Egyptian triliteral signs

As part of the system of Egyptian hieroglyphs, some hieroglyphs served as phonograms representing one, two, or three consonants, used purely for their consonantal values. This use as phonograms contrasts with use as logograms, where hieroglyphs represent an entire word depicted by the image of the hieroglyph itself that may also have the same one, two, or three consonants.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

List

The following is a list of hieroglyphs used as phonographs with triconsonantal phonetic values. These forms and their values are from Allen (2014), unless otherwise indicated.^[A]

	Gardiner	Unicode	Unicode	Transl.	Description	Notes
<hiero>E26</hiero>	E26	U+130F0	Template:Font
<hiero>W10</hiero>	W10	U+133BA	Template:Font	, , ,	Bowl	Allen (2014) has the transliteration , others are from Beylage (2018)Template:Sfn
<hiero>O28</hiero>	O28	U+1327A	Template:Font		Column with tendonTemplate:Sfn
<hiero>M1</hiero>	M1	U+131AD	Template:Font		Tree
<hiero>F44</hiero>	F44	U+1312F	Template:Font	,	Bone with meatTemplate:Sfn	iwꜥ "meat on the bone, haunch"; iwꜥ.w "heir", iwꜥ.t "inheritance";Template:Sfn isw "reward, payment"Template:Sfn
<hiero>V37</hiero>	V37	U+133A9	Template:Font		Bandage	Triliteral in Beylage (2018).Template:Sfn
<hiero>F21</hiero>	F21	U+13114	Template:Font	,	Ear
<hiero>S39</hiero>	S39	U+132FF	Template:Font		Shepherd's crook	ꜥw.t "flock"Template:Sfn
<hiero>D34</hiero>	D34	U+1309A	Template:Font		Arms with shield and mace	Triliteral in Beylage (2018).Template:Sfn
<hiero>V12</hiero>	V12	U+1337C	Template:Font		Band of stringTemplate:Sfn	Triliteral in Beylage (2018).Template:Sfn ꜥrq "wise"; ꜥrq "swear an oath"; ꜥrq.y "last day of the month";Template:Sfn sꜥrq "complete, finish off"Template:Sfn
<hiero>S42</hiero>	S42	U+1327A	Template:Font	,	ꜥbꜣ-scepter
<hiero>Aa20</hiero>	Aa20	U+13422	Template:Font		Bag for clothingTemplate:Sfn	ꜥpr "provide, equip", ꜥpr.w "equipment"; ꜥpr.w "jewelry"; ꜥpr.w "crew of a ship"Template:Sfn
<hiero>S34</hiero>	S34	U+132F9	Template:Font		Ankh symbol	Ideogram for "sandal-strap", as a phonogram, used to represent "life", "live"Template:Sfn
<hiero>P6</hiero>	P6	U+132A2	Template:Font		Mast
<hiero>aSA</hiero>	I1	U+13188	Template:Font		Lizard
<hiero>wAH</hiero>	V29	U+1339D	Template:Font		Swab
<hiero>wAs</hiero>	S40	U+13300	Template:Font	,	Was Sceptre
<hiero>wAD</hiero>	M13	U+131C5	Template:Font		Papyrus Stem
<hiero>wab</hiero>	D60	U+130C2	Template:Font		Foot with water streaming	Ideogram for pure or clean. Triliteral in Collier and Manley (1998).Template:Sfn
<hiero>N8</hiero>	N8	U+131F6	Template:Font		Sun with rays
<hiero>Aa2</hiero>	Aa2	U+1340E	Template:Font		Pustule
<hiero>P4</hiero>	P4	U+132A0	Template:Font		Boat with net
<hiero>wHm</hiero>	F25	U+13119	Template:Font		Leg and hoof of an ox
<hiero>wsr</hiero>	F12	U+1310A	Template:Font		Head and neck of jackal
<hiero>wsx</hiero>	S11	U+132DD	Template:Font		Broad collar
<hiero>wDa</hiero>	Aa21	U+13423	Template:Font
<hiero>wDb</hiero>	N20	U+13204	Template:Font	, Template:Sfn	Riverbank
<hiero>bAs</hiero>	W2	U+133B0	Template:Font
<hiero>H2</hiero>	H2	U+13180	Template:Font		Head of a crested bird
<hiero>H3</hiero>	H3	U+13181	Template:Font		Head of spoonbill
<hiero>F46</hiero>	F46	U+13132	Template:Font	,	IntestineTemplate:Sfn	Triliteral in Beylage (2018).Template:Sfn "go around";Template:Sfn "prescription, remedy"Template:Sfn
<hiero>N9</hiero>	N9	U+131F7	Template:Font		Moon
<hiero>N10</hiero>	N10	U+131F8	Template:Font
<hiero>mAa</hiero>	Aa11	U+13419	Template:Font		Platform
<hiero>U4</hiero>	U4	U+13336	Template:Font			Triliteral phonogram per Allen's sign list and Beylage (2018).Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
<hiero>G46</hiero>	G46	U+13176	Template:Font			Triliteral phonogram per Allen's sign list and Beylage (2018).Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
<hiero>mwt</hiero>	G14	U+13150	Template:Font		Vulture
<hiero>V32</hiero>	V32	U+133A3	Template:Font		Wicker satchel
<hiero>S10</hiero>	S10	U+132DC	Template:Font		Fillet
<hiero>nbw</hiero>	S12	U+132DE	Template:Font			Triliteral in Collier and Manley (1998).Template:Sfn
<hiero>nfr</hiero>	F35	U+13124	Template:Font		Heart and windpipe
<hiero>A17</hiero>	A17	U+13014	Template:Font		Infant
<hiero>M22</hiero>	M22	U+131D1	Template:Font		Rush
<hiero>nTr</hiero>	R8	U+132B9	Template:Font		Cloth on pole
<hiero>M29</hiero>	M29	U+131DB	Template:Font		Carob seed-pod
<hiero>rwD</hiero>	T12	U+13317	Template:Font	, Template:Sfn	Bowstring
<hiero>Aa5</hiero>	Aa5	U+13411	Template:Font		Part of a ship	Variant with biliteral .Template:Sfn
<hiero>HqA</hiero>	S38	U+132FE	Template:Font		Crook
<hiero>Htp</hiero>	R4	U+132B5	Template:Font		Bread loaf on mat
<hiero>Q1</hiero>	Q1	U+132A8	Template:Font		SeatTemplate:Sfn
<hiero>T6</hiero>	T6	U+1330D	Template:Font			Triliteral phonogram per Allen's sign list.Template:Sfn
<hiero>xpr</hiero>	L1	U+131A3	Template:Font		Scarab beetle
<hiero>xnt</hiero>	W17	U+133C3	Template:Font
<hiero>D19</hiero>	D19	U+13089	Template:Font		Nose in profileTemplate:Sfn	ḫntš "plantation", ḫntš "be glad, rejoice"Template:Sfn
<hiero>xrp</hiero>	S42	U+13302	Template:Font
<hiero>xrw</hiero>	P8	U+132A4	Template:Font		Oar
<hiero>xsf</hiero>	U34	U+13359	Template:Font		Spindle
<hiero>U35</hiero>	U35	U+1335A	Template:Font			Variant of U34Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
<hiero>Xnm</hiero>	W9	U+133B8	Template:Font		Stone jug
<hiero>Z9</hiero>	Z9	U+133F4	Template:Font	,	Two sticks crossedTemplate:Sfn
<hiero>zwn</hiero>	T11	U+13315	Template:Font		ArrowTemplate:Sfn
<hiero>zmA</hiero>	F36	U+13125	Template:Font		Lung and windpipe
<hiero>F28</hiero>	F28	U+1311C	Template:Font		Cow's skinTemplate:Sfn
<hiero>S22</hiero>	S22	U+132EB	Template:Font		Shoulder knotTemplate:Sfn
<hiero>siA</hiero>	S32	U+132F7	Template:Font		Cloth with fringesTemplate:Sfn
<hiero>sbA</hiero>	N14	U+131FC	Template:Font	,	Star
<hiero>spr</hiero>	F42	U+1312D	Template:Font		Rib
<hiero>S29</hiero>	S29	U+132F4	Template:Font
<hiero>S31</hiero>	S31	U+132F6	Template:Font			Triliteral phonogram per Allen's sign list.Template:Sfn
<hiero>snD</hiero>	G54	U+1317E	Template:Font	,Template:Sfn	Plucked bird
<hiero>sSm</hiero>	T31	U+1332B	Template:Font		Knife sharpener
<hiero>T32</hiero>	T32	U+1332C	Template:Font
<hiero>stp</hiero>	U21	U+13349	Template:Font		Adze and block of wood
<hiero>V2</hiero>	V2	U+1336C	Template:Font			Triliteral in Beylage (2018).Template:Sfn
<hiero>Aa32</hiero>	Aa32	U+1342E	Template:Font	,	Bow	Triliteral phonogram per Allen's sign list.Template:Sfn
<hiero>Sps</hiero>	A50	U+1303B	Template:Font			Triliteral in Collier and Manley (1998).Template:Sfn
<hiero>Sma</hiero>	M26	U+131D7	Template:Font		Flowering sedge
<hiero>Sms</hiero>	T18	U+1331E	Template:Font		Crook with bundle attached
<hiero>Sna</hiero>	U13	U+13341	Template:Font		PloughTemplate:Sfn
<hiero>O43</hiero>	O43	U+13290	Template:Font		Fence
<hiero>Szp</hiero>	O42	U+1328F	Template:Font		FenceTemplate:Sfn
<hiero>V6</hiero>	V6	U+13371	Template:Font		Cord with ends upTemplate:Sfn
<hiero>R5</hiero>	R5	U+132B6	Template:Font		Censer for fumigationTemplate:Sfn	kꜣp "fumigate"; kꜣp "shelter, hut"Template:Sfn
<hiero>grg</hiero>	U17	U+13345	Template:Font		Pick and depression
<hiero>G4</hiero>	G4	U+13142	Template:Font		Buzzard
<hiero>S24</hiero>	S24	U+132ED	Template:Font		Knotted beltTemplate:Sfn	ṯꜣs "tie (a knot), knit together"; ṯꜣs "spell, utterance, proverb"Template:Sfn
<hiero>S23</hiero>	S23	U+132EC	Template:Font	,Template:Sfn	Knotted clothTemplate:Sfn	"assemble, unite", "assembly"; "in total"Template:Sfn
<hiero>G27</hiero>	G27	U+1315F	Template:Font		FlamingoTemplate:Sfn
<hiero>S41</hiero>	S41	U+13301	Template:Font		Animal-headed staffTemplate:Sfn	"electrum"Template:Sfn
<hiero>DbA</hiero>	T25	U+13325	Template:Font	, Template:Sfn	Reed float

Usage

Triliteral signs could be used by themselves to indicate the consonant sequence they represent, or they could more often be written along with phonetic complements, that is, they could appear with uniliteral signs that represent part of their value.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Some examples of triliterals with phonetic complementation appear in the table below.

Examples of phonetic complementation with triliteralsTemplate:Sfn

Hieroglyph	Example	Transliteration	Meaning
<hiero>anx</hiero>	<hiero>anx-n:x</hiero>		'live'
<hiero>wHm</hiero>	<hiero>wHm-m-Y1V</hiero>		'repeat'
<hiero>wsr</hiero>	<hiero>w-wsr-s-r</hiero>		'strong'
<hiero>nfr</hiero>	<hiero>nfr-f:r</hiero>		'good'
<hiero>stp</hiero>	<hiero>s-t*p:stp</hiero>		'select'

See also

• Transliteration of Ancient Egyptian
• Egyptian uniliteral signs
• Egyptian biliteral signs
• List of Egyptian hieroglyphs

Notes

A.^ See Allen, 2014, pp. 33-34.

External links

• omniglot.com