Runic alphabet

The runic alphabet or Futhark - term formed starting from the name of the first six letters of this alphabet was the Alphabet used by the former people of languages Germanic S (like the Angles and Nordiques ( Vieux norrois )).

Contrary to the letters of the alphabet Latin, the runes have intrinsic directions. The fact is, however, that the Latin alphabet is the fruit long and slow evolution, heritage of the Étrusques, whose alphabet was itself fruit of the heritage of the Phéniciens; any alphabet having itself for origin the Pictogramme S, which had, them, a significance symbolic system. It is rather improbable that the Germanic people could invent an alphabet from nothing a few millenia after the birth first alphabets. An Etruscan coin representing the attributes of Athéna found in the Valais in Suisse recalls rather well the way which the alphabet had had to traverse towards North before the Scandinavian people do not adapt it to their own languages.

The Indo-European Roots of the word “rune”, *run , mean “mystery” or “secrecy” and this are more visible in one of derived the raunen meaning “to murmur” or “to speak in secrecy”.

Other written forms connected with the runes exist: the Runes Hungarian women and the Turkish alphabet runiforme said Runes göktürk.

---- For information on the data-processing rune , to see the article Measuring unit in data processing.

Note: this article was created partly since the english language version. It is possible that there remain mistranslations. ----

Original system

Note: the transliterations follow the traditional model .

The original alphabet of the Scandinavian runes, the futhark with 24 letters, representing the 24 visible constellations of the former Scandinavians, whose Vikings, is often called the “line rune” and was organized in three groups of 8 runes each one, named ätter (families): the ätts of Freyr (or Frey), Hagal and Týr respectively, first character of each group being exemplifié by the initial character of the name.

The Scandinavian of 24 letters, so known original futhark like the Germanic futhark: Fehu, Ūruz, Þurisaz, Ansuz, Reiðō, Kaunaz, Gäbon, Wunjō, Hagalaz, Nauþi, Īsa, Jēra, Eihwaz, Perþ, Algiz, Sōwila, Tiwaz, Berkō, Ehwaz, Mannaz, Laguz, Inguz, Dagaz and Oþila (Property Óðal).

Here 24 original runes with their pronunciation for the reading.

Le rhombus represents the rune " odhinn" without glyphe and thus without pronunciation. the " th" decides as in anglais .

Later systems

The initial futhark including/understanding 24 runes more a rune without Glyphe representative “Odhinn” was shortened later on with 16 runes around the year 800 and is generally seen like an adaptation being used to simplify the work of the writer. The majority of the runes of Scandinavia are later to 800 and use the 16 letters:

F U þ ą R K H N I has S T B m L ʀ

This is the Norwegian/Swedish alternative, so called rune brushwood-short. The Danish alternative is very similar. One can read an example of runes Danish in the inscription of the Grosse stone of Jelling.


Le more recent futhark Scandinavian with 16 runes:
  • 1st line, the Danish alternative with the normal brushwood
  • 2nd line, the Swedish alternative - Norwegian with the short brushwood.

The others futharks Scandinavian include a form without branch (probably for a faster sculpture) and the medieval futhark (which includes runes representing the complete Latin alphabet).


Variante of Hälsingland in Sweden, without brushwood


Variante medieval, including the Latin Alphabet

The runes thorn (ᚦ) and Wynn (ᚹ) were adopted in the alphabet of the Vieil English (in the forms þ and ƿ ). Thorn is still used in the alphabet Icelandic.

Origin of the runes

The alphabet runic was created by the speakers of Germanic dialects of languages in order to write their languages. Although some scholars claim that the runes would result entirely from the Greek alphabet (Morris in Odenstedt 359) or of the Latin (Odenstedt 362) the majority of the scholars consider that this alphabet is a mixture in the various beginnings. Seebold5, Krause3, Jensen (571) and Coulmas (1996: 444 FF.) think that the runic alphabet is a Scandinavian mixture of alphabets Italic alpine with a Latin influence.

This majority thought is certainly more realistic than the explanations provided by Morris and Odenstedt.

Some letters have an obvious Latin origin, for example the runes for /f/ and /r/, others which point out - at least on the level of the format - the alpine Alphabet, for example the rune /h/. There are as symbols which can be as well Latin as alpine, for example the rune /i/-rune. Bernal (36) thinks that there were also some substrates of implied alphabet; Miller (62) claims that the origins of the runic alphabet are the antiquated Méditerranéen. Both do not explain the reasons of their beliefs. In same work, Miller also writes that the phonetic parameters on which the runic alphabet is based are finally clearly Semitic and are related to the scenarios of Byblos and Ugarit as well as the Alphabet phenician. Several different scenarios runic were developed during time.

Use of the runes

The runes were usually used for inscriptions in wood, metal, leather or the stone. The runes consisted mainly of vertical and diagonal marks, with less horizontal or curved marks (certain versions of runes have any no). The drawing of the runes helped with their sculpture in wood. The words were written along the grain of wood, meaning that all the marks were cut through the grain. This is due to the fact that cuts along the grain would have caused breaks in wood, or would have been closed again if wood absorbed moisture.

The oldest runes which reached us would be dated from the year 200, and it is generally accepted that they were not invented before year 1. These runes primitive to the surroundings of the year 650 all seem to use same the futhark of 24 runes. The majority of these inscriptions are very short and incomprehensible, and in almost all the cases it is difficult to translate them and be certain of their precise language. The majority of the preserved runes are out of stone, however some fragments exist out of wood, bark and bone, and some on Parchemin the, most famous being the Codex Runicus .

It appears that the runes could be much older. The rune for the sound æ, as in sAd, was not used in the writing, because at that time the Germanic languages did not have this sound. Nevertheless, in each list of characters it always appears. However, in the German proto-west æ seems to have existed like a complete Phonème. It should be noted that nothing makes it possible to prove that the futhark would have been subject to the Latin or Greek influence. On the contrary, it would be more judicious to go back them to one very former time, since the written form " ancêtre" runes, the writing known as of Hallristinger, and presenting this same hard and rectilinear form, discovered in the north-western northern part of the Europe, would date from the end of prehistory. It is noted that the swatiska is very present there, one counts in this writing to five versions of this solar symbol (note: “Swatiska” means “all is well” in Sanskrit).


most recent runes Swedish-Norwegian

Later, the runes varied from one country to another. The range of the futhark was reduced to 16 or 18 runes in Norway and Sweden, where the vast majority of the more recent runes are found. In England the futhark increased with approximately 28 runes (more some used only on a regional level or for foreign proper names).

Almost all the runes which were deciphered were used to write Germanic languages, like the Scandinavian old man, Norwegian, Swedish, old English, and in the case of many runes old, the languages seem Germanic but are difficult to identify more precisely. The only identified use of runes for nonGermanic languages is probably some Latin inscriptions written with English runes, or rather a mixture of Latin letters and runes English. It is possible that there are some rare other cases.

Although the runes were used for work of writing like the Bible, they were it more usually for short inscriptions rather than for a complete text.

The runes seem to be fallen in disuse around the year safe millet in Scandinavia where they continued to be used during a few centuries. Some areas more isolated from Scandinavia continued to use the runes until the modern time. There were some rebirths during the centuries, generally by people wanting to join the past in a certain manner. The current wave of enthusiasm seems partially inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien and partially by mysticism New Age. The runes have an important value for the followers of the Religion Ásatrú.

Runes and literature

The runes were used, in the literature, to create an effect “of authenticity” and also to give “historical” indications, in the work:

Indeed, for the moment, the four only writers having used the runes in their (S) work (S), are John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, Jules Verne, Joanne Kathleen Rowling and Erik the Man.

The runes were abundantly used by J.  R.  R.  Tolkien, in particular, in Bilbo the Hobbit (for the chart carried out, at the time of the Adventures of Bilbo), and also especially the Lord of the Rings , illustrating, the works of Bilbo, in Hobbitbourg, the writings with Fondcombe-Rivendell, the Door of Moria, falls it from Balin, the walls of this tomb and the book read by Gandalf, in this tomb. J.  R.  R.  Tolkien uses the runes, but the language used is English.

Concerning Jules Verne, the use of the runes is also very present, in its work of adventure Voyage in the center of the Earth . Jules Verne uses the runes (the starting point of the work is in Iceland) for a secret message and a discovery of mysterious passages.

Jules Verne uses also the runic alphabet, but in this case the language used is Latin, in the work.

That it is J.  R.  R.  Tolkien or Jules Verne, the alphabet of the runes is identical, but the languages are different.

Hermione Granger, of the series of books Harry Potter, studies the runes in the third volume. It is apparently difficult.

The series of video games Ultima employs much the runes. The language employed is then old English.

The writer Erik the man employs also the runes in his trilogy the Book of the stars , even if those Ci are called “graphèmes”, in their giving magic capacities.

Runes and their associations mythological and magic

In Scandinavian mythology the god Odin is suspended in the world-tree, Yggdrasil, for nine days in personal sacrifice in order to bring the gift of the runes to humanity. According to Tacit, the former Germanic people were accustomed to digging marks on fruit wood sheets and selecting them like batches for the divination. Moreover, each rune is associated with a god, and by there has a particular magic significance, which can join others runes to form a fate, an amulet or a blessing. This point, and several poems runic associated associating significances and images with the name with the runic letters led occultists to try to rebuild the systems of divination by using the runic letters.

Symbolic systems

Each rune has a symbolic system:

  1. Fehu: cattle, money, richness: it is the god of the Fertility.
  2. Uruz: the bison, the ox, the male force and ashes.
  3. Thurisaz: creating, torment of the women.
  4. Ansuz: God, crowned beam or pile of the ancestors.
  5. Raidho: the ride, the way, the voyage in darkness.
  6. Kenaz: the torch, the boat, the boat.
  7. Gebo: backs and gifts, the Sacrifice and offerings.
  8. Wunjo: the delight, the magnificience, comfort.
  9. Hagalaz: hail, the storm, harmful Magic of Time.
  10. Naudhiz: constraint, distress, the constraint, the torment, need.
  11. Isa: ice, cold and misfortune.
  12. Jera: years, fertile seasons, harvests and the blessing of the field.
  13. Eihwaz: the yew, death, the proscription of the Magic and other dangers.
  14. Perthro: perhaps dance and plays.
  15. Elhaz: the man, the fork, ambivalence.
  16. Sowilo: sun, the light, heat and fertility.
  17. Tiwaz: the arrow, fidelity, the god of the Ziu War.
  18. Berkano: the branch of birch, the marriage and the Frigg goddess.
  19. Ehwaz: the horse, the guide of the tank of the sun.
  20. Mannaz: the man, humanity.
  21. Laguz: water, sea, lakes and sources.
  22. Ingwaz: God or hero of Ingwi stock.
  23. Dagaz: the day and the luminosity, at the origin of crowned fire.
  24. Othalaz: land and buildings. Opposite of Fehu.

Runes and nationalisms

As Germanic symbols, the runes were used by the Nazi S. Some symbols as the rune Odal are used on the flags néo-Nazi in the place of the Svastika. Runes however were proscribed during the reign Nazi, and the persecuted experts of this art, just like in Iceland, well before this time.

Unicode coding

In Unicode, there are 81 characters runic: 75 runic letters, 3 punctuation marks, and 3 other symbols used in the Scandinavian Calendar.


The following line will be posted in characters runic if your navigator Internet supports them: (engraved on the Large stone of Jelling)

  • ᛡᛅᚱᛅᛚᛏᚱᛁᛅᛋᛋᚫᛣᚢᛅᚾᛏᛅᚾᛉᛅᚢᚱᚴᛅᛚᛅᛅᚢᚴᚾᚢᚱᚢᛁᛅᚴᛅᚢᚴᛏᛅᚾᛁᚴᛅᚱᚦᛁᚴᚱᛁᛋᛏᚾᚫ
  • haraltr ias sar uan tanmaurk went auk nuruiak auk tani karTi kristna
  • Harald which gained whole Denmark and Norway and Danes made Christian
In the contrary case, seek a navigator supporting the Unicode and a font face containing the runes, to see below.

Examples of inscriptions

See too

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