form represents 600 but this is rarely used,
Tau (letter) Tav and
Resh (400+200) being used instead.
In the
Sefer Yetzirah, the letter Mem is King over Water, Formed Earth in the Universe, Cold in the Year, and the Belly in the Soul.
The final form of Mem is used in the middle of a word only once in the
Bible. In Isaiah 9:6, he says:
* '''ל×?רבה''' (לְמַרְבֵּה) הַמִּשְׂרָה וּלְשָ×?לוֹ×? ×?ֵין-קֵץ.
*''That the rule may be increased, and of peace there be no end.''
As an abbreviation, it stands for
metre. In the
IDF Israeli army it can also stand for ''mefaked'',
commander. In Hebrew religious texts, it can stand for
Names of God in Judaism#Lesser used names of God the name of God '''Makom''', the Place.
Category:Phoenician alphabet
Category:Arabic letters
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he:מ
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fi:Mem
see
Memphis International Airport
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