View source for Cirth

{{short description|Artificial script in Tolkien's writings}}
{{use British English|date=September 2025}}
{{use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox writing system
| name      = Cirth
| sample    = Cirth word.png
| caption   = The word "Cirth" written using the Cirth in the Angerthas Daeron mode
| imagesize = 180px
| type      = [[Alphabet]]
| languages = [[Khuzdul]], [[Sindarin]], [[Quenya]], [[Westron]], [[English language|English]]
| creator   = [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]
| iso15924  = Cirt
| direction = Varies
}}
The '''Cirth''' ({{IPA|sjn|ˈkirθ}}, meaning "[[runes]]"; sg. '''certh''' {{IPA|sjn|ˈkɛrθ|}})&nbsp;is a semi‑[[artificial script]], based on real‑life [[runic alphabet]]s, one of [[Tolkien's scripts|several scripts invented]] by [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] for the [[constructed language]]s he devised and used in his works. ''Cirth'' is written with a capital letter when referring to the [[writing system]]; the letters themselves can be called ''cirth''.

In the fictional history of [[Middle-earth]], the original ''Certhas'' was created by the [[Sindar]] (or Grey Elves) for their language, [[Sindarin]]. Its extension and elaboration was known as the ''Angerthas Daeron'', as it was attributed to the Sinda Daeron, despite the fact that it was most probably arranged by the [[Noldor]] in order to represent the sounds of other languages like [[Quenya]] and [[Telerin]].

Although it was later largely replaced by the [[Tengwar]], the Cirth was nonetheless adopted by the [[Dwarf (Middle-earth)|Dwarves]] to write down both their [[Khuzdul]] language (''Angerthas Moria'') and the languages of [[Man (Middle-earth)|Men]] (''Angerthas Erebor''). The Cirth was also adapted, in its oldest and simplest form, by various races including Men and even [[Orc (Middle-earth)|Orcs]].

==External history==

===Concept and creation===

[[File:Ashton_Park_rock_carving.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Rock carving in Cirth in the [[Sydney Harbour National Park]], dating back to the 1980s at least]]

Many letters have shapes also found in the historical [[runic alphabets]], but their sound values are only similar in a few of the vowels. Rather, the system of assignment of sound values is much more systematic in the Cirth than in the historical runes (e.g., voiced variants of a voiceless sound are expressed by an additional stroke).

The division between the older Cirth of Daeron and their adaptation by Dwarves and Men has been interpreted as a parallel drawn by Tolkien to the development of the Futhorc to the [[Younger Futhark]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Mittelerde: Tolkien und die germanische Mythologie |trans-title=Middle-earth: Tolkien and Germanic Mythology |first=Rudolf |last=Simek |language=de |author-link=Rudolf Simek |pages=155–156 |publisher=C. H. Beck |year=2005 |isbn=3-406-52837-6 }}</ref> The original Elvish Cirth "as supposed products of a superior culture" are focused on logical arrangement and a close connection between form and value whereas the adaptations by mortal races introduced irregularities. Similar to the Germanic tribes who had no written literature and used only simple runes before their conversion to Christianity, the Sindarin Elves of Beleriand with their Cirth were introduced to the more elaborate Tengwar of Fëanor when the Noldorin Elves returned to Middle-earth from the lands of the divine [[Valar]].<ref>{{cite conference  |last=Smith |first=Arden R. |author-link=Arden R. Smith |title=The Semiotics of the Writing Systems of Tolkien's Middle-earth |book-title=Semiotics Around the World: Synthesis in Diversity. Proceedings of the Fifth Congress of the International Association for Semiotic Studies, Berkeley, 1994 |editor-first=Irmengard |editor-last=Rauch |editor-link=Irmengard Rauch |editor2-first=Gerald F. |editor2-last=Carr |pages=1239–1242 |volume=1 |publisher=[[Walter de Gruyter]] |year=1997 |isbn=978-3-11-012223-7 }}</ref>

== Internal history and description ==

===''Certhas''===

In the Appendix E to ''[[The Return of the King]]'', Tolkien writes that the [[Sindar]] of [[Beleriand]] first developed an [[alphabet]] for their language some time between the invention of the [[Tengwar]] by [[Fëanor]] ([[Years of the Trees|YT]] 1250) and the introduction thereof to [[Middle-earth]] by the Exiled [[Noldor]] towards the end of the [[First Age]].<ref name="Tolkien 1955">{{cite book |title=[[The Return of the King]] |at=Appendix E |first=J. R. R. |last=Tolkien |author-link=J. R. R. Tolkien |location=London |publisher=George Allen & Unwin |year=1955}}</ref>

This alphabet was devised to represent only the sounds of their [[Sindarin]] language and its letters were mostly used for inscribing names or brief memorials on wood, stone or metal, hence their angular shapes and straight lines.<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/> In [[Sindarin]] these letters were named ''cirth'' (sing. ''certh''), from the Elvish [[Root (linguistics)|root]] ''*kir-'' meaning "to cleave, to cut".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eldamo.org/content/words/word-285722173.html |title=Sindarin Words: ''certh''|author=<!--Not stated--> |website=eldamo.org |access-date=2019-03-31}}</ref> An [[abecedarium]] of ''cirth'', consisting of the runes listed in due order, was commonly known as '''''Certhas''''' ({{IPA|sjn|ˈkɛrθɑs|}}, meaning "rune-rows" in Sindarin and loosely translated as "runic alphabet"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eldamo.org/content/words/word-1641782601.html |title= Sindarin Words: ''certhas''|author=<!--Not stated--> |website=eldamo.org |access-date=2019-03-31}}</ref>).

The oldest ''cirth'' were the following:<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center"
! rowspan="4" | Consonants
| [[File:Certh 1.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᚹ]] ''p'' ||[[File:Certh 2.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᚱ]] ''b'' ||[[File:Certh 5.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᛳ]] ''mh'' ||[[File:Certh 6.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᛒ]] ''m'' ||
|- align="center"
| [[File:Certh 8.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᛚ]] ''t'' || [[File:Certh 9.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᚨ]] ''d'' || [[File:Certh 12.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᛏ]] ''n'' || ||
|- align="center"
| [[File:Certh 18.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᚴ]] ''k'' || [[File:Certh 19.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᚠ]] ''g'' || [[File:Certh 22.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᛉ]] ''ng'' || ||
|- align="center"
| [[File:Certh 29.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᛕ]] ''r'' ||[[File:Certh 31.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᛅ]] ''l'' || [[File:Certh 13.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᚳ]] ~ [[File:Certh 15.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᚳ]] ''h'' or ''s'' ||[[File:Certh 35.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᚲ]] ''s'' or ''h'' ||[[File:Certh 36.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᚷ]] ''ss''
|- align="center"
| style="border-right:none;"| || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-right:none; border-left:none;"| || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-right:none; border-left:none;"| || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-right:none; border-left:none;"| || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-right:none; border-left:none;"| || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-left:none;"|
|- align ="center"
!Vowels
| [[File:Certh 39.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᛁ]] ''i'' || [[File:Certh 42.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᛟ]] ''u'' || [[File:Certh 46.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᚺ]] ''e'' || [[File:Certh 50.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image|ᚢ]] ''o'' ||
|}

The form of these letters was somewhat unsystematic, unlike later rearrangements and extensions that made them more [[featural script|featural]].<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/> The ''cirth'' [[File:Certh 13.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] and [[File:Certh 35.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] were used for {{angbr|h}} and {{angbr|s}}, but varied as to which was which.<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/> Many of the runes consisted of a single vertical line (or "stem") with an appendage (or "branch") attached to one or both sides. If the attachment was made on one side only, it was usually to the right, but "the reverse was not infrequent" and did not change the value of the letter.<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/> (For example, the variants [[File:Certh 13.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] or [[File:Certh 15.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] specifically mentioned for ''h'' or ''s'', also [[File:Certh 8.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] or [[File:Certh 10.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] for ''t'', etc.).

=== ''Angerthas Daeron'' ===

In Beleriand, before the end of the [[First Age]], the ''Certhas'' was rearranged and further developed, partly under the influence of the [[Tengwar]] introduced by the Noldor. This reorganisation of the Cirth was commonly attributed to the [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elf]] Daeron, [[minstrel]] and loremaster of King [[Thingol]] of [[Doriath (Middle-earth)|Doriath]]. Thus, the new system became known as the '''''Angerthas Daeron'''''<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/> (where "angerthas" {{nowrap|{{IPA|sjn|ɑŋˈɡɛrθɑs|}}}} is from Sindarin {{nowrap|"an(d)"}} {{nowrap|{{IPA|sjn|ɑn(d)|}}}} + "certhas" {{IPA|sjn|ˈkɛrθɑs|}}, meaning "long rune-rows"<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eldamo.org/content/words/word-698537603.html|title= Sindarin Words: ''angerthas''|author=<!--Not stated-->|website=eldamo.org|access-date=2019-05-11}}</ref>).

In this arrangement, the assignment of values to each ''certh'' is systematic. The runes consisting of a stem and a branch attached to the right are used for [[voicelessness|voiceless]] [[stop consonant|stops]], while other sounds are allocated according to the following principles:<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/>
# adding a stroke to a branch adds [[Voiced consonant|voice]] (e.g., [[File:Certh 1.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] {{IPA|[p]}} → [[File:Certh 2.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] {{IPA|[b]}});
# moving the branch to the left indicates opening to a [[spirant]] (e.g., [[File:Certh 8.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] {{IPA|[t]}} → [[File:Certh 10.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] {{IPA|[θ]}});
# placing the branch on both sides of the stem adds [[Nasal consonant|voice and nasality]] (e.g., [[File:Certh 18.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] {{IPA|[k]}} → [[File:Certh 22.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] {{IPA|[ŋ]}}).

The ''cirth'' constructed in this way can therefore be arranged into series, each corresponding to a [[place of articulation]]:
* [[labial consonant]]s, based on [[File:Certh 1.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]];
* [[dental consonant]]s, based on [[File:Certh 8.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]];
* [[front consonant]]s, based on [[File:Certh 13.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]];
* [[velar consonant]]s, based on [[File:Certh 18.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]];
* [[labialized velar consonant]]s, based on [[File:Certh 23.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]].

Other letters introduced in this system include: [[File:Certh 48.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] and {{nowrap|[[File:Certh 44.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]]}} for {{angbr|a}} and {{angbr|w}}, respectively; runes for [[long vowel]]s, evidently originated by doubling and [[Bind rune|binding]] the ''certh'' of the corresponding short vowel (e.g., {{nowrap|[[File:Certh 50.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]][[File:Certh 50.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] {{angbr|oo}}}} → {{nowrap|[[File:Certh 51.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] {{angbr|ō}});}} two [[front vowel]]s, probably stemming from ligatures of the corresponding [[back vowel]] with the {{angbr|i}}-''certh'' (i.e., {{nowrap|[[File:Certh 39.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]][[File:Certh 42.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]]}} → {{nowrap|[[File:Certh 45a.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] {{angbr|ü}}}}, and {{nowrap|[[File:Certh 39.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]][[File:Certh 50.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]]}} → {{nowrap|[[File:Certh 52.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] {{angbr|ö}});}} some [[Homorganic consonant#Consonant clustering|homorganic nasal + stop clusters]] (e.g., {{nowrap|[[File:Certh 38.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] {{IPA|[nd]}}).}}

Back to the fictional history, since the new {{nowrap|[[File:Certh 13.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]]-series}} and {{nowrap|[[File:Certh 23.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]]-series}} encompass sounds which do not occur in Sindarin but are present in [[Quenya]], they were most probably introduced by the Exiled [[Noldor]]<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/> who spoke Quenya as a language of knowledge.

By loan-translation, the Cirth became known in Quenya as ''Certar'' {{IPA|qya|ˈkɛrtar|}}, while a single ''certh'' was called ''certa'' {{IPA|qya|ˈkɛrta|}}.

After the Tengwar became the sole script used for writing, the ''Angerthas Daeron'' was essentially relegated to carved inscriptions. The Elves of the West, for the most part, abandoned the Cirth altogether, with the exception of the Noldor dwelling in the country of [[Eregion]], who maintained it in use<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/> and made it known as '''''Angerthas Eregion'''''.

'''Note''': In this article, the runes of the ''Angerthas'' come with the same peculiar [[transliteration]] used by Tolkien in the Appendix E, which differs from the (Latin) spelling of both Quenya and Sindarin. The [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] transcription that follows is applicable to both languages, except where indicated otherwise.

<div style="overflow-x:auto;">
{| class="wikitable" style="white-space: nowrap;"
|+ style="text-align:left"| Regularly formed ''cirth''
|- align="center"
!rowspan="3"| Labial<br/>consonants !! colspan="2"| ''Certh''
| [[File:Certh 1.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 2.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 3.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 4.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 6.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 7.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]
|- align="center"
!colspan="2"| <small>Transliteration</small>
| p || b || f || v || m{{ref label|ADmh|i}} || mh, mb
|- align="center"
!colspan="2"| <small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
| {{IPA|[p]}} || {{IPA|[b]}} || {{IPA|[f]}} || {{IPA|[v]}} || {{IPA|[m]}} || '''<small>({{abbr|S.|Sindarin}})</small>''' {{IPA|[ṽ]}}<br/>'''<small>({{abbr|Q.|Quenya}})</small>''' {{IPA|[mb]}}
|- align="center"
| colspan="3" style="border-right:none;"| || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-right:none; border-left:none;"| || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-right:none; border-left:none;"| || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-right:none; border-left:none;"| || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-right:none; border-left:none;"|  || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-right:none; border-left:none;"|  || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-left:none;"|
|- align="center"
!rowspan="3"| Dental<br/>consonants !! colspan="2"| ''Certh''
| [[File:Certh 8.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 9.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 10.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 11.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 12.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 38.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] <span style="font-size:65%">or</span> [[File:Certh 38a.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]
|- align="center"
!colspan="2"| <small>Transliteration</small>
| t || d || th || dh || n || nd{{ref label|ADnd|ii}}
|- align="center"
!colspan="2"| <small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
| {{IPA|[t]}} || {{IPA|[d]}} || {{IPA|[θ]}} || {{IPA|[ð]}} || {{IPA|[n]}} || {{IPA|[nd]}}
|- align="center"
| colspan="9" |
|- align="center"
!rowspan="4"| Front<br/>consonants{{nobold|{{ref label|ADA|iii}}}} !! colspan="2"| ''Certh''
| [[File:Certh 13.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 14.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 15.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 16.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || colspan="2"| [[File:Certh 17.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]
|- align="center"
!colspan="2"| <small>Transliteration</small>
| ch{{ref label|ADch|iv}} || j{{ref label|ADj|v}} || sh{{ref label|ADsh|vi}} || zh || colspan="2"| nj{{ref label|ADgn|vii}}
|- align="center"
!rowspan="2"| <small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small> !! <small>({{abbr|N.|Noldorin Quenya}})</small>
| {{IPA|[c⁽<sup>ȷ̊</sup>⁾]}} || {{IPA|[ɟj]}} || {{IPA|[ç]}} || {{IPA|[ʝ]}} || colspan="2"| <span style="opacity:0;">ɟ</span>{{IPA|[ɲj]}} ← {{IPA|[ɲɟj]}}
|- align="center"
!<small>({{abbr|V.|Vanyarin Quenya}})</small>
| {{IPA|[t͡ʃ]}} || {{IPA|[d͡ʒ]}} || {{IPA|[ʃ]}} || {{IPA|[ʒ]}} || || {{IPA|[nd͡ʒ]}}
|- align="center"
| colspan="9" |
|- align="center"
!rowspan="3"| Velar<br/>consonants !! colspan="2"| ''Certh''
| [[File:Certh 18.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 19.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 20.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 21.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 22.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 33.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]
|- align="center"
!colspan="2"| <small>Transliteration</small>
| k || g || kh || gh || ŋ || ng
|- align="center"
!colspan="2"| <small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
| {{IPA|[k]}} || {{IPA|[ɡ]}} || {{IPA|[x]}} || {{IPA|[ɣ]}} || {{IPA|[ŋ]}} || {{IPA|[ŋɡ]}}
|- align="center"
| colspan="9" |
|- align="center"
!rowspan="3"| Labiovelar<br/>consonants !! colspan="2"| ''Certh''
| [[File:Certh 23.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 24.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 25.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 26.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 28.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 27.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]
|- align="center"
!colspan="2"| <small>Transliteration</small>
| kw<ref>{{cite journal |last=Tolkien |first=J. R. R. |author-link=J. R. R. Tolkien |date=2015-06-12 |title=The Feanorian Alphabet (Part 1) and Quenya Verb Structure: Qenya Grammar – Spelling and Transcription |url=http://www.eldalamberon.com/parma22.html |journal=[[Parma Eldalamberon]] |issue=22 |page=66 |quote={{angbr|q}} ({{angbr|kw}}) consists of a lip-rounded ''k̊'' followed by a partly unvoiced ''w''-offglide (more marked medially than initially).}}</ref> || gw<ref name="PE22">{{cite journal |last=Tolkien |first=J. R. R. |author-link=J. R. R. Tolkien |date=2015-06-12 |title=The Feanorian Alphabet (Part 1) and Quenya Verb Structure: Qenya Grammar – Spelling and Transcription |url=http://www.eldalamberon.com/parma22.html |journal=[[Parma Eldalamberon]] |issue=22 |page=66 |quote={{angbr|gw}} which only occurs in the medial group {{angbr|ngw}} is the voiced counterpart: a lip-rounded ''ɡ̊'' followed by a ''w''-offglide.}}</ref> || khw || ghw || nw{{ref label|ADngw|viii}} || ngw<ref name="PE22"/>
|- align="center"
! <small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small> !! <small>({{abbr|Q.|Quenya}})</small>
| {{IPA|[kʷ₍w̥₎]}} || {{IPA|[ɡʷw]}} || {{IPA|[ʍ]}} || {{IPA|[w]}} || style="padding-left: 0em; padding-right: 0em;" |{{IPA|[nʷw]}}←{{IPA|[ŋʷw]}} || {{IPA|[ŋɡʷw]}}
|}
</div>
<div style="overflow-x:auto;">
{| class="wikitable" style="white-space: nowrap;"
|+ style="text-align:left"| Additional ''cirth''
|- align="center"
!rowspan="3"| Consonants !! ''Certh''
| [[File:Certh 29.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 30.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 31.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 32.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 34.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] <span style="font-size:65%">or</span> [[File:Certh 35.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 36.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 54.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]
|- align="center"
!<small>Transliteration</small>
| r || rh || l || lh || s || ss <span style="font-size:65%">or</span> z{{ref label|ADB|ix}} || h{{ref label|ADC|x}}
|- align="center"
!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
| {{IPA|[r]}} || {{IPA|[r̥]}} || {{IPA|[l]}} || {{IPA|[l̥]}} || {{IPA|[s]}} || {{IPA|[sː]}} <span style="font-size:65%">or</span> {{IPA|[z]}} || {{IPA|[h]}}
|- align="center"
| colspan="2" style="border-right:none;"| || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-right:none; border-left:none;"| || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-right:none; border-left:none;"| || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-right:none; border-left:none;"| || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-right:none; border-left:none;"|  || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-right:none; border-left:none;"|  || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-right:none; border-left:none;"|  || style="padding-left: 2.825em; padding-right: 2.825em; border-left:none;"|
|- align="center"
!rowspan="3"| Approximants !! ''Certh''
|  || [[File:Certh 44.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 5.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] ||  ||  ||  ||
|- align="center"
!<small>Transliteration</small>
|  || w || hw{{ref label|ADhw|xi}} ||  ||  ||  ||
|- align="center"
!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
|  || {{IPA|[w]}} || {{IPA|[ʍ]}} ||  ||  ||  ||
|- align="center"
| colspan="9" |
|- align="center"
!rowspan="3"| Vowels !! ''Certh''
| [[File:Certh 39.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || colspan="2"| [[File:Certh 42.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 46.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 48.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 50.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || 
|- align="center"
!<small>Transliteration</small>
| i, y || colspan="2"| u || e || a || o ||
|- align="center"
!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
| {{IPA|[i]}}, {{IPA|[j]}} || colspan="2"| {{IPA|[u]}} || {{IPA|[e]}} || {{IPA|[a]}} || {{IPA|[o]}} ||
|- align="center"
| colspan="9" |
|- align="center"
!rowspan="3"| Long<br/>vowels !! ''Certh''
|  || colspan="2"| [[File:Certh 43.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 47.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 49.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] || [[File:Certh 51.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] <span style="font-size:65%">or</span> [[File:Certh 51a.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] ||
|- align="center"
!<small>Transliteration</small>
|  || colspan="2"| ū || ē || ā || ō ||
|- align="center"
!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
|  || colspan="2"| {{IPA|[uː]}} || {{IPA|[eː]}} || {{IPA|[aː]}} || {{IPA|[oː]}} ||
|- align="center"
| colspan="9" |
|- align="center"
!rowspan="3"| Fronted<br/>vowels !! ''Certh''
|  || colspan="2"| [[File:Certh 45.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] <span style="font-size:65%">or</span> [[File:Certh 45a.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] ||  ||  || [[File:Certh 52.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] <span style="font-size:65%">or</span> [[File:Certh 52a.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] ||
|- align="center"
!<small>Transliteration</small>
|  || colspan="2"| ü ||  ||  || ö ||
|- align="center"
!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
|  || colspan="2"| {{IPA|[y]}} ||  ||  || {{IPA|[œ]}} ||
|}
</div>

'''Notes:'''
{{ordered list|type=lower-roman
  |{{note|ADmh||According to the principles outlined above, the labial nasal would be assigned to the ''certh'' [[File:Certh 5.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]]. However, archaic Sindarin had two labial nasals: the [[bilabial nasal|occlusive]] {{IPA|[m]}}, and the [[Fricative#Nasalized fricatives|spirant]] {{IPA|[ṽ]}}<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Tolkien |first1= J. R. R. |author-link=J. R. R. Tolkien |date=2015-06-12 |title=The Feanorian Alphabet (Part 1) and Quenya Verb Structure: On Ælfwine's Spelling|url= http://www.eldalamberon.com/parma22.html |journal=[[Parma Eldalamberon]] |issue=22 |page=67 |quote=But he knew the old sign for 'nasal ṽ' and sometimes represents this (espec. where it is an initial variant on ''m'') by {{angbr|mh}}.}}</ref> (spelt {{angbr|mh}}). Since the {{angbr|mh}} sound could best be represented by a reversal of the sign for {{angbr|m}} (to indicate its [[spirantization]]), the reversible [[File:Certh 6.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] was given the value {{angbr|m}}, and [[File:Certh 7.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] was assigned to {{angbr|mh}}.<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/> The sound {{IPA|[ṽ]}} merged with {{IPA|[v]}} in later Sindarin.}}
  |{{note|ADnd||The ''certh'' [[File:Certh 38.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] was not clearly related in shape to the dentals.<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/>}}
  |{{note|ADA||The {{nowrap|[[File:Certh 13.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]]-series,}} which represents the front consonants of Quenya, is essentially the Cirth counterpart to the Tengwar ''tyelpetéma'' (column III in the ''[http://at.mansbjorkman.net/teng_general.htm#consonants General Use]'').<br/>In this article, each ''certh'' of this series comes with two [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] transcriptions. The reason is that these consonants are realised as [[palatal consonant|palatals]] in Noldorin Quenya, but as [[postalveolar consonant|postalveolars]] in Vanyarin Quenya. Although the ''Angerthas Daeron'' was devised for the Noldorin [[Variety (linguistics)|variety]], it is deemed necessary to show the Vanyarin pronunciation as well, given that the very transliteration used by Tolkien is more akin to the Vanyarin [[Phonology#Terminology|phonology]].}}
  |{{note|ADch||The ''certh'' [[File:Certh 13.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] indicates Quenya {{angbr|ty}}, which is pronounced {{nowrap|{{IPA|[c<sup>⁽</sup>ȷ̊<sup>⁾</sup>]}}}} in Noldorin<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tolkien |first1=J. R. R. |author-link= J. R. R. Tolkien |date=2015-06-12 |title=The Feanorian Alphabet (Part 1) and Quenya Verb Structure: Qenya Grammar – Spelling and Transcription |url=http://www.eldalamberon.com/parma22.html |journal=[[Parma Eldalamberon]] |issue=22 |page=66 |quote={{angbr|ty}} is pronounced as a 'front explosive' [c], as e.g. Hungarian ''ty''; but it is followed by an appreciable partly unvoiced ''y''-offglide<!--[ȷ̊᪻]-->.}}</ref> but is a [[voiceless postalveolar affricate]] {{IPA|[t͡ʃ]}} in Vanyarin.<ref name="RE">{{cite web |url=https://realelvish.net/pronunciation/quenya/ |title=Quenya pronunciation |website=RealElvish.net |date=15 August 2017 |access-date=2019-05-07}}</ref>}}
  |{{note|ADj||The ''certh'' [[File:Certh 14.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] represents Quenya {{angbr|dy}}, formerly pronounced {{IPA|[ɟj]}}.<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Tolkien |first1=J. R. R. |author-link=J. R. R. Tolkien |date=2015-06-12 |title=The Feanorian Alphabet (Part 1) and Quenya Verb Structure: Qenya Grammar – Spelling and Transcription |url= http://www.eldalamberon.com/parma22.html |journal=[[Parma Eldalamberon]] |issue=22 |page=66 |quote={{angbr|dy}} was formerly the voiced counterpart [ɟ] followed by a ''y''-offglide.}}</ref>}}
  |{{note|ADsh||The ''certh'' [[File:Certh 15.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] stands for Quenya {{angbr|hy}}, which is a [[voiceless palatal fricative]] {{nowrap|{{IPA|[ç]}}}} in Noldorin<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Tolkien |first1=J. R. R. |author-link=J. R. R. Tolkien |date=2015-06-12 |title=The Feanorian Alphabet (Part 1) and Quenya Verb Structure: Qenya Grammar – Spelling and Transcription |url=http://www.eldalamberon.com/parma22.html |journal=[[Parma Eldalamberon]] |issue=22|page= 65|quote={{angbr|hy}} is an audibly spirant voiceless ''y'', that is approximately [ç] as ''ch'' in German ''ich''.}}</ref> and a [[voiceless postalveolar fricative]] {{IPA|[ʃ]}} in Vanyarin.<ref name="RE"/>}}
  |{{note|ADgn||The ''certh'' [[File:Certh 17.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] denotes Quenya {{angbr|ndy}}, formerly pronounced {{IPA|[ɲɟj]}}. In Noldorin, this cluster was later [[Cluster reduction|reduced]] to {{angbr|ny}}<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tolkien |first1=J. R. R. |author-link=J. R. R. Tolkien |date=2015-06-12 |title=The Feanorian Alphabet (Part 1) and Quenya Verb Structure: Qenya Grammar – Spelling and Transcription |url=http://www.eldalamberon.com/parma22.html |journal=[[Parma Eldalamberon]] |issue=22|page= 66|quote={{angbr|dy}} ... only occurred in the group {{angbr|ndy}}, which has become simplified to {{angbr|ny}}.}}</ref> (articulated as {{IPA|[ɲj]}}<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tolkien |first1=J. R. R. |author-link=J. R. R. Tolkien |date=2015-06-12 |title=The Feanorian Alphabet (Part 1) and Quenya Verb Structure: Qenya Grammar – Spelling and Transcription |url= http://www.eldalamberon.com/parma22.html |journal=[[Parma Eldalamberon]] |issue=22 |page=66 |quote=''n'' in {{angbr|ny}} is 'palatal n' but followed by (cf. {{angbr|ty}}) a ''y''-offglide, more marked medially (where {{angbr|ny}} counts as a group), less so initially).}}</ref>). On the other hand, in Vanyarin, the cluster underwent [[assibilation]], turning into {{IPA|[nd͡ʒ]}}.<ref name="RE"/>}}
  |{{note|ADngw||The ''certh'' {{nowrap|[[File:Certh 28.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]],}} much like the ''tengwa'' [[File:Tengwa nwalme.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] "ñwalme", formerly represented Quenya {{angbr|ñw}} (pronounced {{IPA|[ŋʷw]}}), occurring only in initial position. This sound later evolved into {{IPA|[nʷw]}}, explaining the transliteration of this ''certh'' as {{angbr|nw}}. Non-initial occurrences of {{IPA|[nʷw]}} are most probably interpreted as {{angbr|n}}+{{angbr|w}} (i.e., two separate ''cirth'').<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://at.mansbjorkman.net/teng_quenya.htm|title=Amanye Tenceli: Tengwar - The Classical mode|access-date=2021-01-02|website=Amanye Tenceli|quote=''ñwalme'' > ''nwalme''. Only used for initial {{angbr|nw}}, which developed from {{angbr|ñw}}. Other occurrences of {{angbr|nw}} (originating in {{angbr|n}} + {{angbr|w}}) are written ''númen'' + ''vilya''.}}</ref>}}
  |{{note|ADB||The ''certh'' [[File:Certh 36.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]], the theoretical value of which is {{angbr|z}}, is instead used as {{angbr|ss}} in both Quenya and Sindarin (cf. the ''tengwa'' [[File:Tengwa esse.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] "esse"/"áze").<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/>}}
  |{{note|ADC||The new ''certh'' [[File:Certh 54.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] was introduced for {{angbr|h}}: it is similar in shape both to the ''certh'' [[File:Certh 13.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] (formerly used for {{angbr|h}}, then reassigned to {{angbr|ty}}) and to the ''tengwa'' [[File:Tengwa hyarmen.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] "hyarmen".}}
  |{{note|ADhw||The ''certh'' [[File:Certh 5.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]], the theoretical value of which was {{angbr|m}}, was used for Sindarin {{angbr|hw}} for the reasons stated above<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/> (cf. the ''tengwa'' [[File:Tengwa hwesta sindarinwa.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] "hwesta sindarinwa").}}
}}

=== ''Angerthas Moria'' ===
 
According to [[Tolkien's legendarium]], the [[Dwarf (Middle-earth)|Dwarves]] first came to know the runes of the Noldor at the beginning of the [[Second Age]]. The Dwarves "introduced a number of unsystematic changes in value, as well as certain new cirth".<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/> They modified the previous system to suit the specific needs of their language, [[Khuzdul]]. The Dwarves spread their revised alphabet to [[Moria (Middle-earth)|Moria]], where it came to be known as ''Angerthas Moria'', and developed both carved and pen-written forms of these runes.<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/>

Many cirth here represent sounds not occurring in Khuzdul<ref>{{cite thesis|type=BA|last=Amram|first=Tess|date=2015|title=Aglab Khazad: The Secret Language of Tolkien's Dwarves|url=https://scholarship.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/bitstream/handle/10066/15353/Amram_thesis_2015.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|publisher=[[Swarthmore College]]}}</ref> (at least in published words of Khuzdul: of course, our corpus is very limited to judge the necessity or not, of these sounds). Here they are marked with a black star (<sup>★</sup>).

{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center"
!''Certh''!!Translit.!![[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]'
!''Certh''!!Translit.!![[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]
!''Certh''!!Translit.!![[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]'
!''Certh''!!Translit.!![[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 1.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||p||{{IPA|/p/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 18.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||k||{{IPA|/k/}}  
|[[File:Certh 31.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||l||{{IPA|/l/}}
|[[File:Certh 46.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||e||{{IPA|/e/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 2.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||b||{{IPA|/b/}}
|[[File:Certh 19.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||g||{{IPA|/ɡ/}}
|[[File:Certh 32.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||lh||{{IPA|/ɬ/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 47.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ê||{{IPA|/eː/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 3.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||f||{{IPA|/f/}}
|[[File:Certh 20.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||kh||{{IPA|/x/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 33.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||nd||{{IPA|/nd/}}
|[[File:Certh 48.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||a||{{IPA|/a/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 4.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||v||{{IPA|/v/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 21.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||gh||{{IPA|/ɣ/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 34.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||h{{ref|AMA|[A]}}||{{IPA|/h/}}
|[[File:Certh 49.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||â||{{IPA|/aː/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 5.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||hw||{{IPA|/ʍ/}}<sup>★</sup>
|colspan="3"|
|[[File:Certh 35.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||''{{okina}}'' {{ref|AMA|[A]}}||{{IPA|/ʔ/}}
|[[File:Certh 50.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||o||{{IPA|/o/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 6.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||m||{{IPA|/m/}}
|[[File:Certh 36.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ŋ||{{IPA|/ŋ/}}<sup>★</sup>
|colspan="3"|
|[[File:Certh 51.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]&nbsp;<span style="font-size:65%">or</span>&nbsp;[[File:Certh 51a.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ô||{{IPA|/oː/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 7.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||mb||{{IPA|/mb/}}
|[[File:Certh 37.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ng||{{IPA|/ŋɡ/}}
|[[File:Certh 22.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||n||{{IPA|/n/}}
|[[File:Certh 52.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]&nbsp;<span style="font-size:65%">or</span>&nbsp;[[File:Certh 52a.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ö||{{IPA|/œ/}}<sup>★</sup>
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 8.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||t||{{IPA|/t/}}
|[[File:Certh 23.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||kw||{{IPA|/kʷ/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 38.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]&nbsp;<span style="font-size:65%">or</span>&nbsp;[[File:Certh 38a.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||nj||{{IPA|/ndʒ/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 53.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||n||{{IPA|/n/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 9.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||d||{{IPA|/d/}}
|[[File:Certh 24.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||gw||{{IPA|/ɡʷ/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 39.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||i||{{IPA|/i/}}
|[[File:Certh 54.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||s||{{IPA|/s/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 10.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||th||{{IPA|/θ/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 25.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||khw||{{IPA|/xʷ/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 40.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||y||{{IPA|/j/}}
|[[File:Certh 55.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]&nbsp;<span style="font-size:65%">or</span>&nbsp;[[File:Certh 55a.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{ref|AMB|[B]}}||{{IPA|/ə/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 11.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||dh||{{IPA|/ð/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 26.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ghw||{{IPA|/ɣʷ/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 41.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||hy||{{IPA|/j̊}}, {{IPA|ç/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 56.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]&nbsp;<span style="font-size:65%">or</span>&nbsp;[[File:Certh 56a.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{ref|AMB|[B]}}||{{IPA|/ʌ/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 12.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||r||{{IPA|/ʀ}}, {{IPA|ʁ}}, {{IPA|r/}}
|[[File:Certh 27.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ngw||{{IPA|/ŋɡʷ/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 42.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||u||{{IPA|/u/}}
|colspan="3"|
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 13.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ch||{{IPA|/tʃ}}, {{IPA|c/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 28.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||nw||{{IPA|/nʷ/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 43.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||û||{{IPA|/uː/}}
|colspan="3"|
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 29.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||j||{{IPA|/dʒ}}, {{IPA|ɟ/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 44.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||w||{{IPA|/w/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 59.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||+h{{ref|AMC|[C]}}||{{IPA|/◌ʰ/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 15.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||sh||{{IPA|/ʃ/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 30.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||zh||{{IPA|/ʒ/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 45.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]&nbsp;<span style="font-size:65%">or</span>&nbsp;[[File:Certh 45a.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ü||{{IPA|/y/}}<sup>★</sup>
|[[File:Certh 60.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||&{{ref|AM&|[D]}}||
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 17.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||z||{{IPA|/z/}}
|}

'''Notes:'''
{|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| align="right" | A. || {{note|AMA|}}The Khuzdul language has two [[glottal consonant]]s: {{IPA|/h/}} and {{IPA|/ʔ/}}, the latter being "the [[glottal stop|glottal]] beginning of a word with an initial vowel".<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/> Thus, in need of a reversible certh to represent these sounds, [[File:Certh 54.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] and [[File:Certh 34.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] were switched, giving the former the value {{IPA|/s/}} and using the latter for {{IPA|/h/}}, and its reversed counterpart [[File:Certh 35.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] for {{IPA|/ʔ/}}.
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| align="right" | B. || {{note|AMB|}}These cirth were a halved form of [[File:Certh 46.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]], used for vowels like those in the word {{angbr|b<u>u</u>tt<u>e</u>r}} {{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ʌ|t|ər}}. Thus, [[File:Certh 55.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] represented a {{IPA|/ə/}} sound in unstressed syllables, while [[File:Certh 56.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] represented {{IPA|/ʌ/}}, a somehow similar sound, in stressed syllables. When weak they were reduced to a stroke without a stem ([[File:Certh 55a.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]], [[File:Certh 56a.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]]).<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/>
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| align="right" | C. || {{note|AMC|}}This letter denotes [[Aspirated consonant|aspiration]] in voiceless stops, occurring frequently in Khuzdul as ''kh'' and ''th''.<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/>
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| align="right" | D. || {{note|AM&|}}This certh is a [[scribal abbreviation]] used to represent a [[Conjunction (grammar)#Coordinating conjunctions|conjunction]], and is basically identical to the [[ampersand]] {{angbr|&}} used in [[Latin script]].
|}
[[File:Balin zg2.PNG|thumb|right|upright=1.35|Runes in the upper inscription of [[Balin (Middle-earth)|Balin]]'s tomb use ''Angerthas Moria'', reading left-to-right:<br/>{{center|Balin<br/>Fu[nd]inul<br/>Uzbad[[Moria (Middle-earth)|Kʰazaddûm]]<nowiki/>u}}]]
In ''Angerthas Moria'' the cirth [[File:Certh 14.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] {{IPA|/dʒ/}} and [[File:Certh 16.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] {{IPA|/ʒ/}} were dropped. Thus [[File:Certh 29.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] and [[File:Certh 30.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] were adopted for {{IPA|/dʒ/}} and {{IPA|/ʒ/}}, although they were used for {{IPA|/r/}} and {{IPA|/r̥/}} in Elvish languages. Subsequently, this script used the certh [[File:Certh 12.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] for {{IPA|/ʀ/ (or /ʁ/)}}, which had the sound {{IPA|/n/}} in the Elvish systems. Therefore, the certh [[File:Certh 22.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] (which was previously used for the sound {{IPA|/ŋ/}}, useless in Khuzdul) was adopted for the sound {{IPA|/n/}}. A totally new introduction was the certh [[File:Certh 53.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]], used as an alternative, simplified and, maybe, weaker form of [[File:Certh 22.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]]. Because of the visual relation of these two cirth, the certh [[File:Certh 17.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] was given the sound {{IPA|/z/}} to relate better with [[File:Certh 54.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] that, in this script, had the sound {{IPA|/s/}}.<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/>

=== ''Angerthas Erebor'' ===

At the beginning of the [[Third Age]] the Dwarves were driven out of Moria, and some migrated to [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]]. As the Dwarves of Erebor would trade with the Men of the nearby towns of [[Dale (Middle-earth)|Dale]] and [[Esgaroth|Lake-town]], they needed a script to write in [[Westron]] (the ''[[lingua franca]]'' of Middle-earth, usually rendered in English by Tolkien in his works). The ''Angerthas Moria'' was adapted accordingly: some new cirth were added, while some were restored to their Elvish usage, thus creating the ''Angerthas Erebor''.<ref name="Tolkien 1955"/>

While the ''Angerthas Moria'' was still used to write down Khuzdul, this new script was primarily used for Mannish languages. It is also the script used in the first and third page of the [[Book of Mazarbul]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barton |first=Ariel |date=2010 |title=TOLKIENIAN SCRIPTS WITH VIRTUAL FONTS |url=https://ctan.math.utah.edu/ctan/tex-archive/fonts/tolkienfonts/tolkienfontsdoc.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=November 4, 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center"
!''Certh''!!Translit.!![[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]
!''Certh''!!Translit.!![[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]
!''Certh''!!Translit.!![[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]
!''Certh''!!Translit.!![[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 1.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||p||{{IPA|/p/}}
|[[File:Certh 16.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||zh||{{IPA|/ʒ/}}
|[[File:Certh 31.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||l||{{IPA|/l/}}
|[[File:Certh 46.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||e||{{IPA|/e/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 2.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||b||{{IPA|/b/}}
|[[File:Certh 17.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ks||{{IPA|/ks/}}
|colspan="3"|
|colspan="3"|
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 3.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||f||{{IPA|/f/}}
|[[File:Certh 18.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||k||{{IPA|/k/}}
|[[File:Certh 33.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||nd||{{IPA|/nd/}}
|[[File:Certh 48.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||a||{{IPA|/a/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 4.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||v||{{IPA|/v/}}
|[[File:Certh 19.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||g||{{IPA|/ɡ/}}
|[[File:Certh 34.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||rowspan="2"|s||rowspan="2"|{{IPA|/s/}}
|colspan="3"|
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 5.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||hw||{{IPA|/ʍ/}}
|[[File:Certh 20.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||kh||{{IPA|/x/}}
|[[File:Certh 35.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]
|[[File:Certh 50.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||o||{{IPA|/o/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 6.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||m||{{IPA|/m/}}
|[[File:Certh 21.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||gh||{{IPA|/ɣ/}}
|[[File:Certh 36.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ŋ||{{IPA|/ŋ/}}
|colspan="3"|
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 7.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||mb||{{IPA|/mb/}}
|[[File:Certh 22.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||n||{{IPA|/n/}}
|[[File:Certh 37.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ng||{{IPA|/ŋɡ/}}
|[[File:Certh 52.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]&nbsp;<span style="font-size:65%">or</span>&nbsp;[[File:Certh 52a.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ö||{{IPA|/œ/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 8.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||t||{{IPA|/t/}}
|[[File:Certh 23.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||kw||{{IPA|/kʷ/}}
|colspan="3"|
|[[File:Certh 53.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||n||{{IPA|/n/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 9.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||d||{{IPA|/d/}}
|[[File:Certh 24.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||gw||{{IPA|/ɡʷ/}}
|[[File:Certh 39.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||i||{{IPA|/i/}}
|[[File:Certh 54.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||h||{{IPA|/h/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 10.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||th||{{IPA|/θ/}}
|[[File:Certh 25.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||khw||{{IPA|/xʷ/}}
|[[File:Certh 40.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||y||{{IPA|/j/}}
|[[File:Certh 55.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]&nbsp;<span style="font-size:65%">or</span>&nbsp;[[File:Certh 55a.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||||{{IPA|/ə/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 11.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||dh||{{IPA|/ð/}}
|[[File:Certh 26.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ghw||{{IPA|/ɣʷ/}}
|[[File:Certh 41.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||hy||{{IPA|/j̊/}} or {{IPA|/ç/}}
|[[File:Certh 56.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]&nbsp;<span style="font-size:65%">or</span>&nbsp;[[File:Certh 56a.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||||{{IPA|/ʌ/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 12.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||r||{{IPA|/r/}}
|[[File:Certh 27.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ngw||{{IPA|/ŋɡʷ/}}
|[[File:Certh 42.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||u||{{IPA|/u/}}
|[[File:Certh 57.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ps||{{IPA|/ps/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 13.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ch||{{IPA|/tʃ/}}
|[[File:Certh 28.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||nw||{{IPA|/nʷ/}}
|[[File:Certh 43.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||z||{{IPA|/z/}}
|[[File:Certh 58.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ts||{{IPA|/ts/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 14.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||j||{{IPA|/dʒ/}}
|[[File:Certh 29.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||g||{{IPA|/ɡ/}}
|[[File:Certh 44.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||w||{{IPA|/w/}}
|[[File:Certh 59.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||+h||{{IPA|/◌ʰ/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 15.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||sh||{{IPA|/ʃ/}}
|[[File:Certh 30.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||gh||{{IPA|/ɣ/}}
|[[File:Certh 45.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]&nbsp;<span style="font-size:65%">or</span>&nbsp;[[File:Certh 45a.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ü||{{IPA|/y/}}
|[[File:Certh 60.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||&||
|}

Angerthas Erebor also features [[combining diacritic]]s:
*a [[circumflex]] [[File:Certh Circumflex.png|16px]] used to denote [[gemination|long consonants]];
*a [[macron below]] [[File:Certh Macron below.png|16px]] to indicate a [[long vowel]] sound;
*an [[dot (diacritic)#Underdot|underdot]] [[File:Certh Underdot.png|16px]] to mark cirth used as [[numerical digits|numerals]]. As a matter of fact, in the Book of Mazarbul some cirth are used as numerals: [[File:Certh 39.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] for 1, [[File:Certh 50.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] for 2, [[File:Certh 52.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] for 3, [[File:Gondolin rune b.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] for 4, [[File:Certh 22.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] for 5.

[[File:Balin sp2.PNG|thumb|right|upright=1.8|The bottom inscription of [[Balin (Middle-earth)|Balin]]'s tomb is written in English using the ''Angerthas Erebor''. It reads left-to-right: "Balin sʌn ov Fu[nd]in lord ov Moria"]]
The ''Angerthas Erebor'' is used twice in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' to write in English:
# in the upper inscription of the title page, where it reads "[dh]ə·lord·ov·[dh]ə·riŋs·translatᵊd·from·[dh]ə·[[Red Book of Westmarch|red·b[oo]k]]'&nbsp;..." (the sentence follows in the bottom inscription, written in Tengwar: "...&nbsp;of Westmarch by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. Herein is set forth/ the history of the War of the Ring and the Return of the King as seen by the Hobbits.");
# in the bottom inscription of [[Balin (Middle-earth)|Balin]]'s tomb—being the translation of the upper inscription, which is written in Khuzdul using ''Angerthas Moria''.

The Book of Mazarbul shows some additional cirth used in ''Angerthas Erebor'': one for a double {{angbr|l}} [[Typographic ligature|ligature]], one for the [[Article (grammar)#Definite article|definite article]], and six for the representation of the same number of English [[diphthong]]s:

{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center"
!''Certh''!!English spelling
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh LL.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]{{ref|AE|∗}}||{{angbr|ll}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh Article.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]{{ref|AE|∗}}||{{angbr|the}}{{ref|the|[A]}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh AI.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]{{ref|AE|∗}}||{{angbr|ai}}, {{angbr|ay}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh AU.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]{{ref|AE|∗}}||{{angbr|au}}, {{angbr|aw}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh EA.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]{{ref|AE|∗}}||{{angbr|ea}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 47.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{angbr|ee}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 38a.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{angbr|eu}}, {{angbr|ew}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh OA.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]{{ref|AE|∗}}||{{angbr|oa}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 51.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{angbr|oo}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 38.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{angbr|ou}}, {{angbr|ow}}
|}

'''Notes:'''

{|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| align="right" | A. || {{note|the|}}This certh is a [[scribal abbreviation]] used to represent the definite article. Although in English it stands for {{angbr|the}}, it can assume different values according to the used language.
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| align="right" | ∗. || {{note|AE|}}The cirth marked with an asterisk are unique to ''Angerthas Erebor''.
|}

== Other runic scripts by Tolkien ==

The Cirth is not the only runic writing system used by Tolkien in [[Tolkien's legendarium|his ''legendarium'']]. In fact, he devised a great number of runic alphabets, of which only a few others have been published. Some of these are included in the "Appendix on Runes" of ''[[The Treason of Isengard]]'' (''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'', vol. VII), edited by [[Christopher Tolkien]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Hyde |first=Paul Nolan |date=Summer 1990 |title=Quenti Lambardillion: Runing on Empty: Charting a New Course |url= https://dc.swosu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2721&context=mythlore |journal=[[Mythlore]] |volume=16 |issue=4, no. 62}}</ref>

=== Runes from ''The Hobbit'' ===
<!-- [[File:Hobbit cover.JPG|thumb|right|150px|Runes around the edges of the cover of ''The Hobbit'' are a transliteration of English, giving information about the book.]] -->

According to Tolkien himself, those found in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' are a form of "English runes" used in lieu of the Dwarvish runes proper.<ref name="Hobbit">{{cite book |title=[[The Hobbit]]|first=J.R.R. |last=Tolkien |author-link=J.R.R. Tolkien |publisher=London: George Allen & Unwin. |year=1937}}</ref> They can be interpreted as an attempt made by Tolkien to adapt the [[Fuþorc]] (i.e., the [[Old English]] runic alphabet) to the [[Modern English]] language.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.tolkienestate.com/en/learning/languages-and-writing-systems/writing-systems.html |title= Writing Systems |first= Arden R. |last= Smith |author-link= Arden R. Smith |website= The Tolkien Estate |quote= The runic alphabet used on Thror's Map and elsewhere in The Hobbit is not the Angerthas, but is rather the futhorc used by the Anglo-Saxons in England over a thousand years ago, adapted by Tolkien for the representation of modern English. |access-date= December 30, 2020 |archive-date= 14 April 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210414115427/https://www.tolkienestate.com/en/learning/languages-and-writing-systems/writing-systems.html |url-status= dead }}</ref>

These runes are basically the same found in Fuþorc, but their sound may change according to their position, just like the letters of the [[Latin script]]: the writing mode used by Tolkien is, in this case, mainly orthographic.<ref name="Lindberg">{{cite web |url= http://www.forodrim.org/daeron/runes-eng.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725065431/http://www.forodrim.org/daeron/runes-eng.pdf |archive-date=2008-07-25 |url-status=live |title= Tolkien English Runes|last= Lindberg|first= Per|date= 2016-11-27|website= forodrim.org|access-date= 2019-03-27}}</ref> This means that the system has one rune for each Latin letter, regardless of pronunciation.<ref name="Lindberg"/> For example, the rune [[File:Certh 13.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] {{angbr|c}} can sound {{IPAc-en|k}} in {{angbr|'''c'''over}}, {{IPAc-en|s}} in {{angbr|sin'''c'''ere}}, {{IPAc-en|ʃ}} in {{angbr|spe'''c'''ial}}, and even {{IPAc-en|tʃ}} in the digraph {{nowrap|[[File:Certh 13.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]][[File:Certh 47.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]]}} {{angbr|ch}}.<ref>{{cite letter | first = J.R.R. | last = Tolkien | author-link = J.R.R. Tolkien | recipient = Katherine Farrer | subject = Letter 112 | date = November 30, 1947 | url = https://arda.saloon.jp/?plugin=attach&refer=The%20Letters%20of%20J.R.R.Tolkien%2FLetter%20112&openfile=letter112_tolkien.jpg | access-date = December 31, 2020 }}</ref>

A few sounds are instead written with the same rune, without considering the English spelling. For example, the sound {{IPAc-en|ɔː}} is always written with the rune [[File:Certh 24.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] whether in English it is spelt {{angbr|o}} as in {{angbr|n'''o'''rth}}, {{angbr|a}} as in {{angbr|f'''a'''ll}}, or {{angbr|oo}} as in {{angbr|d'''oo'''r}}. The only two letters that are subject to this phonemic spelling are {{angbr|a}} and {{angbr|o}}.<ref name="Lindberg"/>

Finally, some runes stand for particular English digraphs and diphthongs.<ref name="Hobbit"/><ref name="Lindberg"/>

Here the runes used in ''The Hobbit'' are displayed along with their Fuþorc counterpart and corresponding English grapheme:

{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center"
!Rune!!Fuþorc!!English grapheme
| rowspan="17"|
!Rune!!Fuþorc!!English grapheme
|- align="center"
|[[File:Tolkien's Futhorc A.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᚪ}} ||rowspan=2|''phonemic''{{ref|ph|[i]}}
|[[File:Certh 2.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᚱ}}||{{angbr|r}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 9.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᚫ}}
|[[File:Certh 40.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛋ}}||{{angbr|s}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 6.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛒ}}||{{angbr|b}}
|[[File:Certh 12.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛏ}}||{{angbr|t}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 13.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᚳ}}||{{angbr|c}}
|[[File:Certh 48.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᚢ}}||{{angbr|u}}, {{angbr|v}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 38.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛞ}}||{{angbr|d}}
|[[File:Certh 1.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᚹ}}||{{angbr|w}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Tolkien's Futhorc E.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛖ}}||{{angbr|e}}
|[[File:Certh 22.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛉ}}||{{angbr|x}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Tolkien's Futhorc F.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᚠ}}||{{angbr|f}}, {{angbr|ph}}
|[[File:Certh AU.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᚣ}}||{{angbr|y}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 36.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᚷ}}||{{angbr|g}}
|[[File:Certh 17.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛣ}}||{{angbr|z}}{{ref|HZ|[iii]}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 47.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᚻ}}||{{angbr|h}}
|[[File:Certh 57.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᚦ}}||{{angbr|th}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 39.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛁ}}||{{angbr|i}}, {{angbr|j}}
|[[File:Certh 27.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛠ}}||{{angbr|ea}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Tolkien's Futhorc K.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛱ}} {{ref|H|[ii]}}||{{angbr|k}}
|[[File:Tolkien's Futhorc ST.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛥ}}||{{angbr|st}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 8.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛚ}}||{{angbr|l}}
|[[File:Certh 42.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛟ}}||{{angbr|ee}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Tolkien's Futhorc M.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛗ}}||{{angbr|m}}
|[[File:Certh 43.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛝ}}||{{angbr|ng}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 32.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᚾ}}||{{angbr|n}}
|[[File:Tolkien's Futhorc EO.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛇ}}||{{angbr|eo}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 24.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᚩ}}||''phonemic''{{ref|ph|[i]}}
|[[File:Certh 5.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛳ}} {{ref|H|[ii]}}||{{angbr|oo}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 28.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛈ}}||{{angbr|p}}
|[[File:Certh 41.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{script|Runr|ᛲ}} {{ref|H|[ii]}}||{{angbr|sh}}
|}

'''Notes:'''
{{ordered list|list-style-type=lower-roman
 | {{note|ph||This table summarises the transcription of English {{angbr|a}} and {{angbr|o}} in runes:<ref name="Lindberg"/>}}
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center"
! English grapheme
! Sound value<br/><small>([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]])</small>
! Rune
|- align="center"
| rowspan="3" | {{angbr|a}}
| {{IPAc-en|æ}}
| [[File:Certh 9.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]
|- align="center"
| every other sound
| [[File:Tolkien's Futhorc A.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]
|- align="center"
| {{IPAc-en|ɔː}}
| rowspan=3 | [[File:Certh 24.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]
|- align="center"
| {{angbr|o}}
| every sound
|- align="center"
| rowspan="2" | {{angbr|oo}}
| {{IPAc-en|ɔː}}
|- align="center"
| every other sound
| [[File:Certh 5.svg|21px|class=skin-invert-image]]
|}
{{ordered list|start=2|list-style-type=lower-roman
  | {{note|H||The three runes {{nowrap|[[File:Tolkien's Futhorc K.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]],}} {{nowrap|[[File:Certh 5.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]],}} and [[File:Certh 41.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]] were invented by Tolkien and are not attested in real-life Fuþorc.}}
  | {{note|HZ||According to Tolkien, this is a "dwarf-rune" which "may be used if required" as an addendum to the English runes.<ref name="Hobbit"/>}}
  | Tolkien commonly writes the [[Pronunciation of English ⟨wh⟩|English digraph {{angbr|wh}}]] (pronounced {{IPA|en|ʍ||generic=yes}} in some [[Variety (linguistics)|varieties]] of English) as {{nowrap|[[File:Certh 47.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]][[File:Certh 1.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]]}} {{angbr|hw}}.
  | There is no rune to transliterate {{angbr|q}}: the digraph {{angbr|qu}} (representing the sound {{IPA|en|kʷw||generic=yes}}, like in {{angbr|'''qu'''een}}) is always written as {{nowrap|[[File:Certh 13.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]][[File:Certh 1.svg|16px|class=skin-invert-image]]}} {{angbr|cw}}, reflecting the [[Old English#Orthography|Anglo-Saxon spelling]] {{angbr|{{Script|Latg|cƿ}}}}.
}}

===Gondolinic runes===
Not all the runes mentioned in ''The Hobbit'' are Dwarf-runes. The swords found in the [[Troll (Middle-earth)|Troll]]s' cave bore runes that [[Gandalf]] could not read. In fact, the swords [[List of Middle-earth weapons and armour#Glamdring|Glamdring]] and [[List of Middle-earth weapons and armour#Orcrist|Orcrist]] (which were forged in the ancient kingdom of [[Gondolin]]) bore a type of letters known as '''''Gondolinic runes'''''. They seem to have become obsolete and been forgotten by the [[Third Age]], and this is supported by the fact that only [[Elrond]] could still read the inscriptions on the swords.<ref name="Hobbit"/>

Tolkien devised this runic alphabet in a very early stage of his shaping of Middle-earth. Nevertheless, they are known to us from a slip of paper that Tolkien wrote; his son [[Christopher Tolkien|Christopher]] sent a photocopy of it to Paul Nolan Hyde in February 1992. Hyde published it, with an extensive analysis, in the 1992 Summer issue of ''[[Mythlore]]'', no. 69. He commented that although J. R. R. Tolkien had said the "oldest cirth" were "unsystematic", they did not appear so. For example, all the vowels have both short and long forms: vowels are marked as long by adding a stroke, or by doubling the character.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Hyde |first=Paul Nolan |date=July 1992 |title=Quenti Lambardillion: The 'Gondolinic Runes': Another Picture |url=https://dc.swosu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2370&context=mythlore |journal=[[Mythlore]] |volume=18 |issue=3, no. 69}}</ref> The system was reanalyzed by [[Carl F. Hostetter]], who corrected the reading of the χ̑ rune to an ''[[Voiceless palatal fricative|ich-laut]]'' (voiceless palatal fricative)''.''<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hostetter |first1=Carl |last2=Baynes |first2=Pauline |last3=Martsch |first3=Nancy |date=1992-10-15 |title=Letters |url=https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol18/iss4/12/ |journal=Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature |volume=18 |issue=4 |issn=0146-9339}}</ref> Later, in Parma Eldalamberon 15, the original manuscript including a script variety of Gondolinic, the first cursive form of any of Tolkien's runic scripts, was presented.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tolkien |first=J. R. R. |editor-last1=Gilson |editor-first1=Christopher |editor-last2=Smith |editor-first2=Arden |editor-last3=Wynne |editor-first3=Patrick |editor-last4=Welden |editor-first4=Bill |url=https://archive.org/details/parma-eldalamberon-15 |title=Parma Eldalamberon 15 |date=2004}}</ref>

The system provides sounds not found in any of the known [[Elvish languages (Middle-earth)|Elvish languages]] of the [[History of Arda#First Age|First Age]], but perhaps it was designed for a variety of languages. However, the consonants seem to be, more or less, the same found in [[Welsh phonology]], a theory supported by the fact that Tolkien was heavily influenced by [[Welsh language|Welsh]] when creating Elvish languages.<ref>{{cite news |date=2011-05-21 |title=Study explores JRR Tolkien's Welsh influences |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-13472344 |work=BBC |access-date=2019-03-27}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|+ Consonants
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
!colspan=3|<small>[[Labial consonant|Labial]]</small>
!colspan=9|<small>[[Dental consonant|Dentals]]</small>
!colspan=3|<small>[[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]</small>
!colspan=3|<small>[[Dorsal consonant|Dorsal]]</small>
!colspan=3|<small>[[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]</small>
|- align="center"
!colspan=2|<small>Rune</small>!!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
!colspan=2|<small>Rune</small>!!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
!colspan=2|<small>Rune</small>!!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
!colspan=2|<small>Rune</small>!!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
!colspan=2|<small>Rune</small>!!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
!colspan=2|<small>Rune</small>!!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
!colspan=2|<small>Rune</small>!!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
|- align="center"
! rowspan=2|<small>[[Stop consonant|Plosive]]</small>
!<small>[[Voice (phonetics)|Voiceless]]</small>
|[[File:Gondolin rune p.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||p||{{IPA|/p/}}
|colspan=3|
|[[File:Certh 8.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||t||{{IPA|/t/}}
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|[[File:Certh 57.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||k (c)||{{IPA|/k/}}
|colspan=3|
|- align="center"
!<small>[[Voice (phonetics)|Voiced]]</small>
|{{nowrap|[[File:Gondolin rune b.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] [[File:Gondolin rune b2.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]}}||b||{{IPA|/b/}}
|colspan=3|
|[[File:Certh 12.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||d||{{IPA|/d/}}
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|[[File:Certh 6.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||g||{{IPA|/ɡ/}}
|colspan=3|
|- align="center"
! rowspan=2|<small>[[fricative consonant|Fricative]]</small>
!<small>Voiceless</small>
|[[File:Gondolin rune f.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||f||{{IPA|/f/}}
|[[File:Certh 9.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||þ||{{IPA|/θ/}}
|[[File:Certh 35.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||s||{{IPA|/s/}}
|[[File:Gondolin rune sh.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||š||{{IPA|/ʃ/}}
|colspan=3|
|[[File:Certh 40.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||χ||{{IPA|/x/}}
|[[File:Certh 59.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||h||{{IPA|/h/}}
|- align="center"
!<small>Voiced</small>
|{{nowrap|[[File:Certh 27.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] [[File:Certh 22.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]}}||v||{{IPA|/v/}}
|[[File:Certh 19.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ð||{{IPA|/ð/}}
|[[File:Gondolin rune z.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||z||{{IPA|/z/}}
|[[File:Gondolin rune zh.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ž||{{IPA|/ʒ/}}
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|- align="center"
! rowspan=2|<small>[[affricate consonant|Affricate]]</small>
!<small>Voiceless</small>
| colspan="3" |
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|[[File:Certh 60.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||tš (ch)||{{IPA|/t͡ʃ/}}
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|- align="center"
!<small>Voiced</small>
| colspan="3" |
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|[[File:Gondolin rune j.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||dž (j)||{{IPA|/d͡ʒ/}}
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|- align="center"
! rowspan=2|<small>[[nasal consonant|Nasal]]</small>
!<small>Voiced</small>
|[[File:Certh 43.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||m||{{IPA|/m/}}
|colspan=3|
|[[File:Certh 54.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||n||{{IPA|/n/}}
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|[[File:Certh 2.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ŋ||{{IPA|/ŋ/}}
|colspan=3|
|- align="center"
!<small>Voiceless</small>
|[[File:Gondolin rune mh.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||(mh)||{{IPA|/m̥/}}
|colspan=3|
| || ||
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|{{nowrap|[[File:Gondolin rune ŋh.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] [[File:Gondolin rune ŋh2.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]}}||(ŋh)||{{IPA|/ŋ̊/}}
|colspan=3|
|- align="center"
! rowspan=2|<small>[[Trill consonant|Trill]]</small>
!<small>Voiced</small>
| colspan="3" |
|colspan=3|
|[[File:Certh 29.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||r||{{IPA|/r/}}
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|- align="center"
!<small>Voiceless</small>
| colspan="3" |
|colspan=3|
|[[File:Certh 33.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||rh||{{IPA|/r̥/}}
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|- align="center"
! rowspan=2|<small>[[Lateral consonant|Lateral]]</small>
!<small>Approximant</small>
| colspan="3" |
|colspan=3|
|[[File:Certh 36.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||l||{{IPA|/l/}}
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|- align="center"
!<small>Fricative</small>
| colspan="3" |
|colspan=3|
|{{nowrap|[[File:Gondolin rune lh.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] [[File:Gondolin rune lh2.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]}}<br/>[[File:Gondolin rune lh3.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||lh||{{IPA|/ɬ/}}
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|- align="center"
! rowspan=2|<small>[[Approximant consonant|Approximant]]</small>
!<small>Voiced</small>
| colspan="3" |
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|{{nowrap|[[File:Certh 13.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] [[File:Tolkien's Futhorc K.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]}}<br/>[[File:Gondolin rune y3 (consonant).svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||j (i̯)||{{IPA|/j/}}
|[[File:Certh 42.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||w (u̯)||{{IPA|/w/}}
|colspan=3|
|- align="center"
!<small>Voiceless</small>
| colspan="3" |
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|colspan=3|
|[[File:Certh 28.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]
|χ̑
|{{IPA|/ç/}}<sup>?</sup>
|[[File:Certh 37.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||{{not a typo|ƕ}}||{{IPA|/ʍ/}}
|colspan=3|
|}

{|class="wikitable"
|+ Vowels
|- align="center"
!colspan=2|<small>Rune</small>!!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
!colspan=2|<small>Rune</small>!!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
!colspan=2|<small>Rune</small>!!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
!colspan=2|<small>Rune</small>!!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
!colspan=2|<small>Rune</small>!!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]</small>
|- align="center"
|[[File:Gondolin rune a.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||a||{{IPA|/a/}}
|[[File:Gondolin rune e.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||e||{{IPA|/ɛ/}}
|[[File:Certh 39.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||i||{{IPA|/i/}}
|[[File:Certh 48.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||o||{{IPA|/ɔ/}}
|[[File:Gondolin rune u.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||u||{{IPA|/u/}}
|- align="center"
|[[File:Certh 38.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ā||{{IPA|/aː/}}
|{{nowrap|[[File:Gondolin rune e-.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] [[File:Certh 38a.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]}}||ē||{{IPA|/eː/}}
|[[File:Certh 31.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||ī||{{IPA|/iː/}}
|{{nowrap|[[File:Certh 49.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] [[File:Gondolin rune o-2.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]}}||ō||{{IPA|/oː/}}
|{{nowrap|[[File:Gondolin rune u-.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] [[File:Gondolin rune u-2.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]}}||ū||{{IPA|/uː/}}
|- align="center"
|{{nowrap|[[File:Gondolin rune æ.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] [[File:Gondolin rune æ2.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]}}||æ||{{IPA|/æ/}}
|colspan="3"|
|colspan="3"|
|[[File:Certh AU.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||œ||{{IPA|/œ/}}
|{{nowrap|[[File:Gondolin rune y.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] [[File:Certh 44.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]}}||y||{{IPA|/y/}}
|- align="center"
|{{nowrap|[[File:Gondolin rune æ-.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] [[File:Gondolin rune æ-2.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]}}||ǣ||{{IPA|/æː/}}
|colspan="3"|
|colspan="3"|
|[[File:Gondolin rune œ-.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]||œ̄||{{IPA|/œː/}}
|{{nowrap|[[File:Gondolin rune y-.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] [[File:Certh 5.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]}}<br/>{{nowrap|[[File:Gondolin rune y-3.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]] [[File:Gondolin rune y-4.svg|20px|class=skin-invert-image]]}}||ȳ||{{IPA|/yː/}}
|}

==Encoding schemes==
===Unicode===
Equivalents for some (but not all) cirth can be found in the [[Runic (Unicode block)|Runic block]] of [[Unicode]].

Tolkien's mode of writing Modern English in Anglo-Saxon runes received explicit recognition with the introduction of his three additional runes to the Runic block with the release of Unicode 7.0, in June 2014. The three characters represent the English {{angbr|k}}, {{angbr|oo}} and {{angbr|sh}} graphemes, as follows:
*{{unichar|16F1|RUNIC LETTER K}}
*{{unichar|16F2|RUNIC LETTER SH}}
*{{unichar|16F3|RUNIC LETTER OO}}

A formal [[Unicode]] proposal to encode Cirth as a separate script was made in September 1997 by [[Michael Everson]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1642/n1642.htm | title = N1642: Proposal to encode Cirth in Plane 1 of ISO/IEC 10646-2 | first = Michael | last = Everson | publisher = Working Group Document, ISO/IEC JTC1/SC2/WG2 and UTC | date = 1997-09-18 | access-date = 2015-08-08 | archive-date = 29 July 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150729041032/http://std.dkuug.dk/jtc1/sc2/wg2/docs/n1642/n1642.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref>
No action was taken by the Unicode Technical Committee (UTC) but Cirth appears in the Roadmap to the SMP.<ref name="roadmapsmp">{{cite web|url=https://www.unicode.org/roadmaps/smp/ |title=Roadmap to the SMP |publisher=Unicode.org |date=2015-06-03 |access-date=2015-08-08}}</ref>

===ConScript Unicode Registry===
{{Infobox Unicode block
|blockname = Cirth (in [[Private Use Areas|Private Use Area]])
|rangestart = E080
|rangeend = E0FF
|assigned = 109
|script1 = Artificial Scripts
|alphabets = Cirth
|sources = [[ConScript Unicode Registry|CSUR]]
|codechart=omit
|note = Part of Private Use Area; possible conflicting fonts
}}

Unicode [[Private Use Areas|Private Use Area]] layouts for Cirth are defined at the '''[[ConScript Unicode Registry]]''' (CSUR)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.evertype.com/standards/csur/ |title=ConScript Unicode Registry |publisher=Evertype.com | access-date=2015-08-08}}</ref> and the '''Under-ConScript Unicode Registry''' (UCSUR).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kreativekorp.com/ucsur/ |title=Under-ConScript Unicode Registry | access-date=2015-08-08}}</ref>

Two different layouts are defined by the CSUR/UCSUR:
* 1997-11-03 proposal<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.evertype.com/standards/csur/cirth.html |title=Cirth: U+E080&ndash;U+E0FF|publisher=ConScript Unicode Registry|date=1997-11-03|access-date=2015-08-08}}</ref> implemented by fonts like [[GNU Unifont]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unifoundry.com/unifont.html|title=GNU Unifont|publisher=Unifoundry.com |access-date=2015-07-24}}</ref> and Code2000.
* 2000-04-22 discussion paper<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.evertype.com/standards/iso10646/pdf/cirth.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030312180613/http://www.evertype.com/standards/iso10646/pdf/cirth.pdf |archive-date=2003-03-12 |url-status=live |title=X.X Cirth 1xx00–1xx7F|first=Michael|last=Everson|date=2000-04-22|access-date=2015-08-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kreativekorp.com/ucsur/charts/PDF/UE080.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617041717/http://www.kreativekorp.com/ucsur/charts/PDF/UE080.pdf |archive-date=2014-06-17 |url-status=live|title=Cirth, Range: E080–E0FF|date=2008-04-14|publisher=Under-ConScript Unicode Registry|access-date=2015-08-08}}</ref> implemented by fonts like Constructium and Fairfax.

Without proper rendering support, you may see [[Specials (Unicode block)#Replacement character|question marks, boxes, or other symbols]] below instead of Cirth.

{{CSUR chart Cirth}}

==See also==
*[[List of runestones]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Languages of Middle-earth}}
{{Middle-earth}}
{{Constructed languages}}{{List of writing systems}}
[[Category:Middle-earth writing systems]]
[[Category:Alphabets]]
[[Category:Runology]]
[[Category:Runiform scripts]]
[[Category:Miscellaneous Unicode blocks]]