Middle Egyptian: A Student's GuideMiddle Egyptian grammar, glossary and sign lists
Thematic Glossary

Numerals and Measurements

Numerals

NumberHieroglyphs

Masculine

(Transliteration)

Feminine

(Transliteration)

NumberHieroglyphs

Masculine

(Transliteration)

Feminine

(Transliteration)

1wꜥ(w)wꜥ.t40ḥmw?
2sn.wjsn.tj50djww?
3ḫmtwḫmt.t60sjsjw?
4jfdwjfd.t70sfḫjw?
5djwdj.t80ḫmnjw?
6srsw / sjswsjs.t90psḏjw?
7sfḫwsfḫ.t100?š.t
8ḫmnwḫmn.t200?š.tj
9psḏwpsḏ.t1000ḫꜣ
10mḏwmḏ.t10000ḏbꜥ
20mḏwtjmḏwtt1000000ḥḥ
30mꜥbꜣmꜥbꜣ.t
½gs
¼r-4
⅔r.wjj
¾ḫmt-r.w

Measurements

For measuring length / width:

HieroglyphsTransliteration Relation English Approximate value
ḏbꜥḏbꜥ a quarter of a palm Finger ~ 1.9 cm
šspšsp 1/7 cubit Palm ~ 7.5 cm
mḥmḥ 7 palms Cubit ~ 52.3 cm
ḫtḫt 100 cubits Rod ~ 52 meters
jtrwjtrw 20,000 cubits Schoenus ~ 10.5 km

For measuring area:

HieroglyphsTransliteration Relation English Approximate value
mḥ-tꜣmḥ-tꜣ 1/100 aroura Centaroura ~ 27.5 m²
sṯꜣ.tsṯꜣ.t 100 centiarouras Aroura ~ 2,756 m²
ḫꜣ-tꜣḫꜣ-tꜣ 10 arouras Decaroura ~ 6.81 acres

For measuring liquid volume:

HieroglyphsTransliteration English Approximate value
hnwhnw Hin about half a liter
dsds Jug unknown

For measuring dry volume:

HieroglyphsTransliterationMeasureHieroglyphsTransliterationMeasure
ḥqꜣ.t20 hnwjp.t4 x ḥqꜣ.t
ḥqꜣ.tjj2 x ḥqꜣ.tẖꜣr20 x ḥqꜣ.t

For measuring weight:

HieroglyphsTransliterationMeasure
dbn~ 91 grams
qd.t~ 9.1 grams (1/10 dbn)
šnꜥ.tjj~ 7.5 grams (1/12 dbn)
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