Runic is a Unicode block containing characters for writing Futhark runic inscriptions. Although many of the characters appear similar, they should not be confused with the J.R.R. Tolkien-designed Cirth, which has a separate ConScript Unicode Registry encoding. However, in Unicode 7.0 some additional Runic characters were added, including three Runic characters that were used only by Tolkien, for example in the maps of Hobbit: these are different from Cirth.

Runes (Proto-Norse: ᚱᚢᚾᛟ (runo), Old Norse: rún) are the letters in a set of related alphabets known as runic alphabets, which were used to write various Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet and for specialised purposes thereafter. The Scandinavian variants are also known as futhark or fuþark (derived from their first six letters of the alphabet: F, U, Þ, A, R, and K); the Anglo-Saxon variant is futhorc or fuþorc (due to sound changes undergone in Old English by the names of those six letters).

Runology is the study of the runic alphabets, runic inscriptions, runestones, and their history. Runology forms a specialised branch of Germanic linguistics.

The earliest runic inscriptions date from around 150 AD. The characters were generally replaced by the Latin alphabet as the cultures that had used runes underwent Christianisation, by approximately 700 AD in central Europe and 1100 AD in northern Europe. However, the use of runes persisted for specialized purposes in northern Europe. Until the early 20th century, runes were used in rural Sweden for decorative purposes in Dalarna and on Runic calendars.

The three best-known runic alphabets are the Elder Futhark (around 150–800 AD), the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc (400–1100 AD), and the Younger Futhark (800–1100 AD). The Younger Futhark is divided further into the long-branch runes (also called Danish, although they were also used in Norway and Sweden); short-branch or Rök runes (also called Swedish-Norwegian, although they were also used in Denmark); and the stavlösa or Hälsinge runes (staveless runes). The Younger Futhark developed further into the Marcomannic runes, the Medieval runes (1100–1500 AD), and the Dalecarlian runes (around 1500–1800 AD).

Historically, the runic alphabet is a derivation of the Old Italic alphabets of antiquity, with the addition of some innovations. Which variant of the Old Italic family in particular gave rise to the runes is uncertain. Suggestions include Raetic, Etruscan, or Old Latin as candidates. At the time, all of these scripts had the same angular letter shapes suited for epigraphy, which would become characteristic of the runes.

The process of transmission of the script is unknown. The oldest inscriptions are found in Denmark and northern Germany, not near Italy. A “West Germanic hypothesis” suggests transmission via Elbe Germanic groups, while a “Gothic hypothesis” presumes transmission via East Germanic expansion.

Properties

Range 16A0–16FF
Characters 96

List of Characters

  • Letters

  • Runic Letter Fehu Feoh Fe F
  • Runic Letter V
  • Runic Letter Uruz Ur U
  • Runic Letter Yr
  • Runic Letter Y
  • Runic Letter W
  • Runic Letter Thurisaz Thurs Thorn
  • Runic Letter Eth
  • Runic Letter Ansuz A
  • Runic Letter Os O
  • Runic Letter Ac A
  • Runic Letter Aesc
  • Runic Letter Long-Branch-Oss O
  • Runic Letter Short-Twig-Oss O
  • Runic Letter O
  • Runic Letter Oe
  • Runic Letter On
  • Runic Letter Raido Rad Reid R
  • Runic Letter Kauna
  • Runic Letter Cen
  • Runic Letter Kaun K
  • Runic Letter G
  • Runic Letter Eng
  • Runic Letter Gebo Gyfu G
  • Runic Letter Gar
  • Runic Letter Wunjo Wynn W
  • Runic Letter Haglaz H
  • Runic Letter Haegl H
  • Runic Letter Long-Branch-Hagall H
  • Runic Letter Short-Twig-Hagall H
  • Runic Letter Naudiz Nyd Naud N
  • Runic Letter Short-Twig-Naud N
  • Runic Letter Dotted-N
  • Runic Letter Isaz Is Iss I
  • Runic Letter E
  • Runic Letter Jeran J
  • Runic Letter Ger
  • Runic Letter Long-Branch-Ar Ae
  • Runic Letter Short-Twig-Ar A
  • Runic Letter Iwaz Eoh
  • Runic Letter Pertho Peorth P
  • Runic Letter Algiz Eolhx
  • Runic Letter Sowilo S
  • Runic Letter Sigel Long-Branch-Sol S
  • Runic Letter Short-Twig-Sol S
  • Runic Letter C
  • Runic Letter Z
  • Runic Letter Tiwaz Tir Tyr T
  • Runic Letter Short-Twig-Tyr T
  • Runic Letter D
  • Runic Letter Berkanan Beorc Bjarkan B
  • Runic Letter Short-Twig-Bjarkan B
  • Runic Letter Dotted-P
  • Runic Letter Open-P
  • Runic Letter Ehwaz Eh E
  • Runic Letter Mannaz Man M
  • Runic Letter Long-Branch-Madr M
  • Runic Letter Short-Twig-Madr M
  • Runic Letter Laukaz Lagu Logr L
  • Runic Letter Dotted-L
  • Runic Letter Ingwaz
  • Runic Letter Ing
  • Runic Letter Dagaz Daeg D
  • Runic Letter Othalan Ethel O
  • Runic Letter Ear
  • Runic Letter Ior
  • Runic Letter Cweorth
  • Runic Letter Calc
  • Runic Letter Cealc
  • Runic Letter Stan
  • Runic Letter Long-Branch-Yr
  • Runic Letter Short-Twig-Yr
  • Runic Letter Icelandic-Yr
  • Runic Letter Q
  • Runic Letter X
  • Punctuation

  • Runic Single Punctuation
  • Runic Multiple Punctuation
  • Runic Cross Punctuation
  • Golden number runes

  • Runic Arlaug Symbol
  • Runic Tvimadur Symbol
  • Runic Belgthor Symbol
  • Tolkienian extensions

  • Runic Letter K
  • Runic Letter Sh
  • Runic Letter Oo
  • Cryptogrammic letters

  • Runic Letter Franks Casket Os
  • Runic Letter Franks Casket Is
  • Runic Letter Franks Casket Eh
  • Runic Letter Franks Casket Ac
  • Runic Letter Franks Casket Aesc
  • Not defined
  • Not defined
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Table of Characters

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