Gha

Time period~1900 to 1983SistersQ
Φ φ

Transliterationsğ, q, g, gh, ҒVariationsğOtherWriting directionLeft-to-RightThis article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see . For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.

The letter Ƣ (minuscule: ƣ), called gha, was used in the Latinorthographies of various, mostly Turkic languages, as part of the early Soviet Jaꞑalif orthographies. It was also later included in the Chinese pinyin-based alphabets for Kazakh and Uyghur until 1983. It usually represents a voiced velar fricative[ɣ] but is sometimes used for a voiced uvular fricative[ʁ]. All orthographies that used the letter have been phased out.

Historically, it is derived from a handwritten form of the small Latin letter ⟨q⟩ around 1900. The majuscule is then based on the minuscule. Its use for [ɣ] stems from the linguistic tradition of representing such sounds (and similar ones) by q in Turkic languages and in transcriptions of Arabic or Persian (compare kaf and qaf).

In alphabetical order, it comes between G and H.