Step 1: Determine the UTF-8 encoding bit layout
The character ዛ has the Unicode code point U+12DB. In UTF-8, it is encoded using 3 bytes because its codepoint is in the range of
0x0800to0xffff.
Therefore we know that the UTF-8 encoding will be done over 16 bits within the final 24 bits and that it will have the format:1110xxxx 10xxxxxx 10xxxxxx
Where thexare the payload bits.UTF-8 Encoding bit layout by codepoint range Codepoint Range Bytes Bit pattern Payload length U+0000 - U+007F 1 0xxxxxxx 7 bits U+0080 - U+07FF 2 110xxxxx 10xxxxxx 11 bits U+0800 - U+FFFF 3 1110xxxx 10xxxxxx 10xxxxxx 16 bits U+10000 - U+10FFFF 4 11110xxx 10xxxxxx 10xxxxxx 10xxxxxx 21 bits Step 2: Obtain the payload bits:
Convert the hexadecimal code point U+12DB to binary:
00010010 11011011. Those are the payload bits.Step 3: Fill in the bits to match the bit pattern:
Obtain the final bytes by arranging the paylod bits to match the bit layout:
11100001 10001011 10011011
ETHIOPIC SYLLABLE ZAA·U+12DB
ዛ
Character Information
Code Point
U+12DB
HEX
12DB
Unicode Plane
Basic Multilingual Plane
Category
Other Letter
Character Representations
Click elements to copy| Encoding | Hex | Binary |
|---|---|---|
| UTF8 | E1 8B 9B | 11100001 10001011 10011011 |
| UTF16 (big Endian) | 12 DB | 00010010 11011011 |
| UTF16 (little Endian) | DB 12 | 11011011 00010010 |
| UTF32 (big Endian) | 00 00 12 DB | 00000000 00000000 00010010 11011011 |
| UTF32 (little Endian) | DB 12 00 00 | 11011011 00010010 00000000 00000000 |
HTML Entity
ዛ
URI Encoded
%E1%8B%9B
Description
The Unicode character U+12DB, known as ETHIOPIC SYLLABLE ZAA, plays a significant role in the Ethiopic script, which is primarily used for writing Amharic, one of the most widely spoken Semitic languages in Africa. In digital text, this character serves as a fundamental building block for constructing words in Amharic. The ETHIOPIC SYLLABLE ZAA represents the initial sound of a syllable and is often combined with other Ethiopic syllables to form complex words. The Ethiopic script, also known as Ge'ez or Fidel, has been used for over 2,000 years, with its origins tracing back to the Aksumite civilization. This ancient writing system was later adapted for the Amharic language, which remains an official language in Ethiopia and Eritrea. As a result, the U+12DB character is deeply rooted in both cultural and linguistic contexts, contributing significantly to the rich history of the Ethiopian literary tradition. In terms of technical aspects, the Unicode standard ensures that digital texts using characters like U+12DB are accurately represented across different platforms, enabling seamless communication among users who speak various languages that employ the Ethiopic script. By adhering to strict guidelines for encoding and rendering, this character, as well as other Ethiopic characters, can be displayed correctly on computers, smartphones, and other digital devices, preserving the integrity of the Amharic language in the digital age.
How to type the ዛ symbol on Windows
Hold Alt and type 4827 on the numpad. Or use Character Map.