Runes translator
Type a name or a phrase and copy it as Elder Futhark runes.
About this translator
Runes are the letters of the early Germanic peoples. The oldest alphabet, the Elder Futhark, has 24 runes and was used from about the second century to the eighth. It is named from its first six letters, f, u, th, a, r and k, in the same way that the word alphabet comes from alpha and beta.
Runes were made for carving into wood and stone, so they are made of straight lines. Each rune also has a name and a meaning, such as Fehu for cattle and wealth, or Dagaz for day. Today they are used on jewellery, tattoos, game maps and in fantasy writing.
English has sounds the Elder Futhark did not, so a translation is always an approximation. The tool here follows the usual conventions: c and k both use Kaunan, q is written kw, x is ks, v shares a rune with u, and th and ng have their own runes. If a rune looks like an empty box, your device has no runic font; most phones and computers include one, and Noto Sans Runic is free.
Elder Futhark chart
| Rune | Name | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ᚠ | Fehu | f | cattle, wealth |
| ᚢ | Uruz | u | aurochs, strength |
| ᚦ | Thurisaz | th | giant, thorn |
| ᚨ | Ansuz | a | a god, a mouth |
| ᚱ | Raidho | r | ride, journey |
| ᚲ | Kaunan | k, c | torch |
| ᚷ | Gebo | g | gift |
| ᚹ | Wunjo | w | joy |
| ᚺ | Hagalaz | h | hail |
| ᚾ | Naudiz | n | need |
| ᛁ | Isaz | i | ice |
| ᛃ | Jera | j, y | year, harvest |
| ᛈ | Perthro | p | a lot-cup or dice cup |
| ᛉ | Algiz | z | elk, protection |
| ᛊ | Sowilo | s | sun |
| ᛏ | Tiwaz | t | the god Tyr |
| ᛒ | Berkano | b | birch |
| ᛖ | Ehwaz | e | horse |
| ᛗ | Mannaz | m | human |
| ᛚ | Laguz | l | water |
| ᛜ | Ingwaz | ng | the god Ing |
| ᛞ | Dagaz | d | day |
| ᛟ | Othala | o | heritage |
Questions
How do I write my name in runes?
Type it into the box above. Each letter is replaced with its Elder Futhark rune, and th and ng become single runes.
Which runic alphabet is this?
The Elder Futhark, the oldest runic alphabet, with 24 runes. The Younger Futhark used in the Viking Age has only 16.
Why are some letters the same rune?
The runic alphabet had no separate letters for c, k, q and x, or for u and v. They share runes, or use two runes in a row.
Why do I see empty boxes?
Your device is missing a runic font. Installing Noto Sans Runic fixes it.