How Old Is The Letter P: Uncovering Its Ancient Origins

The letter “P” is the 16th character in the Roman alphabet, commonly used in English. Its origin can be traced back to the Phoenician symbol known as “pe,” which was later adopted by the Greeks as “pi” (Π). The Romans, in turn, adopted an earlier form of this symbol as the letter “P” in their alphabet. This transition of the symbol from Phoenician to Greek and finally to Roman is a fascinating linguistic evolution.

Where does the letter P come from? P, which is the sixteenth letter of the alphabet, has a rich history. Throughout its known history, it has consistently represented the unvoiced labial stop sound. The origin of this letter can be traced back to the Semitic letter “pe,” which might have evolved from an even earlier symbol resembling a mouth. When the Greeks encountered this character, they renamed it “pi” (Π). Interestingly, early Greek inscriptions from the island of Thera featured a rounded version of this letter, adding an intriguing twist to its evolution.