Hieroglyphic Alphabet
Ancient Egyptian writing uses a set of 24 uniliteral signs — hieroglyphs that each represent a single consonant. Together they form the phonetic backbone of the writing system, though they were always used alongside logograms and determinatives rather than as a standalone alphabet.
Note: Like most Semitic writing systems, Egyptian hieroglyphs record consonants only — vowels were not written. Signs are listed here in the conventional Egyptological dictionary order. Transliteration follows the Leyden Unified Transliteration standard; the yod sign (M17) is shown as ꞽ (U+A7BD), with the legacy notation j in parentheses.
| Sign(s) | Transliteration | Letter name | Sign description |
|---|---|---|---|
| ꜣ | Aleph | Vulture | |
| ꞽ(j) | Yod | Reed leaf | |
| y | Y | Double reed leaf / Dual strokes | |
| ꜥ | Ayin | Arm | |
| w | W | Quail chick / Coil of rope | |
| b | B | Foot | |
| p | P | Reed mat or stool | |
| f | F | Horned viper | |
| m | M | Owl | |
| n | N | Water | |
| r | R | Mouth | |
| h | H | Enclosure | |
| ḥ | Dotted H | Rope | |
| ḫ | Third H | Placenta | |
| ẖ | Fourth H | Belly and udder | |
| z | S (or Z) | Door bolt | |
| s | Second S | Bolt of cloth | |
| š | Shin | Pool | |
| q | Dotted K (or Q) | Hill slope | |
| k | K | Basket | |
| g | G | Jar stand | |
| t | T | Loaf of bread | |
| ṯ | Second T | Hobble | |
| d | D | Hand | |
| ḏ | Second D | Cobra |
Vulture
Reed leaf
Arm
Foot
Reed mat or stool
Horned viper
Owl
Water
Mouth
Enclosure
Rope
Placenta
Belly and udder
Door bolt
Bolt of cloth
Pool
Hill slope
Basket
Jar stand
Loaf of bread
Hobble
Hand
Cobra
Signs link to their full glyph entries. Some letters have two alternate signs — either could be used in ancient texts.