# Mem

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{{Short description|Thirteenth letter of many Semitic alphabets}}
{{hatnote group|
{{About|the Semitic letter}}
{{Distinguish|text=the similarly shaped Phoenician letters [Nun](/source/Nun_(letter)) (𐤍) or [Tsade](/source/Tsade) (𐤑), or [Meme](/source/Meme)}}
}}
{{Infobox Semitic letter|letname=Mem|previouslink=Lamedh|previousletter=Lamedh|nextlink=Nun (letter)|nextletter=Nun|archar=م|sychar=ܡ|hechar=מם|smchar=ࠌ|amchar=𐡌|nbchar=𐢓𐢒|gechar=መ|ugchar=𐎎|phchar=𐤌|nachar=𐪃|sachar=𐩣|grchar=[Μ](/source/%CE%9C)|lachar=[M](/source/M)|cychar=[М](/source/%D0%9C)|maltchar=m|ipa={{IPA link|m}}|num=13|gem=40}}
'''Mem''' (also spelled '''Meem''', '''Meme''', or '''Mim''') is the thirteenth [letter](/source/Letter_(alphabet)) of the [Semitic abjads](/source/Semitic_abjads), including [Hebrew](/source/Hebrew_alphabet) ''mēm'' {{Script|Hebr|מ}}, [Aramaic](/source/Aramaic_alphabet) ''mem'' 𐡌, [Syriac](/source/Syriac_alphabet) ''mīm'' ܡ, [Arabic](/source/Arabic_alphabet) ''mīm'' {{Script|Arabic|م}}, and [Phoenician](/source/Phoenician_alphabet) ''mēm'' 𐤌. Its sound value is {{IPAblink|m}}. It is also related to the [Ancient North Arabian](/source/Ancient_North_Arabian) 𐪃‎‎‎, [South Arabian](/source/Ancient_South_Arabian_script) {{lang|sem-x-oldsoara|𐩣}}, and [Ge'ez](/source/Ge%CA%BDez_script) {{lang|gez|መ}}. The Phoenician letter gave rise to the [Greek](/source/Greek_alphabet) [mu](/source/Mu_(letter)) (Μ), [Etruscan](/source/Etruscan_alphabet) class=skin-invert-image|10px|M, [Latin](/source/Latin_alphabet) [M](/source/M), and [Cyrillic](/source/Cyrillic_script) [М](/source/Em_(Cyrillic)).

==Origins==
Mem is believed to derive from the [Egyptian](/source/Egyptian_hieroglyphs) [hieroglyphic symbol for water](/source/N-water_ripple_(n_hieroglyph)), <hiero>N35</hiero> which had been simplified in the [Proto-Sinaitic script](/source/Proto-Sinaitic_script) and named after the West Semitic word for "water", ''[mem](/source/%3Awikt%3A%F0%90%A4%8C%F0%90%A4%8C)'' (class=skin-invert-image|15px), as in Biblical Hebrew ''maym'' (מַיִם) 'water',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Strong's Hebrew: 4325. מָ֫יִם (mayim) -- Water |url=https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4325.htm |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=biblehub.com}}</ref> ultimately coming from [Proto-Semitic](/source/Proto-Semitic_language) [''*may-''](/source/%3Awikt%3AAppendix%3AProto-Semitic_*may-).

==Arabic mīm==
{{Infobox grapheme
| name = Mīm ميم
| letter = م
| variations = 
| image = 
| imagesize = 200
| imagealt = 
| script = [Arabic script](/source/Arabic_script)
| type = [Abjad](/source/Abjad)
| typedesc = 
| language = [Arabic language](/source/Arabic_language)
| phonemes = {{IPA link|m}}
| unicode = {{Unichar|0645|ARABIC LETTER MEEM}}
| alphanumber = 24
| number = 
| usageperiod = 
| children = 
| equivalents = 
| associates = 
| direction = Right-to-left
| fam2 = 𐤌
| fam3 = 𐡌‎
| fam4 = 𐢒‎, 𐢓‎
}}

The letter is named ''{{Transliteration|ar|DIN|mīm}}'', and is written in several ways depending on its position in the word:
{{Arabic alphabet shapes|م}}
Some examples on its uses in [Modern Standard Arabic](/source/Modern_Standard_Arabic):

''Mīm'' is used in the creation of ''ism'' words (i.e. [noun](/source/noun)s and [adjective](/source/adjective)s; they are treated fundamentally the same in [Arabic grammar](/source/Arabic_grammar)). Specifically, ''{{Transliteration|ar|DIN|mīm}}'' is used in the creation of the ''[masdar](/source/verbal_noun)'' (verbal noun) of Stem III verbs (the ''masdar'' of verbs on the pattern ''fāʿala'' is ''mufāʿala''), of subject and object nouns for verbs of Stems II-X (using the example of Stem II, subject nouns&mdash;called ''fāʿil'' words because of their form in Stem I&mdash;are ''mufaʿʿil'' for verbs of Stems II-X, and object nouns&mdash;called ''mafʿūl'' also because of their Stem I form&mdash;take the form ''mufaʿʿal'' for verbs of Stems II-X). Place-nouns are also created with ''{{Transliteration|ar|DIN|mīm}}''; the pattern ''mafʿal'' is used to create ''maktab'' "office" from the [triliteral](/source/triliteral) '''''k-t-b''''' (to write) and ''maṣnaʿ'' "factory" from '''''ṣ-n-ʿ''''' (to make).
[[File:Nastaliq Painting-Caligraphy the letter Mim.jpg|thumb|alt=210|[Nastaliq](/source/Nastaliq) Persian Calligram the [Persian letter](/source/Persian_alphabet) Mem]]

==Hebrew mem==
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
!colspan=5|<small>[Orthographic](/source/Orthography) variants of non-final form</small>
|-
!colspan=3|<small>Various print fonts</small>
!rowspan=2|<small>[Cursive<br>Hebrew](/source/Cursive_Hebrew)</small>
!rowspan=2|<small>[Rashi<br>script](/source/Rashi_script)</small>
|-
!|<small>[Serif](/source/Serif)</small> !! <small>[Sans-serif](/source/Sans-serif)</small> !! <small>[Monospaced](/source/Monospaced_font)</small>
|-
|width=20%|<span style="font:30pt 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'New Peninim MT', 'Taamey Frank CLM', serif;">מ</span>
|width=20%|<span style="font:28pt Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, sans-serif;">מ</span>
|width=20%|<span style="font:30pt 'Courier New', 'Everson Mono', 'Miriam Fixed', 'Miriam Mono CLM', FreeMono, monospace;">מ</span>
|width=20%|class=skin-invert-image|21px
|width=20%|class=skin-invert-image|35px
|}

Hebrew spelling: <big>{{lang|he|מֵם}}</big>

===Hebrew pronunciation===
Mem represents a bilabial nasal {{IPAblink|m}}.

===Variations on written form/pronunciation===
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
!colspan=5|<small>[Orthographic](/source/Orthography) variants of final form</small>
|-
!colspan=3|<small>Various Print Fonts</small>
!rowspan=2|<small>[Cursive<br>Hebrew](/source/Cursive_Hebrew)</small>
!rowspan=2|<small>[Rashi<br>Script](/source/Rashi_script)</small>
|-
!|<small>[Serif](/source/Serif)</small> !! <small>[Sans-serif](/source/Sans-serif)</small> !! <small>[Monospaced](/source/Monospaced_font)</small>
|-
|width=20%|<span style="font:30pt 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'New Peninim MT', 'Taamey Frank CLM', serif;">ם</span>
|width=20%|<span style="font:28pt Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, sans-serif;">ם</span>
|width=20%|<span style="font:30pt 'Courier New', 'Miriam Fixed', 'Miriam Mono CLM', FreeMono, monospace;">ם</span>
|width=20%|class=skin-invert-image|24px
|width=20%|class=skin-invert-image|32px
|}
In Hebrew, Mem, like [Kaph](/source/Kaph), [Nun](/source/Nun_(letter)), [Pe](/source/Pe_(Semitic_letter)), and [Tzadi](/source/Tzadi), has a final form, used at the end of words: its shape changes from {{Script/Hebrew|מ}} to {{Script/Hebrew|ם}}.

===Significance===
In [gematria](/source/gematria), Mem represents the number 40 in both the Standard and Mispar Gadol Methods of Gematriea; However, (mem sofit) final mem's value is 40 in the Standard Method and 600 in the Mispar Gadol method. The Standard Method adds the values of [Tav](/source/Taw_(letter)) and [Resh](/source/Resh) (400+200) to denote the value of mem sofit.

In the [Sefer Yetzirah](/source/Sefer_Yetzirah), the letter Mem is King over Water, Formed Earth in the Universe, Cold in the Year, and the Belly in the Soul.

As an abbreviation, it stands for metre. In the [Israeli army](/source/Israel_Defense_Forces) it can also stand for ''mefaked'', [commander](/source/commander). In Hebrew religious texts, it can stand for [the name of God](/source/Names_of_God_in_Judaism) '''Makom''', the Place.

===Mem and Tarot===
Mem is associated with [The Hanged Man](/source/The_Hanged_Man_(tarot_card)) (Atu XII), the element of water and the path between Geburah and Hod on the Tree of Life.

==Syriac mim==
{{Arabic alphabet shapes|ܡ}}

==Character encodings==

{{charmap
|05DE|name1=Hebrew Letter Mem
|05DD|name2=Hebrew Letter Final Mem
|0645|name3=Arabic Letter Meem
|0721|name4=Syriac Letter Mim
|080C|name5=Samaritan Letter Mim
|FB26|name6=Hebrew Letter Wide Final Mem
|FB3E|name7=Hebrew Letter Mem With Dagesh
}}

{{charmap
|1038E|name1=Ugaritic Letter Mem
|1084C|name2=Imperial Aramaic Letter Mem
|1090C|name3=Phoenician Letter Mem
}}

==See also==
*[Nun (letter)](/source/Nun_(letter))

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Mem (letter)}}{{Arabic language}}{{Hebrew language}}
{{Northwest Semitic abjad}}

Category:Phoenician alphabet
Category:Arabic letters
Category:Hebrew letters
Category:Urdu letters
Category:Letters with final form

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mem) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mem?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.