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Search the sign library

Look up any of the 354 signs taught across the site by its sound, its English meaning, or its Gardiner code — then jump into the section that teaches it.

354 signs

ꜣ“aleph”
Egyptian vulture
UniliteralG1Glottals
i
flowering reed
UniliteralM17Glottals
y
two reeds
UniliteralM17AGlottals
ꜥ“ayin”
forearm
UniliteralD36Glottals
w
quail chick
UniliteralG43Semivowels
b
foot
UniliteralD58Labials
p
stool
UniliteralQ3Labials
f
horned viper
UniliteralI9Labials
m
owl
UniliteralG17Nasals
n
water ripple
UniliteralN35Nasals
r
mouth
UniliteralD21Liquids
h
reed shelter
UniliteralO4Fricatives
ḥ“ha”
twisted wick
UniliteralV28Fricatives
ḫ“kha”
placenta
UniliteralAa1Fricatives
ẖ“kha”
animal belly
UniliteralF32Fricatives
s
folded cloth
UniliteralS29Fricatives
š“sh”
garden pool
UniliteralN37Fricatives
q
hill slope
UniliteralN29Velars / Uvulars
k
basket
UniliteralV31Velars / Uvulars
g
jar stand
UniliteralW11Velars / Uvulars
t
bread loaf
UniliteralX1Dentals
ṯ“tja”
tethering rope
UniliteralV13Dentals
d
hand
UniliteralD46Dentals
ḏ“dj”
cobra
UniliteralI10Dentals
jr“ir”
eye
BiliteralD4Biliteral
ḥr“her”
face
BiliteralD2Biliteral
pr“per”
house plan
BiliteralO1Biliteral
mn“men”
senet game board
BiliteralY5Biliteral
nb“neb”
basket
BiliteralV30Biliteral
jb“ib”
heart
BiliteralF34Biliteral
kꜣ“ka”
raised arms (ka)
BiliteralD28Biliteral
ḏd“djed”
djed pillar
BiliteralR11Biliteral
ḏw“dju”
mountain range
BiliteralN26Biliteral
wr“wer”
swallow
BiliteralG36Biliteral
wn“wen”
hare
BiliteralE34Biliteral
bꜣ“ba”
jabiru stork
BiliteralG29Biliteral
pꜣ“pa”
flying pintail duck
BiliteralG40Biliteral
rw“ru”
reclining lion
BiliteralE23Biliteral
ms“mes”
three fox skins
BiliteralF31Biliteral
mꜣ“ma”
sickle
BiliteralU1Biliteral
zꜣ“za”
pintail duck (son)
BiliteralG39Biliteral
zꜣ“za”
reed shelter (protection)
BiliteralV17Biliteral
sw“su”
sedge plant
BiliteralM23Biliteral
sn“sen”
arrowhead
BiliteralT22Biliteral
st“set”
seat
BiliteralQ1Biliteral
ns“nes”
tongue
BiliteralF20Biliteral
ḥḏ“hedj”
mace with pear head
BiliteralT3Biliteral
ḫꜥ“kha”
sun rising over hill
BiliteralN28Biliteral
ḫt“khet”
branch
BiliteralM3Biliteral
ẖr“kher”
butcher block
BiliteralT28Biliteral
šw“shu”
feather
BiliteralH6Biliteral
šn“shen”
coil of rope
BiliteralV1Biliteral
šd“shed”
waterskin
BiliteralF30Biliteral
tp“tep”
head in profile
BiliteralD1Biliteral
tꜣ“ta”
flat land with grains
BiliteralN16Biliteral
wꜣ“wa”
lasso
BiliteralV4Biliteral
ꜥb“ab”
horn
BiliteralF16Biliteral
ꜥꜣ“aa”
wooden column (great)
BiliteralO29Biliteral
ꜥq“ak”
cormorant
BiliteralG35Biliteral
pḥ“peh”
hindquarters
BiliteralF22Biliteral
mr“mer”
hoe
BiliteralU6Biliteral
mḥ“meh”
whip
BiliteralV22Biliteral
ḥꜣ“ha”
clump of papyrus
BiliteralM16Biliteral
ḥm“hem”
fuller’s club
BiliteralU36Biliteral
ḥn“hen”
herb / plant
BiliteralM2Biliteral
ḥz“hes”
tall water jar
BiliteralW14Biliteral
ḫꜣ“kha”
lotus plant (1000)
BiliteralM12Biliteral
qd“qed”
builder’s plummet
BiliteralAa28Biliteral
qs“qes”
harpoon head
BiliteralT19Biliteral
km“kem”
crocodile skin (black)
BiliteralI6Biliteral
gm“gem”
black ibis
BiliteralG28Biliteral
gb“geb”
Nile goose
BiliteralG38Biliteral
tm“tem”
sledge
BiliteralU15Biliteral
ṯꜣ“tja”
duckling
BiliteralG47Biliteral
ꜥnḫ“ankh”
ankh — life
TriliteralS34Triliteral
nfr“nefer”
heart & windpipe — good, beautiful
TriliteralF35Triliteral
nṯr“netjer”
cloth on pole — god
TriliteralR8Triliteral
ḥtp“hetep”
loaf on mat — offering, peace
TriliteralR4Triliteral
ḫpr“kheper”
scarab beetle — come into being
TriliteralL1Triliteral
ḥqꜣ“heka”
crook — ruler
TriliteralS38Triliteral
sbꜣ“seba”
star
TriliteralN14Triliteral
mꜣꜥ“maa”
plinth — true, Maat
TriliteralAa11Triliteral
wꜣḏ“wadj”
papyrus stem — flourish, green
TriliteralM13Triliteral
wꜣs“was”
was-scepter — dominion
TriliteralS40Triliteral
wsr“weser”
head & neck of jackal — powerful
TriliteralF12Triliteral
wbn“weben”
sun with rays — shine, rise
TriliteralN8Triliteral
ẖnm“khenem”
stone jug — unite
TriliteralW9Triliteral
zmꜣ“sema”
lung & windpipe — unite
TriliteralF36Triliteral
stp“setep”
adze on block — choose
TriliteralU21Triliteral
šmꜥ“shema”
flowering sedge — Upper Egypt
TriliteralM26Triliteral
šms“shemes”
crook & bundle — follow
TriliteralT18Triliteral
pẖr“pekher”
intestine — go around
TriliteralF46Triliteral
psḏ“pesedj”
moon — shine, nine
TriliteralN9Triliteral
mwt“mut”
vulture — mother
TriliteralG14Triliteral
ḫrp“kherep”
sekhem-scepter — control
TriliteralS42Triliteral
ꜥḥꜣ“aha”
arms with shield & mace — fight
TriliteralD34Triliteral
ꜥšꜣ“asha”
lizard — many
TriliteralI1Triliteral
imꜣ“ima”
tree
TriliteralM1Triliteral
wꜣḥ“wah”
swab — endure, set down
TriliteralV29Triliteral
ḏbꜣ“djeba”
reed float — replace
TriliteralT25Triliteral
dšr“desher”
flamingo — red
TriliteralG27Triliteral
dmḏ“demedj”
knotted cloth — unite, total
TriliteralS23Triliteral
rwḏ“rudj”
bowstring — firm, strong
TriliteralT12Triliteral
ḫnt“khenet”
jars in rack — foremost
TriliteralW17Triliteral
s / z
man
DeterminativePeople
st
woman
DeterminativePeople
khered
child
DeterminativePeople
nesu
king / pharaoh
DeterminativePeople
netjer
god
DeterminativePeople
ser
noble / official
DeterminativePeople
sesh
scribe
DeterminativePeople
hem-netjer
priest
DeterminativePeople
nakhtu
soldier
DeterminativePeople
hem
servant
DeterminativePeople
mut
mother
DeterminativePeople
it
father
DeterminativePeople
sa
son
DeterminativePeople
sat
daughter
DeterminativePeople
hemet-nesu
queen
DeterminativePeople
sa-nesu
prince
DeterminativePeople
tjaty
vizier
DeterminativePeople
sekhty
farmer
DeterminativePeople
wehau
fisherman
DeterminativePeople
khenty
sailor
DeterminativePeople
qed
builder
DeterminativePeople
iqed
potter
DeterminativePeople
sekhet-mer
weaver
DeterminativePeople
retjeh
baker
DeterminativePeople
afty
brewer
DeterminativePeople
nu
hunter
DeterminativePeople
khebt
dancer
DeterminativePeople
hesy
musician
DeterminativePeople
shemayt
singer
DeterminativePeople
sunu
physician
DeterminativePeople
sab
judge
DeterminativePeople
wepwty
messenger
DeterminativePeople
saw
guard
DeterminativePeople
sekher
captive
DeterminativePeople
khasty
foreigner
DeterminativePeople
nehesy
Nubian
DeterminativePeople
aamu
Asiatic
DeterminativePeople
iau
elder
DeterminativePeople
resty
twins
DeterminativePeople
rekhyt
the people / crowd
DeterminativePeople
per
house
DeterminativePlaces
niwt
town / city
DeterminativePlaces
ta
land / earth
DeterminativePlaces
mu
water / Nile
DeterminativePlaces
akhet
horizon
DeterminativePlaces
hut-netjer
temple
DeterminativePlaces
pet
sky / heaven
DeterminativePlaces
desheret
desert / red land
DeterminativePlaces
sekhet
field / marsh
DeterminativePlaces
wat
road / way
DeterminativePlaces
aha
palace
DeterminativePlaces
is
tomb
DeterminativePlaces
mer
pyramid
DeterminativePlaces
tekhen
obelisk
DeterminativePlaces
inb
wall
DeterminativePlaces
sba
gate / door
DeterminativePlaces
wesekhet
courtyard
DeterminativePlaces
kanu
garden
DeterminativePlaces
shenut
granary
DeterminativePlaces
khenmet
well
DeterminativePlaces
mer
canal
DeterminativePlaces
dju
mountain
DeterminativePlaces
int
valley
DeterminativePlaces
iu
island
DeterminativePlaces
wedjeb
shore / bank
DeterminativePlaces
tepehet
cave
DeterminativePlaces
seh-netjer
sanctuary
DeterminativePlaces
kar
chapel / shrine
DeterminativePlaces
khawt
altar
DeterminativePlaces
khenty
market
DeterminativePlaces
mryt
harbor / quay
DeterminativePlaces
rud
quarry
DeterminativePlaces
bia
mine
DeterminativePlaces
tash
border
DeterminativePlaces
sepat
province / nome
DeterminativePlaces
khaset
foreign land
DeterminativePlaces
whyt
village
DeterminativePlaces
menenu
fortress
DeterminativePlaces
reret
staircase
DeterminativePlaces
kheret-netjer
necropolis
DeterminativePlaces
t
bread / loaf
DeterminativeThings
ankh
life
DeterminativeThings
wedjat
Eye of Horus
DeterminativeThings
depet
boat
DeterminativeThings
ra
sun
DeterminativeThings
i
reed
DeterminativeThings
shut
feather (of Maat)
DeterminativeThings
kheper
scarab / beetle
DeterminativeThings
seshen
lotus
DeterminativeThings
wadj
papyrus
DeterminativeThings
djed
djed pillar
DeterminativeThings
tyet
knot of Isis
DeterminativeThings
was
was-scepter
DeterminativeThings
heqa
crook
DeterminativeThings
nekhakha
flail
DeterminativeThings
hedjet
White Crown
DeterminativeThings
deshret
Red Crown
DeterminativeThings
pschent
Double Crown
DeterminativeThings
iaret
uraeus / cobra
DeterminativeThings
sekhem
sistrum
DeterminativeThings
ankh
mirror
DeterminativeThings
seshen-ib
comb
DeterminativeThings
tebut
sandal
DeterminativeThings
neb
basket
DeterminativeThings
hnw
jar
DeterminativeThings
iab
cup
DeterminativeThings
wedjehu
offering table
DeterminativeThings
iset
chair / seat
DeterminativeThings
hnkyt
bed
DeterminativeThings
hen
chest / box
DeterminativeThings
hedj
mace
DeterminativeThings
pedjet
bow
DeterminativeThings
sheser
arrow
DeterminativeThings
des
knife
DeterminativeThings
minb
axe
DeterminativeThings
bnt
harp
DeterminativeThings
sekher
drum
DeterminativeThings
wesekh
broad collar
DeterminativeThings
djeba
ring / seal
DeterminativeThings
sa
amulet
DeterminativeThings
shem
to walk / go
DeterminativeActions
wenem
to eat
DeterminativeActions
redi
to give
DeterminativeActions
maa
to see
DeterminativeActions
r
to speak / mouth
DeterminativeActions
iu
to come
DeterminativeActions
hemsi
to sit
DeterminativeActions
sesh
to write
DeterminativeActions
sedjer
to sleep
DeterminativeActions
fai
to carry / lift
DeterminativeActions
as
to run
DeterminativeActions
aha
to stand
DeterminativeActions
fekh
to leap
DeterminativeActions
nebi
to swim
DeterminativeActions
pa
to fly
DeterminativeActions
aha
to fight
DeterminativeActions
dua
to pray / adore
DeterminativeActions
hnk
to offer
DeterminativeActions
qed
to build
DeterminativeActions
ska
to plow
DeterminativeActions
wetj
to sow
DeterminativeActions
asekh
to reap
DeterminativeActions
nedj
to grind
DeterminativeActions
fesi
to bake / cook
DeterminativeActions
wehau
to fish
DeterminativeActions
sekhet
to hunt
DeterminativeActions
khedi
to sail
DeterminativeActions
kheni
to row
DeterminativeActions
iba
to dance
DeterminativeActions
hesi
to sing
DeterminativeActions
sekhemekh
to play music
DeterminativeActions
seba
to teach
DeterminativeActions
seshem
to learn
DeterminativeActions
hesb
to count
DeterminativeActions
khay
to measure
DeterminativeActions
tjes
to bind / tie
DeterminativeActions
wen
to open
DeterminativeActions
khetem
to close / seal
DeterminativeActions
meri
to love
DeterminativeActions
remi
to weep
DeterminativeActions
Ra
Ra (sun god)
DeterminativeGods
Wsir
Osiris
DeterminativeGods
Aset
Isis
DeterminativeGods
Heru
Horus
DeterminativeGods
Inpu
Anubis
DeterminativeGods
Djehuty
Thoth
DeterminativeGods
Imen
Amun
DeterminativeGods
Hut-Heru
Hathor
DeterminativeGods
Bastet
Bastet
DeterminativeGods
Sutekh
Set
DeterminativeGods
Ptah
Ptah
DeterminativeGods
Sekhmet
Sekhmet
DeterminativeGods
Khnum
Khnum
DeterminativeGods
Sebek
Sobek
DeterminativeGods
Nut
Nut
DeterminativeGods
Geb
Geb
DeterminativeGods
Shu
Shu
DeterminativeGods
Tefnut
Tefnut
DeterminativeGods
Nebet-hut
Nephthys
DeterminativeGods
Maat
Maat
DeterminativeGods
Khonsu
Khonsu
DeterminativeGods
Mut
Mut
DeterminativeGods
Nefertem
Nefertum
DeterminativeGods
Taweret
Taweret
DeterminativeGods
Bes
Bes
DeterminativeGods
Montju
Montu
DeterminativeGods
Min
Min
DeterminativeGods
Neith
Neith
DeterminativeGods
Serqet
Serqet
DeterminativeGods
Wadjet
Wadjet
DeterminativeGods
Nekhbet
Nekhbet
DeterminativeGods
Atum
Atum
DeterminativeGods
Khepri
Khepri
DeterminativeGods
Hapi
Hapi
DeterminativeGods
Apep
Apophis
DeterminativeGods
Ammit
Ammit
DeterminativeGods
Heka
Heka
DeterminativeGods
Renenutet
Renenutet
DeterminativeGods
Sia
Sia
DeterminativeGods
Hu
Hu
DeterminativeGods
itn
sun disk (Aten)
DeterminativeAstronomical
iah
moon
DeterminativeAstronomical
iah-aa
full moon
DeterminativeAstronomical
shepset
crescent moon
DeterminativeAstronomical
seba
star
DeterminativeAstronomical
sebau
stars
DeterminativeAstronomical
Sopdet
Sirius (Sopdet)
DeterminativeAstronomical
Sah
Orion (Sah)
DeterminativeAstronomical
bakiu
decan
DeterminativeAstronomical
sebau-khnem
constellation
DeterminativeAstronomical
seba-meht
pole star
DeterminativeAstronomical
seba-djai
planet (wanderer)
DeterminativeAstronomical
Djai
Venus
DeterminativeAstronomical
Her-desher
Mars
DeterminativeAstronomical
Hor-wepesh
Jupiter
DeterminativeAstronomical
Sebegu
Mercury
DeterminativeAstronomical
Hor-ka-pet
Saturn
DeterminativeAstronomical
Nut
vault of Nut
DeterminativeAstronomical
mandjet
day-boat of Ra
DeterminativeAstronomical
mesektet
night-boat of Ra
DeterminativeAstronomical
duat-netjer
dawn
DeterminativeAstronomical
kheft-hra
dusk
DeterminativeAstronomical
aha-ra
midday
DeterminativeAstronomical
gereh-her
midnight
DeterminativeAstronomical
hbs-itn
eclipse
DeterminativeAstronomical
weben
sunrise
DeterminativeAstronomical
hotep-ra
sunset
DeterminativeAstronomical
mer-en-ta
Milky Way
DeterminativeAstronomical
meskhetiu
Big Dipper
DeterminativeAstronomical
Mehet-weret
celestial cow
DeterminativeAstronomical
heru
day
DeterminativeAstronomical
gereh
night
DeterminativeAstronomical
renpet
year
DeterminativeAstronomical
abed
month
DeterminativeAstronomical
akhet
Akhet (flood)
DeterminativeAstronomical
peret
Peret (growth)
DeterminativeAstronomical
shemu
Shemu (harvest)
DeterminativeAstronomical
wenut
hour
DeterminativeAstronomical
hru-medju
ten-day week
DeterminativeAstronomical
imy-renpet
calendar
DeterminativeAstronomical
aha-shu
solstice
DeterminativeAstronomical
mitt-hru
equinox
DeterminativeAstronomical
seba-sed
comet
DeterminativeAstronomical
seba-kher
shooting star
DeterminativeAstronomical
peret-Sopdet
heliacal rising
DeterminativeAstronomical
seba-medu
star-signs
DeterminativeAstronomical
iakhu
twilight
DeterminativeAstronomical
stut
sunbeams
DeterminativeAstronomical
seba-wenut
star clock
DeterminativeAstronomical
akhet-ra
solar horizon
DeterminativeAstronomical

Reference conventions

Gardiner's Sign List

The standard catalog that sorts every hieroglyph into lettered families (A–Z, Aa). The backbone of every modern reference.

Manuel de Codage

The transliteration and encoding convention used to type hieroglyphic texts on a computer and record their sound values.

Unicode Egyptian Hieroglyphs

The 1,000+ signs of the Unicode block that let real hieroglyphs render as text — exactly the characters shown across this site.