Ogham Alphabet

The ogham alphabet originally consisted of twenty letters, divided into four aicmi or  families according the stroke angle and direction

  • ᚁ
    Aicme beithe

    'B group', right side/downward strokes

  • ᚋ
    Aicme hÚatha

     'H group', left side/upward strokes

  • ᚆ
    Aicme muine

     'M group', oblique crossing strokes

  • ᚕ
    Aicme ailme

     'A group', notches or perpendicular crossing strokes

  • ᚙ
    Forfeda

    'Additional letters', used later to extend the original Ogham alphabet

Aicme Beithe – B Family

LetterOghamNameMeaning
Bᚁbeithbirch
Lᚂluisflame/blaze or plant/herb
V/Fᚃfearnalder
Sᚄsailwillow
Nᚅníonbranch-fork

Aicme hÚatha – H Family

LetterOghamNameMeaning
Hᚆuathwhite-thorn
Dᚇdairoak
Tᚈtinnemetal bar, ingot
Cᚉcollhazel
Kᚊceirtbush

Aicme Muine – M Family

LetterOghamNameMeaning
Mᚋmuinneck, upper back
Gᚌgortfield
NGᚍnGéadalslaying/killing
Zᚎstraifsulphur
Rᚏruisred

Aicme Ailme – A Family

LetterOghamNameMeaning
Aᚐailmunknown, pine?
Oᚑonnash
Uᚒúrearth, soil
Eᚓeadhadhunknown
Iᚔiodhadhunknown

Forfeda – Additional Ogham Letters

LetterOghamNameMeaning & Glosses
EAᚕÉabhadh“Fair-swimming letter.” Bríatharogam Morainn mac Moín: snámchaín feda (“fair-swimming letter”). Maic ind Óc: cosc lobair (“admonishing of an infirm person”). Con Culainn: caínem éco (“fairest fish”).
OIᚖÓir“Gold.” Morainn: sruithem aicde (“most venerable substance”). Maic ind Óc: lí crotha (“splendour of form”).
UIᚗUilleann“Elbow.” Morainn: túthmar fid (“fragrant tree”). Maic ind Óc: cubat oll (“great elbow/cubit”).
P / IOᚘIfín (earlier Pín)“Spine” or “thorn.” Morainn: milsem fedo (“sweetest tree”). Maic ind Óc: amram mlais (“most wonderful taste”).
AEᚙEamhancholl“Twin of Coll (hazel).” Morainn: lúad sáethaig (“groan of a sick person”). Maic ind Óc: mol galraig (“groan of a sick person”).
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