Egyptian Hieroglyphs: The 24 Signs & How to Write

The 24 Uniliteral Signs: The Egyptian Consonantal Key

This chart represents the 24 hieroglyphs used to denote single consonant sounds. If you are learning how to write your name, these are the signs you will use! Note that this “key” is often referred to as the ancient Egyptian alphabet

How to Write Your Name in Hieroglyphs (3 Simple Rules)

Writing your name using hieroglyphs is much simpler than translating ancient texts. You simply use the uniliteral signs (from the chart above) that match the sounds of your name, following these three critical rules:

1. No Vowels: The Egyptian script did not record most vowels (like A, E, I, O, U). When spelling your name, you only need to match the consonants. For example, the name “Robert” would be spelled using signs for R-B-R-T.
2. Directionality: Hieroglyphs can be written from left to right, right to left, or even vertically. To know which way to read, simply look at the figures (people, animals, birds)—they always face the beginning of the line.
3. The Final Clarification (Determinatives): When writing a personal name in the ancient Egyptian alphabet style, it is proper to end the name with a determinative sign that clarifies the person’s gender. Use the sign of a seated man ($\text{male\_determinative}$) or a seated woman ($\text{female\_determinative}$) after the last letter of the name.