Elder Futhark introduction

The Elder Futhark is currently the eldest known form of the runic alphabet that consists of 24 runes. Runes can be found on artifacts including amulets, tools, weapons, and runestones, with dating between 2nd and 8th century.

Name Futhark originate from the initial phenome of the first six rune names: f, u, th (þ), a, r, and k corresponding to ᚠ, ᚢ, ᚦ, ᚨ, ᚱ, and ᚲ respectively.

It is important to note that some of currently spread knowledge about the Elder Futhark is covered by lack of evidence. Therefore, some of here stated information might not be true. One might find several sources of information about runic alphabets on the internet, and some of them share big amount of knowledge, but there might be notices pretty big differences in pronunciation, meaning, and other aspects as well.

Transliteration to/from Roman alphabet

At first, we will keep perhaps the original order of runes:

  • ᚠ → f
  • ᚢ → u
  • ᚦ → th, þ
  • ᚨ → a
  • ᚱ → r
  • ᚲ → k
  • ᚷ → g
  • ᚹ → w, (v)
  • ᚺ → h
  • ᚾ → n
  • ᛁ → i
  • ᛃ → j, (y)
  • ᛇ → ï, æ
  • ᛈ → p
  • ᛉ → z
  • ᛊ → s
  • ᛏ → t
  • ᛒ → b
  • ᛖ → e
  • ᛗ → m
  • ᛚ → l
  • ᛝ → ng, ŋ
  • ᛞ → d
  • ᛟ → o

And now, we can try to match Elder Futhark runes to basic Roman alphabet letters:

  • a → ᚨ
  • b → ᛒ
  • c
  • d → ᛞ
  • e → ᛖ
  • f → ᚠ
  • g → ᚷ
  • h → ᚺ
  • i → ᛁ
  • j → ᛃ
  • k → ᚲ
  • l → ᛚ
  • m → ᛗ
  • n → ᚾ
  • o → ᛟ
  • p → ᛈ
  • q
  • r → ᚱ
  • s → ᛊ
  • t → ᛏ
  • u → ᚢ
  • v (→ ᚹ)
  • w → ᚹ
  • x
  • y (→ ᛁ, ᛃ)
  • z → ᛉ

As one might see, there cannot be perfect match and still three runes were not used in that transliteration. We are missing runes to express letters c, q, and x. Also y is cannot be always translated simply into ᛃ, so sometimes it has to be replaced by

One might not clearly distinct between some letters when reading runes:

  • v and w are both represented by rune ᚹ
  • rune ᛃ usually represent j, but it might also translate to y (due to natural word-building structure)

Also, three runes represent letters that are not usual in ASCII text:

  • ᚦ → th, þ
  • ᛇ → ei, ï, æ
  • ᛝ → ng, ŋ

Now, one should be aware distinctions between Roman alphabet and the Elder Futhark runic alphabet. They do not match on 100 %, but they are still so popular, that people just do not care.

Runic alphabets in Unicode

One might relatively easily write using not just Elder Futhark. Since Unicode v3.0 (1999) are available 81 characters to support writing using runic alphabets and additional 8 characters were added in Unicode v7.0 (2014). They are all available in code point range U+16A0—U+16FF.

It is important to note, that all runes of the Elder Futhark might be written on PC using Unicode. One might find Unicode code points in the following section. Yet, there is available a bunch of other runic alphabets including but not limited to Younger Futhark and Medieval runes.

Description of runes

ᚠ
Name: Fehu
Transliteration: f
Unicode code point: U+16A0
Meaning: chattel, wealth, money, prosperity

ᚢ
Name: Uruz
Transliteration: u
Unicode code point: U+16A2
Meaning: aurochs (already extinct species of wild ox), strength, bravery, self-control

ᚦ
Name: Thurisaz (þurisaz)
Transliteration: th, þ
Unicode code point: U+16A6
Meaning: troll rune (negative one), Thór, Jötunn, power of destruction and construction, weapon

ᚨ
Name: Ansuz
Transliteration: a
Unicode code point: U+16A8
Meaning: god (one of Æsir), wisdom, intellect, knowledge, prophecy

ᚱ
Name: Raido (raiðō)
Transliteration: r
Unicode code point: U+16B1
Meaning: ride, movement, journey

ᚲ
Name: Kauna (kaunaz, kaunan) but also Kenaz
Transliteration: k
Unicode code point: U+16B2
Meaning: fire, light, sight, to know

ᚷ
Name: Gebo (gebō)
Transliteration: g
Unicode code point: U+16B7
Meaning: gift, union

ᚹ
Name: Wunjo (wunjō)
Transliteration: w (perhaps exchangeable with v)
Unicode code point: U+16B9
Meaning: joy, success

ᚺ ᚻ
Name: Hagalaz
Transliteration: h
Unicode code point: U+16BA or U+16BB
Meaning: heil (precipitation, weather), injury, disease

ᚾ
Name: Naudiz
Transliteration: n
Unicode code point: U+16BE
Meaning: need, distress, despair

ᛁ
Name: Isaz (īsaz)
Transliteration: i
Unicode code point: U+16C1
Meaning: ice, cold, winter

ᛃ
Name: Jera (jēra)
Transliteration: j (sometimes also replacement for y)
Unicode code point: U+16C3
Meaning: year, harvest, celebrations

ᛇ
Name: Eihwaz (ī(h)waz)
Transliteration: ï, æ
Unicode code point: U+16C7
Meaning: yew-tree, spell protection

ᛈ
Name: Pertho (perþo)
Transliteration: p
Unicode code point: U+16C8
Meaning: tree in fruit, fireplace, female womb

ᛉ
Name: Algiz
Transliteration: z
Unicode code point: U+16C9
Meaning: elk, protection, defense (both physical and psychical)

ᛊ ᛋ
Name: Sowilo (sōwilō)
Transliteration: s
Unicode code point: U+16CA or U+16CB
Meaning: sun, victory, attack power

ᛏ
Name: Teiwaz (tīwaz)
Transliteration: t
Unicode code point: U+16CF
Meaning: god Týr (Tiwaz) god, justice, honor, war, order

ᛒ
Name: Berkana (berkanan)
Transliteration: b
Unicode code point: U+16D2
Meaning: birch tree, healing, relief

ᛖ
Name: Ehwaz
Transliteration: e
Unicode code point: U+16D6
Meaning: horse, progress, friendship, speed

ᛗ
Name: Mannaz
Transliteration: m
Unicode code point: U+16D7
Meaning: man

ᛚ
Name: Laguz
Transliteration: l
Unicode code point: U+16DA
Meaning: lake, water, intuition

ᛝ ᛜ
Name: Ingwaz
Transliteration: ng, ŋ
Unicode code point: U+16DD or U+16DC
Meaning: god Frey (Ingwaz), fertility, male genitals

ᛞ
Name: Dagaz
Transliteration: d
Unicode code point: U+16DE
Meaning: day, warm, grow

ᛟ
Name: Othala (ōþila, ōþala)
Transliteration: o
Unicode code point: U+16DF
Meaning: heritage, land, estate, possession

Example of runic text

ᚹᛖ ᛊᛏᚨᚾᛞ
ᚹᛖ ᚠᛁᚷᚺᛏ
ᚹᛖ ᚹᛁᛚᛚ ᛃᛟᛁᚾ ᛁᚾ ᚹᚨᛚᚺᚨᛚᛚᚨ

As one might see, Elder Futhark is an alphabet that might be (with some limitations) used for almost any text. For example the previous text might be translated into:

we stand
we fight
we will join in Valhalla

XCompose definitions

For simple writing using ComposeKey + Space + letter + Space schema, one might insert the following lines into ~/.XCompose file (and run ibus restart on Linux) to be able to start transcripting text into runic alphabet.

<Multi_key> <space> <a> <space>: "ᚨ"
<Multi_key> <space> <A> <space>: "ᚨ"
<Multi_key> <space> <b> <space>: "ᛒ"
<Multi_key> <space> <B> <space>: "ᛒ"
<Multi_key> <space> <d> <space>: "ᛞ"
<Multi_key> <space> <D> <space>: "ᛞ"
<Multi_key> <space> <e> <space>: "ᛖ"
<Multi_key> <space> <E> <space>: "ᛖ"
<Multi_key> <space> <f> <space>: "ᚠ"
<Multi_key> <space> <F> <space>: "ᚠ"
<Multi_key> <space> <g> <space>: "ᚷ"
<Multi_key> <space> <G> <space>: "ᚷ"
<Multi_key> <space> <h> <space>: "ᚺ"
<Multi_key> <space> <H> <space>: "ᚺ"
<Multi_key> <space> <i> <space>: "ᛁ"
<Multi_key> <space> <I> <space>: "ᛁ"
<Multi_key> <space> <j> <space>: "ᛃ"
<Multi_key> <space> <J> <space>: "ᛃ"
<Multi_key> <space> <k> <space>: "ᚲ"
<Multi_key> <space> <K> <space>: "ᚲ"
<Multi_key> <space> <l> <space>: "ᛚ"
<Multi_key> <space> <L> <space>: "ᛚ"
<Multi_key> <space> <m> <space>: "ᛗ"
<Multi_key> <space> <M> <space>: "ᛗ"
<Multi_key> <space> <n> <space>: "ᚾ"
<Multi_key> <space> <N> <space>: "ᚾ"
<Multi_key> <space> <o> <space>: "ᛟ"
<Multi_key> <space> <O> <space>: "ᛟ"
<Multi_key> <space> <p> <space>: "ᛈ"
<Multi_key> <space> <P> <space>: "ᛈ"
<Multi_key> <space> <r> <space>: "ᚱ"
<Multi_key> <space> <R> <space>: "ᚱ"
<Multi_key> <space> <s> <space>: "ᛊ"
<Multi_key> <space> <S> <space>: "ᛊ"
<Multi_key> <space> <t> <space>: "ᛏ"
<Multi_key> <space> <T> <space>: "ᛏ"
<Multi_key> <space> <u> <space>: "ᚢ"
<Multi_key> <space> <U> <space>: "ᚢ"
<Multi_key> <space> <z> <space>: "ᛉ"
<Multi_key> <space> <Z> <space>: "ᛉ"
<Multi_key> <space> <t> <h> <space> : "ᚦ"
<Multi_key> <space> <T> <H> <space> : "ᚦ"
<Multi_key> <space> <n> <g> <space> : "ᛝ"
<Multi_key> <space> <N> <G> <space> : "ᛝ"
<Multi_key> <space> <e> <i> <space> : "ᛇ"
<Multi_key> <space> <E> <I> <space> : "ᛇ"

Just be aware that some letters are missing (namely c, q, v, x, and y). Other than that, thre more runes are available using ComposeKey + Space + letter + letter + Space schema, where those two letter might be th, ng, or ei.

If one with to be more hardcore, then the following lines might be used:

<Multi_key> <f> <e> <h> <u> : "ᚠ"
<Multi_key> <u> <r> <u> <z> : "ᚢ"
<Multi_key> <t> <h> <u> <r> <i> <s> <a> <z> : "ᚦ"
<Multi_key> <a> <n> <s> <u> <z> : "ᚨ"
<Multi_key> <r> <a> <i> <d> <o> : "ᚱ"
<Multi_key> <k> <a> <u> <n> <a> : "ᚲ"
<Multi_key> <g> <e> <b> <o> : "ᚷ"
<Multi_key> <w> <u> <n> <j> <o> : "ᚹ"
<Multi_key> <h> <a> <g> <a> <l> <a> <z> : "ᚺ"
<Multi_key> <n> <a> <u> <d> <i> <z> : "ᚾ"
<Multi_key> <i> <s> <a> <z> : "ᛁ"
<Multi_key> <j> <e> <r> <a> : "ᛃ"
<Multi_key> <e> <i> <h> <w> <a> <z> : "ᛇ"
<Multi_key> <p> <e> <r> <t> <h> <o> : "ᛈ"
<Multi_key> <a> <l> <g> <i> <z> : "ᛉ"
<Multi_key> <s> <o> <w> <i> <l> <o> : "ᛊ"
<Multi_key> <t> <e> <i> <w> <a> <z> : "ᛏ"
<Multi_key> <b> <e> <r> <k> <a> <n> <a> : "ᛒ"
<Multi_key> <e> <h> <w> <a> <z> : "ᛖ"
<Multi_key> <m> <a> <n> <n> <a> <z> : "ᛗ"
<Multi_key> <l> <a> <g> <u> <z> : "ᛚ"
<Multi_key> <i> <n> <g> <w> <a> <z> : "ᛝ"
<Multi_key> <d> <a> <g> <a> <z> : "ᛞ"
<Multi_key> <o> <t> <h> <a> <l> <a> : "ᛟ"

If one wish to use the another grapheme for Hagalaz, Sowilo, and/or Ingwaz, feel free to swap it.

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