Common Hieroglyphic Phrases

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

This hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃 text from the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 of Imhotep contains some really common hieroglyphic phrases and words!  These phrases are short and easy to recognize, so once you learn them, you’ll be reading through some partial inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 in no time! 

Some parts of this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 are written in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, which is very cool because I can read it! I have not mastered Hieratic at all, which is what a lot of papyri 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦 and Books of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 are written in! Hieratic is pretty much short-hand hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! I really want to learn Hieratic, and it’s one of my long term goals, but there are a lack of books on the subject which has hindered me from learning!

Let’s break down the following text: 𓃹𓈖𓄤𓀭𓐙𓊤

𓃹𓈖 – It Is

𓄤 – Perfect/Beautiful

𓀭 – God

𓐙𓊤 – True of Voice/Justified

All together the text reads: “It is 𓃹𓈖 the perfect god 𓄤𓀭, true of voice 𓐙𓊤…” 

The phrase “It is” can be written as 𓃹𓈖 or 𓃹𓈖𓈖 – both are grammatically correct, it’s just spacing that can become an issue which is why sometimes only one “𓈖” appears! 

Let’s break down each of the symbols individually!

The “hare 𓃹” is normally used as a biliteral phonogram. The  𓃹 represents the sounds “wn.”

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is a uniliteral phonogram. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!” 

The “heart and windpipe 𓄤” symbol is a triliteral phonogram that represents the sound “nfr” which in modern times we pronounce like “nefer.”

The “seated god 𓀭” symbol is a determinative for the word “God” or “King.” 

The “platform 𓐙” symbol is a triliteral phonogram which represents the sound “m3ˁ” which would be pronounced like “mah.” 

The “oar 𓊤” symbol is a triliteral phonogram and represents the sound “ḫrw.”