Unicode Block - Gurung Khema

Gurung Khema is a script used to write the Gurung language, primarily spoken in Nepal. It is an abugida, meaning each consonant carries an inherent vowel that can be modified with diacritical marks. The script’s name, “Khema,” is derived from the Gurung words for “language” and “writing,” and its modern development aims to preserve and promote the linguistic heritage of the Gurung community. Its characters include letters, vowel signs, a virama, and punctuation, designed to accurately represent the phonetics of the spoken language, which has both aspirated and unaspirated consonants. The addition of this script supports digital communication and literacy for Gurung speakers, who previously often used Devanagari or the Latin alphabet for writing.