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© Copyright 1997, Jim Loy
These signs (together with the Egyptian alphabet) that you see above, are most of the phonetic signs of Egyptian Hieroglyphics. The above signs represent more than one consonant, see the Egyptian alphabet to see what sounds the transliteration symbols represent. In Egyptology, these signs are called biliteral, triliteral, and quadriliteral signs. Many Egyptian words begin with these phonetic signs.
The above phonetic signs are usually followed (sometimes preceded) by one or
more alphabetic signs which clarify their sounds. These added signs are called
the "phonetic complement" of the sign. Examples are
and
in which the two last signs merely
clarify the sound of the first sign, and
in which the first and last signs
clarify the sound of the second sign.
Note: The above table can help you find Egyptian words in a dictionary. This table is arranged in categories of signs (roughly in order of Gardiner's Sign List): man, parts of man, mammals, parts of mammals, birds and parts, reptiles fish insects and parts, plants and parts, sky land and water, buildings and parts, parts of ships and furniture, sacred items, clothes and staffs, weapons and things that cut, farm tools and tools, rope and baskets, pots and vessels, others.