“May He Be Foremost…” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 from a Middle Kingdom relief from the reign 𓋾 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 (c. 2010-2000 B.C.E.). 

The inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 reads: 𓃺𓈖𓆑𓏅. Let’s break this down! 

𓃺𓈖 – Be (could also mean “Exist”) (sounds like “wn”)

𓆑 – He (sounds like “f”)

𓏅 – Foremost (could also be “In Front Of”)  (sounds like ḫnt)

So the translation of 𓃺𓈖𓆑𓏅 would be “May He Be Foremost…” or “May He Be In Front Of.” The name 𓂋𓈖 of a deity 𓊹 or other religious figure (such as soul 𓂓) would usually follow, but that part of the relief is cut off! 

By itself, the word “𓃺𓈖𓆑” can actually mean “to be glad” or “to be happy” – the last symbol at the end changes the meaning of the phrase! 

The word “foremost 𓏅” can also be written as “𓄂𓏏” – “𓄂𓏏” can also be translated as “best.” 

Just like any language, in Middle Egyptian there can be two different ways to write/say the same word or one single word can have multiple meanings!