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22 Phoenician letters at the origin of our alphabets

Before words, there are signs. Twenty-two simple forms, traced more than 3,000 years ago on the shores of the Mediterranean.

They do not record vowels. They do not describe ideas. They represent sounds.

And they have never truly disappeared.

transmission of the Phoenician letter Aleph written on papyrus in Byblos

An alphabet without vowels

The Phoenician alphabet is made up of 22 signs, each corresponding to a consonant.
It is written from right to left and does not record vowels.

Words are therefore formed only from consonants, which reduces the number of signs to learn and simplifies writing.

This system stands at the origin of many alphabets still used today.

Phoenician letter Aleph at the origin of the letter A

Aleph
Origin: ox head
Original meaning: strength, origin
Today: A

Phoenician letter He at the origin of the letter H

He
Origin: window, opening
Original meaning: breath, opening
Today: H

Phoenician letter Beth at the origin of the letter B

Beth
Origin: house
Original meaning: dwelling
Today: B

Phoenician letter Gimel at the origin of the letters G and C

Gimel
Origin: camel
Original meaning: movement, travel
Today: G, sometimes C

Phoenician letter Qoph at the origin of the letter Q

Qoqh
Origin: needle or eyelet
Original meaning: precision
Today: Q

Phoenician letter Daleth at the origin of the letter D

Daleth
Origin: door
Original meaning: passage
Today: D

Phoenician letter Waw at the origin of the letters U, V, W and Y

Wâw
Origin: hook, nail
Original meaning: link, attachment
Today: U, V, W, Y, and indirectly F
Note: one of the most fertile ancestors of the modern alphabet.

Phoenician letter Zayin at the origin of the letter Z

Zayin
Origin: weapon
Original meaning: protection
Today: Z

Phoenician letter Heth representing an ancient guttural sound

Heth
Origin: enclosure
Original meaning: separation, boundary
Today: no direct modern French or English letter
Note: the sound disappeared in most European alphabets.

Phoenician letter Teth at the origin of the letter T

Thet
Origin: probably wheel
Original meaning: protection
Today: T

Phoenician letter Yod at the origin of the letters I, J and Y

Yodh
Origin: hand
Original meaning: action, gesture
Today: I, J, Y

Phoenician letter Kaph at the origin of the letter K

Kaph
Origin: palm of the hand
Original meaning: hold, contain
Today: K

Lamed
Origin: shepherd’s staff
Original meaning: guide, direct
Today: L

Phoenician letter Mem at the origin of the letter M

Mem
Origin: water
Original meaning: flow, life
Today: M

Phoenician letter Nun at the origin of the letter N

Nun
Origin: fish
Original meaning: life, movement
Today: N

Phoenician letter Samekh at the origin of the letter S

Samekh
Origin: support, pillar
Original meaning: stability, support
Today: S

Phoenician letter Ayin representing an ancient guttural sound

Ayin
Origin: eye
Original meaning: sight, vision
Today: no direct letter; a distant influence in some later vocalic evolutions

Phoenician letter Pe at the origin of the letter P

Pe
Origin: mouth
Original meaning: speech, voice
Today: P

Phoenician letter Tsade with no direct equivalent in the modern alphabet

Tsade
Origin: probably hook
Original meaning: capture, taking hold
Today: no direct letter

Phoenician letter Resh at the origin of the letter R

Resh
Origin: head
Original meaning: thought, direction
Today: R

Phoenician letter Shin at the origin of the "sh" sound and the letter S

Shin / Sin
Origin: teeth
Original meaning: strength, transformation
Today: mostly S, with the sh sound preserved in other languages

Phoenician letter Taw at the origin of the letter T

Taw
Origin: mark, crossed sign
Original meaning: signature, marker
Today: T