modifier letter left half ring

{{Infobox diacritic|char=ʿ

|name=

|unicode={{unichar|02BF|Modifier letter left half ring|html=}}.

|see_also={{unichar|02BE|modifier letter right half ring}}
{{unichar|0351|cwith=◌|combining left half ring above}}
{{unichar|0357|cwith=◌|combining right half ring above}}

}}

The modifier letter left half ring ⟨{{char|ʿ}}⟩ is a character found in Unicode in the Spacing Modifier Letters range (although it is not a modifier, but a standalone grapheme).[https://unicode.org/charts/PDF/U02B0.pdf Spacing Modifier Letters]. The Unicode Consortium, 1991–2022. It is used in romanization to transliterate the Semitic abjad letter ayin after it was used by The Encyclopedia of Islam (later the International Journal of Middle East Studies),[https://web.archive.org/web/20220208180440/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-journal-of-middle-east-studies/information/author-resources/ijmes-translation-and-transliteration-guide IJMES Translation and Transliteration Guide]. Cambridge University Press. Archived from [https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-journal-of-middle-east-studies/information/author-resources/ijmes-translation-and-transliteration-guide the original] on 8 February 2022. representing the sound {{IPAalink|ʕ}} (a voiced pharyngeal fricative, as in Arabic {{Lang|ar|ع}} ʿayn). In informal contexts, the backtick ⟨{{char|`}}⟩ or the apostrophe ⟨{{char|'}}⟩ is commonly used as a substitute; but this can lead to confusion with the modifier letter right half ring.