The shapes of these kana have origins in the character 礼. The Ainu language uses a small katakana ㇾ to represent a final r sound after an e sound (エㇾ er). The combination of an R-column kana letter with handakuten ゜- れ゚ in hiragana, and レ゚ in katakana was introduced to represent [le] in the early 20th century.
The forms of these kana derive from the character 礼. The Ainu language employs a tiny katakana ㇾ to symbolize a final r sound after an e sound (エㇾ er). Combining an R-column kana letter with handakuten ゜- れ゚ in hiragana, and レ゚ in katakana was introduced to represent [le] in the early 20th century.