Tools to decipher the Elder Futhark or write in this language using a runic alphabet whose traces persist in the writings of old Germanic peoples.
Elder Futhark ᚠᚢᚦᚨᚱᚲ - dCode
Tag(s) : Symbol Substitution, History
dCode is free and its tools are a valuable help in games, maths, geocaching, puzzles and problems to solve every day!
A suggestion ? a feedback ? a bug ? an idea ? Write to dCode!
Elder Futhark ᚠᚢᚦᚨᚱᚲ
Elder Futhark Decoder
Elder Futhark Encoder/Writer
Answers to Questions (FAQ)
What is Elder Futhark? (Definition)
The Old Futhark is a runic alphabet used by the ancient Germans (Germanic people of Northern Europe).
Its name comes from the first six runes of this alphabet: ᚠ,ᚢ,ᚦ,ᚨ,ᚱ,ᚲ
How to encrypt/write in Elder Futhark?
The runic alphabet used in old futhark is composed of 24 characters, each with a possible transliteration.
| ᚠ | F | ᚢ | U | ᚦ | þ | ᚨ | A | ᚱ | R | ᚲ | K | ᚷ | G | ᚹ | W | ᚺ | H | ᚾ | N | ᛁ | I | ᛃ | J |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ᛇ | Ï | ᛈ | P | ᛉ | Z | ᛊ | S | ᛏ | T | ᛒ | B | ᛖ | E | ᛗ | M | ᛚ | L | ᛜ | Ŋ | ᛞ | D | ᛟ | O |
To write in old futhark, to associate with each letter or sound of a message in English, his correspondence (or what is nearest) in old futhark according to the table:
| A | ᚨ | B | ᛒ | C | ᚲ | D | ᛞ | E | ᛖ | F | ᚠ | G | ᚷ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H | ᚺ | I | ᛁ | J | ᛃ | K | ᚲ | L | ᛚ | M | ᛗ | N | ᚾ |
| NG | ᛝ | O | ᛟ | P | ᛈ | Q | ᚲ | R | ᚱ | S | ᛋ | T | ᛏ |
| TH | ᚦ | U | ᚢ | V | ᚹ | W | ᚹ | X | Y | ᛃ | Z | ᛉ |
The X has no equivalent, but it can either be replaced by the letters KS, or by the letter G which is transcribed ᚷ in old futhark.
How to decrypt some Elder Futhark runes?
The decryption of old futhark begins with a substitution of runic characters into Latin characters to obtain an intelligible plain message.
The plain message found may be a text written in some old language, whose translation into English will remain to be done.
Example: ᚠ for f, ᚢ for u, ᚦ for th, ᚨ for a, ᚱ for ' r ', etc.
Example: .png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
is read FUTHARK
How to recognize an Elder Futhark ciphertext?
The alphabet is composed of vertical or sloping/diagonal lines, but never horizontal.
A message can contain a maximum of 24 distinct characters.
Most traces of the old futhark were found on runes, pieces of stones, pebbles on which were engraved runic characters.
The younger futhark is very similar because it is derived from the elder futhark.
Viking runes sometimes use this old Futhark alphabet.
When was Elder Futhark invented?
Estimation indicates that this language has been spoken by Germanic peoples from the second century to the eighth century AD.
Source code
dCode retains ownership of the "Elder Futhark ᚠᚢᚦᚨᚱᚲ" source code. Any algorithm for the "Elder Futhark ᚠᚢᚦᚨᚱᚲ" algorithm, applet or snippet or script (converter, solver, encryption / decryption, encoding / decoding, ciphering / deciphering, breaker, translator), or any "Elder Futhark ᚠᚢᚦᚨᚱᚲ" functions (calculate, convert, solve, decrypt / encrypt, decipher / cipher, decode / encode, translate) written in any informatic language (Python, Java, PHP, C#, Javascript, Matlab, etc.) or any database download or API access for "Elder Futhark ᚠᚢᚦᚨᚱᚲ" or any other element are not public (except explicit open source licence). Same with the download for offline use on PC, mobile, tablet, iPhone or Android app.
Reminder: dCode is an educational and teaching resource, accessible online for free and for everyone.
Cite dCode
The content of the page "Elder Futhark ᚠᚢᚦᚨᚱᚲ" and its results may be freely copied and reused, including for commercial purposes, provided that dCode.fr is cited as the source (Creative Commons CC-BY free distribution license).
Exporting the results is free and can be done simply by clicking on the export icons ⤓ (.csv or .txt format) or ⧉ (copy and paste).
To cite dCode.fr on another website, use the link:
In a scientific article or book, the recommended bibliographic citation is: Elder Futhark ᚠᚢᚦᚨᚱᚲ on dCode.fr [online website], retrieved on 2025-07-12,
