Mem (also spelled Meem or Mim) is the thirteenth letter of many Semitic abjads, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew and Arabic alphabet . Its value is IPA .

, Latin M, and Cyrillic М.

Origins of Mem:

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Mem is usually assumed to come from a pictogram of water (mayim in modern Hebrew, mye in modern Arabic).

Mem in Hebrew

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Hebrew Pronunciation

Mem is pronounced as a bilabial nasal stop, (IPA:/m/), like the English M.

Variations on Written form/Pronunciation

In Hebrew, Mem, like Kaph, Nun, Pe, and Tzadi, has a final form, used at the end of words. Its shape changes from this: מ to this: ם. The pronunciation is not changed.

Significance of Mem

In gematria, Mem represents the number 40. Its final form represents 600 but this is rarely used, Tav and Resh (400+200) being used instead.

In the Sefer Yetzirah, the letter Mem is King over Water, Formed Earth in the Universe, Cold in the Year, and the Belly in the Soul.

The final form of Mem is used in the middle of a word only once in the Bible. In Isaiah 9:6, he says:

• לםרבה (לְמַרְבֵּה) הַמִּשְׂרָה וּלְשָׁלוֹם אֵין-קֵץ.
• That the rule may be increased, and of peace there be no end.

As an abbreviation, it stands for metre. In the Israeli army it can also stand for mefaked, commander. In Hebrew religious texts, it can stand for the name of God Makom, the Place.

Phoenician alphabet | Arabic letters

ם | Mem (lizherenn) | Mem (Hebräisch) | Mem | Mem (lettre) | מ | Mem | Mem