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* If you want to translate runes to text instead, click the button above

* Use the upper coma (') symbol to create x mark separations between words

* Not all letters existed in the rune alphabets (called futhark) so some letters might share a rune

Elder Futhark

ᚺᛖᛚᛚᛟ × ᛗᛁᛞᚷᚨᚱᛞ

Younger Futhark

ᚼᛁᛚᛚᚬ × ᛘᛁᛏᚴᛅᚱᛏ

Short-Twig Futhark

ᚽᛁᛚᛚᚭ × ᛙᛁᛐᚴᛆᚱᛐ

Staveless Hälsinge Futhark

ᚽᛁ⸌⸌ˎ × ⠃ᛁ⸍ᛍ⸝◟⸍

Medieval Runerow

ᛡᛂᛚᛚᚮ × ᛉᛁᛑᚵᛆᚱᛑ

Anglo-Saxon Futhark

ᚻᛖᛚᛚᚩ × ᛘᛁᛞᚷᚪᚱᛞ

More about Runes

Runes are phonetic

This means you spell it as it sounds, instead of writing letter for letter. For example Odin would be ᚢᛞᛁᚾ instead of ᛟᛞᛁᚾ, because of how Old Norse is pronounced.

In this translator I've made it translated letter for letter as it's easier to use like that and works in most cases, so if you want it phonetically then write in phonetically as well

There are many dialects

Another thing to keep in mind is, is that there was not 'one' correct Old Norse language. It spanned over the whole of Scandinavia and even reaching far from the north at times

This means there can be differences in how certain things are spelled on a runestone or carving that come from very different places. Nowadays Icelandic is the closest to Old Norse

Futhark not alphabet

Runes werent written in the alphabetical order, instead they had their own order known as a futhark

We have numerous finds that have the futhark sequence written on them, thanks to this we know in what order they were spelled. The order is unique and only occurs with runes, due to that it is speculated this sequence held some meaning

Runes are letters & magic

Usually people fall into one of two schools. Either runes were the most-bland-boring just-letters or those who tell the future with runes

The truth is they were used for both, spells were written out in runes as well as things were decorated with repetitive runes that spell nothing, but instead are to invoke some sort of power for various reasons

The gods gave us runes

While we ponder where the runes and their mystical whereabouts come from, we actually have stories of where they came from

One of these is found on the Sparlösa runestone, where it says the gods gave them to humans. Another story tells of Odin hanging from a tree for 9 days and 9 nights to learn the runes, after which he taught them to humans

Bindrunes were a thing

Nowadays bindrunes have become very esoteric, but they are not an entirely new invention

Back in the day bindrunes were used as signatures, to save space or to decorate pieces. There are numerous finds of bindrunes like the Gallehus Horns, a runestone in Bolum, the Rök stone etc

Hungry for more?

Well you are in luck! My wife Elin (@Moodelady), who is a BA in Cultural Heritage and BA in Archaeology, currently studying for her Masters from the University of Göteborg, Sweden has compiled a long blog post on the basics of runes.

The article features numerous pictures and examples, all the theories how runes reached the Germanic people and Scandinavia, the names of the runes and rune poems. As well as the magical uses that we have remaining from actual historical sources.

So if you dont feel like hanging yourself from Yggdrasil for 9 days and 9 nights, then check out this article as a bit of an easier start on the runes! And feel free to leave a comment there if you have any questions or ideas. See you there !

Learn The Runes