Z; strokes and geomertric figures

The hieroglyphs of ancient Egypt are often listed in groups of associated glyphs. The following hieroglyphs have been grouped according to the system established by Sir Alan Gardiner and are all depictions of strokes and geomertric figures.

Z1 Log; one, unit Det; signifies space, as a substitute for human glyphs for magical purposes, used to indicate that the previous sign is an ideogram (not for words ending "t" indicating that the word is feminine)	Z2 Det; plural	Z3 Det; plural	Z4 Phon; j, y (in plural endings) Det; dual, substitute for magically dangerous signs
Z5 Det; substitute for magically dangerous signs	Z6 substitute for A13 (a bound man) or A14 (a man with a head wound) in hieratic dancer	Z7 Phon; w Abbr for G43 (quail chick) in hieratic	Z8 Det; round
Z9 Det; to destroy, to break, to divide, to cross, to encounter	Z10 Det; to destroy, to break, to divide, to cross, to encounter	Z11 Phon; jmj

Codes

Abb; the sign is an abbreviation of a word,
Det; the sign acts as a determinative (it has no phonetic value, but provids further information about the full word),
Log; the sign is a logogram (it represents an entire word or idea),
Phon; the sign has a phonetic value, and
Phon Det; the sign is a phonetic determinant (it acts as a determinative but also has a phonetic value).

A: Man and his occupations
B: Woman and her occupations
C: Anthropomorphic Deities
D: Parts of the body
E: Mammals
F: Parts of Mammals
G: Birds, 1
H: Parts of Birds
I: Amphibious Animals, Reptiles, etc.

K: Fishes and Parts of Fishes
L: Invertebrata and Lesser Animals
M: Trees and Plants
N: Sky, Earth, Water
O: Buildings and Parts of Buildings
P: Ships and Parts of Ships
Q: Domestic and Funerary Furniture

R: Temple Furniture and Sacret Emblems
S: Crowns, Dress, Staves, etc
T: Warfare, Hunting, Butchery
U: Agriculture, Crafts and Professions
V: Rope, Fibre, Baskets, Bags, etc.
W: Vessels of Stone and Earthenware
X: Loaves and Cakes
Y: Writing, Games, Music
Z: Strokes, Geometrical Figures, etc.
Aa: Unclassified

Return to Gardiner's sign list

Pronunciation guide