What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hieroglyph
Example
The hieroglyph for 'sun' was a circle with a dot in the center. [hieroglyph: noun]
Example
The cave paintings contained hieroglyphs that told stories of hunting and gathering. [hieroglyphs: plural noun]
glyph
Example
The font had a unique glyph for each letter of the alphabet. [glyph: noun]
Example
The map used glyphs to indicate different landmarks and points of interest. [glyphs: plural noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Glyph is more commonly used than hieroglyph in everyday language. Glyph is a versatile term that can be used in various contexts, while hieroglyph is more limited in its application.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hieroglyph and glyph?
Both hieroglyph and glyph are relatively formal terms, but glyph is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
