It’s hard to not be fascinated by the hieroglyphics that were found throughout ancient Egypt.
The pictographs and symbols were part of more than 1,000 characters, and were utilized as a formal writing system in Egypt dating back to 3200 B.C.
The video show Japanese calligrapher Tohgutakumi elegantly creating a set of 26 characters, representing the English language, all with cleanly drawn hieroglyphics.
What a unique way to communicate. Via LS:

Watch as a skilled calligrapher translates the English language into distinct hieroglyphics.


While the ancient Egyptian writing system, hieroglyphics, doesn’t map directly to our modern English alphabet. However, scholars have developed an approximate transliteration system that assigns Egyptian hieroglyphs to corresponding phonetic sounds or letters in English.
Here’s a simplified version of the English alphabet with approximate Egyptian hieroglyphic equivalents, using uniliteral (single-consonant) signs, which are the closest thing to an alphabet in Egyptian writing:
| English Letter | Hieroglyphic Sound | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A | ꜣ (Ah/Glottal stop) | Vulture |
| B | b | Foot |
| C | k or s | Basket (k) or Folded cloth (s) |
| D | d | Hand |
| E | ỉ (I or Y sound) | Reed leaf |
| F | f | Horned viper |
| G | g | Jar stand |
| H | h | Reed shelter |
| I | ỉ | Reed leaf |
| J | ḏ | Cobra |
| K | k | Basket |
| L | r | Mouth (Egyptian lacked “L” sound) |
| M | m | Owl |
| N | n | Water ripple |
| O | ꜣ or w | Vulture or Quail chick (for “oo”) |
| P | p | Stool |
| Q | q | Hill slope |
| R | r | Mouth |
| S | s | Folded cloth |
| T | t | Bread loaf |
| U | w | Quail chick |
| V | f | Horned viper (no native “v” sound) |
| W | w | Quail chick |
| X | ks | Basket + Folded cloth combo |
| Y | ỉ | Reed leaf |
| Z | s or ẓ | Folded cloth or Door bolt (for emphatic Z) |
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4 Comments
That was very interesting. Thanks so much for sharing this with me.
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I have no idea of the sources you cull for your fantastic posts, but this a pretty amazing one!
Every day, I look forward to my Moss & Fog. You make it a great start to every.single.day!