noun
Uncommon
pe
pay
Pe (noun) means a letter used in several Semitic alphabets, including Hebrew (פ) and Arabic (as faa), historically representing a "mouth" sound. Example: “The Hebrew letter pe sits between ayin and tsadi in the alphabet.”
noun
1
A letter used in several Semitic alphabets, including Hebrew (פ) and Arabic (as faa), historically representing a "mouth" sound.
"The Hebrew letter pe sits between ayin and tsadi in the alphabet."
"In Hebrew, the letter pe can be written in two different forms."
"Our teacher showed us how to write pe on the board."
2
The Cyrillic letter П / п, pronounced like an English "p".
"Russian "папа" begins with the letter pe."
How to use pe
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe name of a letter shared by several non-Latin alphabets (Hebrew, Arabic, Cyrillic).
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Word forms
- Plural
- pes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The Hebrew letter _____ sits between ayin and tsadi in the alphabet.
Etymology
From the Hebrew letter פֵּא (pê), tracing back to a Proto-Semitic word for "mouth" — the same root gave us the letter "pi".
Frequently asked questions
What does “pe” mean?
The word “pe” means a letter used in several Semitic alphabets, including Hebrew (פ) and Arabic (as faa), historically representing a "mouth" sound. In plain terms, the name of a letter shared by several non-Latin alphabets (Hebrew, Arabic, Cyrillic).
How do you pronounce “pe”?
“Pe” is pronounced pay (/peɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “pe” in a sentence?
Here is “pe” used in a sentence: “The Hebrew letter pe sits between ayin and tsadi in the alphabet.”
What part of speech is “pe”?
“Pe” is a noun.
Where does the word “pe” come from?
The word “pe” comes from Hebrew. From the Hebrew letter פֵּא (pê), tracing back to a Proto-Semitic word for "mouth" — the same root gave us the letter "pi".
Is “pe” a common word?
“Pe” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “pe” have?
“Pe” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a letter used in several Semitic alphabets, including Hebrew (פ) and Arabic (as faa), historically representing a "mouth" sound.
What is the difference between the Hebrew letter Pe and the Arabic letter that represents the same sound?
The Hebrew letter Pe (פ) and its Arabic counterpart, faa, both historically descend from a Semitic letter representing a "mouth" sound, but they are written differently and belong to separate alphabets. Hebrew Pe and Arabic faa are related through shared Semitic origin rather than being the same character used in two languages.
Is the Cyrillic letter Pe the same as the Semitic letter Pe?
No, they are distinct letters despite sharing a similar name. The Cyrillic Pe (П / п) is pronounced like an English "p" and belongs to the Cyrillic alphabet, while the Semitic Pe is used in Hebrew and related alphabets and traces back to a "mouth" sound.
What sound does the letter Pe represent?
In Semitic alphabets such as Hebrew, Pe historically represents a "mouth" sound, while in the Cyrillic alphabet, Pe (П / п) is pronounced like an English "p." The exact sound depends on which alphabet the letter belongs to.
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