ъ

Usage notes
Only used in Russian borrowings.

Pronunciation
This letter has no pronunciation of its own. It instead functions as a graphic sign.

Usage notes
The hard sign has no sound of its own, but modifies that of the preceding consonant by causing it to be pronounced unpalatalized (i.e. hard). Some writers use an apostrophe instead of (e.g.  — ) which is considered non-standard or obsolete.

Before the 1918 spelling reform, also appeared after every final consonant except й (e.g. ), or after words like  and  that are nowadays spelled as only a single consonant. After the 1918 spelling reform, when the usage of was heavily reduced, some typewriters did not have the letter at all, forcing people to use an apostrophe.