Determinative
A determinatives are ideograms that have no phonetic value. They are not pronounced, nor translated, but serves to indicate the general idea or action of the word. It can be one or more glyphs towards or at the end of a word. Basically it serves as description glyph for the word.
Example: the word Ankh can mean many things not just life. It is the determinative glyph with in the word that dictates what the word actually means.
𓋹𓈖𓐍 /anx/ ankh=life
(Here we have the Tri ideogram [𓋹] /anx/ fallowed by [𓈖] /n/ and [𓐍] /x/ The word is spelled out and it stands for life)
𓋹𓏤 /anx/ ankh= sandal strap (*sorry newagers the ankh symbol is just a sandal strap that also stood for a mirror shape.)
(Here we have the Tri ideogram [𓋹] /anx/ fallowed by the determinatives of the single stroke [𓏤] indicating this word is the meaning of the glyph in front of the stroke. The Ankh glyph is indeed a sandal strap and so with the addition of the single stroke it tells us it's meaning is sandal strap exactly what the first glyph is.
𓋹𓈖𓐍 𓀁 /anx/ ankh= Oath, or to swear to somthing
(Here we have the Tri ideogram 𓋹 /anx/ fallowed by 𓈖 /n/ and 𓐍 /x/, fallowed by a determinative of a man pointing to his mouth 𓀁. This is an action that tells us a person is doing something with his mouth or head. In this case he is making an oath with his mouth.)
𓋹𓏤𓈔 /anx/ ankh= mirror
(Here we have the Tri ideogram 𓋹 /anx/ fallowed by the determinatives of the single stroke 𓏤 indicating this word is the meaning of the glyph in front of the stroke, then fallowed by a determinative that is a piece of metal copper or bronze 𓈔, indicating this word means mirror)
*it should be noted sometimes determinatives can also have a phonetic value as well. But for the sake of this particular page I will just label what they stand for.
Example: the word Ankh can mean many things not just life. It is the determinative glyph with in the word that dictates what the word actually means.
𓋹𓈖𓐍 /anx/ ankh=life
(Here we have the Tri ideogram [𓋹] /anx/ fallowed by [𓈖] /n/ and [𓐍] /x/ The word is spelled out and it stands for life)
𓋹𓏤 /anx/ ankh= sandal strap (*sorry newagers the ankh symbol is just a sandal strap that also stood for a mirror shape.)
(Here we have the Tri ideogram [𓋹] /anx/ fallowed by the determinatives of the single stroke [𓏤] indicating this word is the meaning of the glyph in front of the stroke. The Ankh glyph is indeed a sandal strap and so with the addition of the single stroke it tells us it's meaning is sandal strap exactly what the first glyph is.
𓋹𓈖𓐍 𓀁 /anx/ ankh= Oath, or to swear to somthing
(Here we have the Tri ideogram 𓋹 /anx/ fallowed by 𓈖 /n/ and 𓐍 /x/, fallowed by a determinative of a man pointing to his mouth 𓀁. This is an action that tells us a person is doing something with his mouth or head. In this case he is making an oath with his mouth.)
𓋹𓏤𓈔 /anx/ ankh= mirror
(Here we have the Tri ideogram 𓋹 /anx/ fallowed by the determinatives of the single stroke 𓏤 indicating this word is the meaning of the glyph in front of the stroke, then fallowed by a determinative that is a piece of metal copper or bronze 𓈔, indicating this word means mirror)
*it should be noted sometimes determinatives can also have a phonetic value as well. But for the sake of this particular page I will just label what they stand for.
Some widely used determinatives to familiarize yourself with.
A - Man
𓀀 man, person, action [A1] ~ 𓀀𓁐𓏥 people, mankind [A1*B1:Z2] 𓀁 eating, drinking, feel, speak, thoughts [A2] 𓀂 sit [A3] 𓀃 praying, praise, supplication [A4] 𓀄 hiding, what is hidden [A5] 𓀉 week, down, weary [A7] 𓀊 jubilation [A8] 𓀋 carrying, lift [A9] 𓀏 foreigner, enemy, rebel [A13] 𓀐 enemy, death [A14] 𓀒 fallen over [A15] 𓀔 of a child [A17] 𓀗 old man [A19] 𓀘 elder [A20] 𓀙 offical [A21] 𓀜 strike, effort, force/submition, violence [A24] 𓀞 summon [A26] 𓀠 rejoice, praise, support, high, mourn [A28] 𓀢 praying, praise, supplication [A30] 𓀥 something to do with dancing, joy [A32A] 𓀦 traveler, shepard, stranger [A33] 𓀧 build, pounding (something) [A34] 𓀨 something to do with building [A35] 𓀩 brewing something [A36] 𓀭 God, divinity, king (living god on earth) [A40] 𓀯 King, royalty [A41] 𓀰 King [A42] 𓀲 King of Upper Egypt [A43] 𓀵 King of Lower Egypt [A45] 𓀸 protect , guarding [A47] 𓀹 belonging to [A48] 𓀺 foreigner [A49] 𓀻 exulted person, noble, related to self [A50] 𓀼 exulted person, noble [A51] 𓀽 exulted person, noble [A52] 𓀾 mummy, form, likeness [A53] 𓀿 dead, lying down (dead), bury [A54] 𓁀 dead, lying down [A55] B - Women 𓁐 women, goddess, female [B1] 𓁑 pregant [B2] 𓁒 give birth [B4] 𓁔 nurseing [B5] 𓁗 Queen [B7] C - Anthro Deities
𓁚 𓁛 𓁜 𓁝 𓁞 𓁟 𓁠 𓁡 𓁢 𓁣 𓁤 𓁥 𓁦 𓁧 𓁨 𓁩 𓁪 𓁫 𓁬 𓁭 𓁮 𓁯 𓁰 𓁱 𓁲 𓁳 𓁴 𓁵 D - Body parts
𓁶 'body part' 'something to do with the head' [D1] 𓁸 hair, skin, mourn [D3] 𓁹 action of the eye [D4] 𓁺 condition of the eye [D5] 𓁻 cry, act of eye [D6] 𓁼 concerning the eye [D7] 𓁿 weep, cry [D9] 𓏸 pupil [D12] 𓂃 eyebrow [D13] 𓂉 concerning the nose, joy, contempt [D19] 𓂊 smell, nose, joy, contempt [D20] 𓂋 action of the mouth [D21] 𓂎 of the lips, border [D24] 𓂐 expel liquid from lips [D26] 𓂑 concerning the breast [D27] 𓂘 'act of arms', embracing [D32] 𓂜 not, 'negation' [D35] 𓂝 arm, hand, forearm, condition, state, region [D36] 𓂠 offer, present, give [D39] 𓂡 strike, effort, force, violence, examine [D40] 𓂢 arm, action with arm [D41] 𓂦 sacred [D45] 𓂧 hand, palm, act with a hand [D46] 𓂩 of the hand [D47] 𓂬 seize, grasp, attack [D49] 𓂭 finger, toe, thumb 'digit' [D50] 𓂷 finger, toe, claw, nail 'action with the finger' [D51] 𓂸 phallus, 'something to do with seed or sexual' measure, ancestory, male [D52] 𓂺 phallus emission, beget, male 'in the presence of' [D53] 𓂻 'act of walking', action, movement [D54] 𓂽 'act of turning around' [D55] 𓂾 leg, foot 'act of foot' [D56] E - Mammals
𓃒 bull [E1] 𓃓 agresive, fight, victoriouse [E2] 𓃙 kid [E8] 𓃛 conceive [E9] 𓃡 dog [E14] 𓃥 dignitary, wild canine [E17] 𓃩 turmoil, confusion [E20] 𓃫 turmoil, strom, rage [E21] 𓃷 furious [E32] F - Mammal parts 𓃿 smell, face, nose, joy [F1A] 𓄀 agressive [F2] 𓄂 at the front, begining [F4] 𓄅 dignity, worth [F7] 𓄇 strength [F9] 𓄈 throat , neck [F10] 𓄏 of a horn [F16] 𓄑 tooth, tusk 'actions of teeth' [F18] 𓄓 tongue 'act of tongue' [F20] 𓄔 'act of an ear' 'body part' , 'ear like' [F21] 𓄖 hind-quarters, end [F22] 𓄗 foreleg [F23] 𓄛 hide/skin, mammal [F27] 𓄟 fox skins, birth [F31] 𓄡 body, belly [F32] 𓄢 tail [F33] 𓄣 of the heart [F34] 𓄦 backbone and ribs [F37] 𓄪 backbone with spinal cord, revered [F39] 𓄬 vertebrae of back [F41] 𓄭 rib [F42] 𓄯 bone, meat [F44] 𓄰 uterus [F45] 𓄲 turn, turn around, fold, twist [F46] 𓄹 limb, flesh , part of the body [F51] 𓄽 excrement [F52] G - Birds
𓄿 hawk, Egyptian vulture, bird [G1] 𓅆 God, King (living god on earth) [G7] 𓅌 divine [G11] 𓅐 Queen, mother [G14] 𓅡 ba soul or spirit [G29] 𓅪 small, weak, bad, evil, poor body function [G37] 𓅭 bird, duck/goose, flying insect, sound, child [G39] 𓅯 alight, (something) that flies, sound [G41] 𓅾 wring neck (of bird), offer [G54] H - Part of birds 𓆂 Queen, Egyptians, mankind, offer, wring neck (of bird) [H4] 𓆃 wing, 'to fly' [H5] 𓆄 Ma'at , feather, air [H6] 𓆇 goddess, son, egg [H8] ~ 𓏏𓆇 goddess [X1:H8] I - Amphibious, reptiles
𓆈 many [I1] 𓆊 greedy, agressive, angry, lust, voraciou,sovereign [I3] 𓆋 Sobek [I4] 𓆌 gather, collect [I5] 𓆎 black [I6] 𓆏 Heqet Goddess [I7] 𓆑 male [F9] 𓆗 Queen, Goddess [I12] 𓆘 Goddess [I13] 𓆙 snake, worm [I14] K - Fish and fish parts
𓆛 Tilapia fish [K1] 𓆜 detest , abomination [K2] 𓆝 Bûri-fish [K3] 𓆞 corpse , Oxyrhynchus fish [K4] 𓆟 fish, fishy smell, stink [K5] 𓆠 fish-scale [K6] 𓆡 discontented [K7] 𓆢 catfish [K8] L - Inverebrate and lesser animals
𓆣 Dung beetle [L1] 𓆦 Fly [L3] 𓆧 Locust/grasshopper [L4] 𓆨 Centipede [L5] M - nature
𓆭 tree [M1] 𓆰 plant, flower [M2] 𓆱 wood, tree [M3] 𓆳 young , year [M4] 𓆴 season [M5] 𓆷 land , pool, Inundation season [M8] 𓆻 offer [M11] 𓇅 papyrus [M13] 𓇇 papyrus , watery regions [M15] 𓇛 sweet (flavor, odor, disposition) [M29] 𓇜 sweet [M30] 𓇠 grain [M33] 𓇣 emmer [M34] 𓇤 heap [M35] 𓇥 bind [M36] 𓇨 vegetable offering [M39] 𓇩 reeds [M40] 𓇭 vineyard, vine, fruit, garden [M43] 𓇮 sharp [M44] N - sky, earth, water
𓇯 sky, heaven, above, high [N1] 𓇰 night, darkness [N2] 𓇲 dew, rain [N4] 𓇳 sun, light, day, time [N5] 𓇶 sunshine, rise [N8] 𓇹 moon, month [N11] 𓇼 star, time, hour [N14] 𓇽 netherworld [N15] 𓇾 land, earth [N16] 𓈀 deser, foreign land [N18] 𓈄 sandbank [N20] 𓈅 land [N21] 𓈇 irrigated land [N23] 𓈈 district, province, garden [N24] 𓈉 hill country, desert, foreign land [N25] 𓈎 hill [N28] 𓈏 mound [N30] 𓈐 road, travel, position [N31] 𓈒 seed, grain of sand, mineral, medicin, metal, pebble, small round [N33] 𓈓 sand, minerals, pellets, multiple of something [N33a] 𓈔 copper, bronze, metal [N34] 𓈗 water, liquid, actions connected w/ water [N35a] 𓈘 canal of water, river, lake, sea [N36] 𓈞 well, pool, marsh, uterus [N41] |
O - buildings and parts of buildings
𓉐 seat, place, building [O1] 𓉔 courtyard [O4] 𓉕 street [O5] 𓉗 house, mansion, estate, temple [O6] 𓉧 gateway [O13] 𓉪 door (in temple) [O16] 𓉬 chapel [O18] 𓉯 sanctuary [O20] 𓉱 booth [O21] 𓉲 booth [O22] 𓉴 pyramid [O24] 𓉶 obelisk [O25] 𓉸 stela [O26] 𓉹 hall of columns [O27] 𓉺 column [O28] 𓉽 support [O30] 𓉿 door, open [O31] 𓊀 door, gate, gateway [O32] 𓊁 banner [O33] 𓊅 wall [O36] 𓊊 overthrow, slant, tilt [O37] 𓊋 corner, angle, magistrates, gate, street [O38] 𓊌 stone, brick [O39] 𓊍 throne, stairs, stairway, platform [O40] 𓊎 ascent, ascend, stairway, high place [O41] 𓊑 office, rank [O44] 𓊒 harem [O45] 𓊖 town, village, location [O49] 𓊗 threshing-floor, time, occasion P - ships and parts of ships
𓊛 boat, ship, something to do with a boat [P1] 𓊜 overturn, upset [P1A] 𓊝 sail upstream [P2] 𓊡 air, wind, breath, sail [P5] 𓊤 oar, voice, enemy [P8] 𓊦 steering oar [P10] 𓊧 mooring post Q - domestic, funerary and furniture
𓊫 head-rest (Q4) 𓊬 chest, box (Q5) 𓊭 box, coffin, bury [Q6] 𓊮 fire, heat, cook [Q7] R - Temple furniture & sacred emblems 𓊯 table with offering [R3] 𓊶 fumigate [R5] 𓊸 incense [R7] 𓊹 god [R8] 𓊺 natron [R9] 𓊾 standard [R12] 𓊿 west, right [R13] S - crowns, dress, staves, etc.
𓋑 white crown [S1] 𓋔 red crown [S3] 𓋳 clothe, linen [S28] 𓋜 wreath, fillet, carpenter [S10] 𓋝 collar [S11] 𓋞 collar, precious metal, gold [S12] 𓋧 bead-necklace [S18] 𓋨 seal with loop [S19] 𓋩 seal [S20] 𓋪 ring [S21] 𓋫 larboard [S22] 𓋬 unite [S23] 𓋭 vertebra, knot [S24] 𓋮 apron [S25] 𓋲 clothing [S27] 𓋳 clothing, conceal, uncover [S28] 𓋷 piece of cloth [S32] 𓋸 sandle [S33] 𓋺 shade , (military) standard [S35] 𓋽 fan [S37] 𓋾 sceptre, rule, measure [S38] 𓌀 Was-sceptre, decay [S40] 𓌂 sceptre, control, sistrum, power [S42] 𓌅 flagellum [S45] T - warfare, hunting, butchery
𓌈 smite [T2] 𓌉 smite, bright [T3] 𓌎 axe, carpenter, shipbuilder [T7] 𓌏 axe [T7A] 𓌑 dagger, chief, first, upon [T8A] 𓌒 bow, stretch [T9] 𓌔 bow, foreighn people, troop[T10] 𓌕 arrow, overlay [T11] 𓌗 bow string, string, firm, restrain, subdue [T12] 𓌙 throw-stick, throw, create, foreign [T14] 𓌛 scimitar blade [T16] 𓌝 chariot [T17] 𓌞 fallow [T18] 𓌟 bone, harpoon, irksome, bury, sculptor [T19] 𓌡 one [T21] 𓌤 net, holding, field [T25] 𓌥 floats, adorn [T25] 𓌦 trap, snare [T26] 𓌪 knife, cut, sharp [T30] 𓌰 knife [T35]
𓌲 shield [T36] U - agriculture, craft and professions
𓌳 reap, crooked [U1] 𓌸 cultivate [U6] 𓌻 hoe, cultivate, cut up [U7] 𓌼 hoe [U8] 𓌽 grain, measure [U9] 𓍁 plough [U13] 𓍄 sledge [U16] 𓍉 cut up, choose [U21] 𓍊 fashion, carve, chisel, be efficient [U22] 𓍍 craft [U24] 𓍏 open [U26] 𓍑 fire-drill [U28] 𓍕 baker, restrain, harem [U31] 𓍖 pound , press down [U32] 𓍙 spin [U34] 𓍜 shave [U37] 𓍝 blance [U38] 𓍞 blance suport pole, raise, lift, carry, wear [U39] 𓍠 plummet, plumb bob [U41] 𓍡 pitchfork, obstacle [U42] V - Rope, fiber, baskets, bags, etc.
𓍢 rope/cord, tie up, drag, surround [V1] 𓍬 drag, draw, hasten [V2] 𓍰 plan, plan, found [V5] 𓍱 rope/cord, tie up, pack [V6] 𓍲 enclose [V7] 𓍶 cartouche [V9] > 𓍷 cartouche [V10] 𓍸 restrain, split [V11] 𓍼 bind, headband, papyrus [V12] 𓎃 protection [V17] 𓎅 shrine, stable, sack, portable shrine [V19] 𓎔 cubit [V22] 𓎙 spool [V26] 𓎝 wipe, ward off, fortunate [V29] 𓎟 basket [V30] 𓎣 harpoon [V32] 𓎤 linen, cloth, tie up, buddle, perfume [V33] 𓎥 bundle [V33a] 𓎨 occupations, period, end [V36] 𓎬 Auset/Isis knot [V39] W - vessels of stone and earthware
𓎯 jar, vessel, ointment, urguent, oil [W1] 𓎰 jar [W2] 𓎱 alabaster, festival [W3] 𓎳 festival, feast [W4] 𓎵 cauldron [W6] 𓎶 granite, Elephantine [W7] 𓎸 unite [W9] 𓎺 cup [W10] 𓎼 seat, throne, pot [W11] 𓎿 water jar [W14] 𓏁 cool [W15] 𓏃 rack of 3 jars [W17] 𓏅 rack of 4 jars [W18] 𓏇 milk jug [W19] 𓏈 milk jug [W20] 𓏉 wine [W21] 𓏊 pot, vessel, beverages [W22] 𓏋 vessel, anoint [W23] 𓏌 council [W24] X - loaves and cakes
𓏏 bread, loaf, female [X1] ~ 𓏏𓆇 goddess [X1:H8] 𓏐 bread, food, cake [X2] 𓏒 loaf, bread, food, cake, offering [X4] 𓏔 loaf, cake, offering [X4b] 𓏖 loaf 𓏘 eat, food, pastry, bread [X7] 𓏙 give [X8] Y - writing, games, music
𓏛 abstract idea, papyrus roll, writing [Y1] 𓏞 scribe, writing, artist, painting, color, sculptor [Y3] 𓏡 game pice [Y6] 𓏢 harp [Y7] 𓏣 sistrum Z - strokes, geometrical figures, etc.
𓏤 one, indicates the glyph next to or under [Z1] 𓏥 plural (two or more) [Z2] 𓏪 plural (two or more) [Z3] 𓏫 plural (two or more) [Z3A] 𓏭 double, two, sometimes used as a plural [Z4] 𓏮 double, two [Z4A] 𓏯 substitute for a glyph [Z5] 𓏲 rope, actions with rope or cord , plural [Z7] 𓏳 round [Z8] 𓏴 break, divide, cross, answer [Z9] Aa - unclassified
𓐎 tumors, odor, disease, tribute [Aa2] 𓐏 bodily fluids, tissues [Aa3] 𓐑 helm [Aa5] 𓐒 mat [Aa6]a 𓐖 estate, district [Aa8] 𓐗 rich [Aa9] 𓐘 writing [Aa10] 𓐙 platform [Aa11] 𓐝 rib [Aa15] 𓐡 fasten [Aa19] 𓐣 sever [Aa21] 𓐤 sever [Aa22] 𓐦 hit (a mark), adhere to (path) [Aa23] 𓐬 adorn [Aa30] |
Ref - Egyptian Grammar Book by Alan Gardiner