Ancient Egyptian writing is famous for its complexity, using over 1,000 distinct characters. However, at the core of this system is a set of 24 signs known as “Uniliterals.” These are signs that represent a single consonant sound, acting very much like a modern alphabet.
By using these uniliteral signs, we can approximate English names and words using the symbols of the Pharaohs.
The Hieroglyphic Alphabet Chart
Below is the standard list of uniliteral signs used to translate English characters into Hieroglyphs.
| English | Hieroglyph | Object Depicted |
| A | 𓄿 | Vulture |
| B | 𓃀 | Foot |
| C / K | 𓎡 | Basket with handle |
| D | 𓂧 | Hand |
| E / I | 𓇋 | Flowering Reed |
| F | 𓆑 | Horned Viper |
| G | 𓎼 | Jar Stand |
| H | 𓎛 | Twisted Flax |
| J | 𓆓 | Cobra |
| L | 𓃭 | Lion |
| M | 𓅓 | Owl |
| N | 𓈗 | Water Ripple |
| O | 𓍯 | Lasso |
| P | 𓊪 | Stool |
| Q | 𓐐 | Hill Slope |
| R | 𓂋 | Mouth |
| S | 𓋴 | Folded Cloth |
| T | 𓏏 | Loaf of Bread |
| U / W | 𓅱 | Quail Chick |
| Y | 𓄭 | Two Reeds |
| Z | 𓊃 | Door Bolt |
How to read Hieroglyphs
Ancient Egyptians could write from left to right, right to left, or top to bottom. The key to reading them is to look at the animals or people in the text. You always read towards the faces of the animals. If the bird faces left, you start reading from the left!
Write your name in Hieroglyphs
Curious what your name looks like inside a royal cartouche? Use our free tool to convert your name.