The Tigrinya alphabet is a writing system used for the Tigrinya language, primarily spoken in Eritrea and northern Ethiopia. It is based on the Ge'ez script, which is an ancient writing system that has been adapted for several languages in the region. The alphabet consists of 32 basic characters, each representing a consonant, with additional marks to indicate vowel sounds. Each character in the Tigrinya alphabet can take on different forms depending on the vowel that follows it, resulting in a total of over 200 distinct symbols. This syllabic nature makes it unique compared to alphabetic systems like the Latin alphabet. The Tigrinya script is an essential part of the cultural identity of its speakers.