This section provides the sign, name, phoneme (sound), and a brief description of the meaning of each of the twenty-four runes that make up the Elder Futhark. The meanings are based on traditional rune poems. Where historical knowledge is insufficient for a definitive explanation, this is noted, and the meaning is left uncertain or only partially explained.
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Fehu – “Cattle” | Phoneme: F | Meaning: Wealth.
- Uruz – “Aurochs” | Phoneme: U (long and/or short) | Meaning: Strength of will.
- Thurisaz – “Giant” | Phoneme: Th (both soft and hard) | Meaning: Danger, suffering.
- Ansuz – “An Aesir god” | Phoneme: A (long and/or short) | Meaning: Prosperity, vitality.
- Raidho – “Journey on horseback” | Phoneme: R | Meaning: Movement, work, growth.
- Kaunan – “Ulcer” | Phoneme: K | Meaning: Mortality, pain.
- Gebo – “Gift” | Phoneme: G | Meaning: Generosity.
- Wunjo – “Joy” | Phoneme: W | Meaning: Joy, ecstasy.
- Hagalaz – “Hail” | Phoneme: H | Meaning: Destruction, chaos.
- Naudhiz – “Need” | Phoneme: N | Meaning: Need, unfulfilled desire.
- Isaz – “Ice” | Phoneme: I (long and/or short) | Meaning: Unknown (sources are ambiguous and contradictory).
- Jera – “Year” | Phoneme: Germanic J, modern English Y | Meaning: Harvest, reward.
- Eihwaz – “Yew” | Phoneme: I (pronounced like "Eye") | Meaning: Strength, stability.
- Unknown | Phoneme: P | Meaning: Unknown.
- Unknown (contradictory sources) | Phoneme: Z | Meaning: Protection from enemies, defense of what one loves.
- Sowilo – “Sun” | Phoneme: S | Meaning: Success, solace.
- Tiwaz – “The god Tiwaz” | Phoneme: T | Meaning: Victory, honor.
- Berkanan – “Birch” | Phoneme: B | Meaning: Fertility, growth, sustenance.
- Ehwaz – “Horse” | Phoneme: E (long and/or short) | Meaning: Trust, faith, companionship.
- Mannaz – “Man” | Phoneme: M | Meaning: Augmentation, support.
- Laguz | Phoneme: L | Meaning: Formlessness, chaos, potentiality, the unknown.
- Ingwaz – “The god Ingwaz” | Phoneme: Ng | Meaning: Fertilization, beginnings, the actualization of potential.
- Othalan – “Inheritance” | Phoneme: O (long and/or short) | Meaning: Inheritance, heritage, tradition, nobility.
- Dagaz – “Day” | Phoneme: D | Meaning: Hope, happiness.
These runes not only represented phonetic sounds but also carried deeper symbolic meanings, reflecting concepts of life, fate, and transformation.