Languages written right to left
Arabic and Hebrew are familiar right-to-left scripts. Direction describes the script’s layout; a language may have relationships with scripts written in different directions. Mixed text and numbers need the Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm, not simply reversed character order.
Scripts and language records to explore
A curated starting set, not a complete ranking or a claim of contemporary use. Relationships below use GlotScript multiple-source attestation; direction uses the bundled CLDR-derived script metadata. Regions, dates and official status are not inferred.
| Script | Attested language records | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic | Aranadan, Algerian Saharan Arabic, Tajiki Arabic, Baharna Arabic | Right to left |
| Hebrew | Lishanid Noshan, Bukharic, Knaanic, Ancient Hebrew | Right to left |
| Syriac | Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, Western Neo-Aramaic, Official Aramaic (700-300 BCE), Bohtan Neo-Aramaic | Right to left |
| Thaana | Dhivehi | Right to left |
| N’Ko | Bambara, Dyula, Eastern Maninkakan, Mandingo | Right to left |
| Adlam | Pular, Fulah | Right to left |
For mixed-direction web content, use semantic language tags and dir="auto" where appropriate; <bdi> can isolate an unknown-direction name. Test punctuation, numerals and combining marks rather than inserting directional controls without understanding their effect.