Hieroglyph vs. Pictogram — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 2, 2023
Hieroglyphs are characters of an ancient writing system using symbolic pictures, whereas pictograms are symbols representing objects or ideas in a graphical form.
Difference Between Hieroglyph and Pictogram
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Hieroglyphs are a formal writing system that combines logographic and alphabetic elements, used by ancient Egyptians. Pictograms are images that represent a word or phrase and are used universally in signs and instructions.
Each hieroglyph has a specific meaning and may represent a sound or an object. Pictograms convey their meaning through their pictorial resemblance to a physical object and often do not directly relate to language.
Hieroglyphs are often found in historical contexts such as tombs and monuments. Pictograms are widely used in contemporary contexts, such as road signs and information symbols, providing quick and clear communication.
The complexity of hieroglyphs makes them less intuitive than pictograms, which are designed to be immediately recognizable across language barriers. Hieroglyphs were a complex system, requiring years of study, while pictograms are simplified and accessible.
Hieroglyphs and pictograms both convey information visually, but hieroglyphs are specific to the structure and culture of ancient Egyptian language, whereas pictograms are used globally and intended to be universally understood.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A character of an ancient Egyptian writing system.
A symbol representing an object or concept.
Origin
Ancient Egypt.
Global, various ancient and modern cultures.
Represents
Sounds, words, or concepts in a language.
Ideas or objects, not bound to a specific language.
Use
Historical texts, monuments, tombs.
Modern signage, instructions, information.
Complexity
Complex with a steep learning curve.
Simple and designed for immediate recognition.
Compare with Definitions
Hieroglyph
An individual sign in an ancient Egyptian text.
He traced the hieroglyph carefully with his finger.
Pictogram
A symbol representing a word or idea without words.
The bathroom was indicated by a simple pictogram.
Hieroglyph
A carved or painted symbol of ancient Egyptian script.
The hieroglyph of a falcon represented the god Horus.
Pictogram
A simple drawing used to communicate information quickly.
Emergency exits were clearly marked with pictograms.
Hieroglyph
A symbol used in a writing system of ancient Egypt.
Scholars decoded the message from the hieroglyphs.
Pictogram
An image that universally conveys its meaning.
The pictogram for a phone was recognizable worldwide.
Hieroglyph
Writing that resembles hieroglyphics (usually by being illegible)
Pictogram
A graphic symbol used in informational signs.
He followed the pictogram to find the train station.
Hieroglyph
A pictorial character used for its sound or meaning in a formal writing system.
The hieroglyph stood for both a sound and an object.
Pictogram
A drawing that stands for a specific object or action.
Instructions were conveyed through pictograms instead of text.
Hieroglyph
A stylized picture of an object representing a word, syllable, or sound, as found in ancient Egyptian and certain other writing systems
Hieroglyphs describing the Mayan calendar
Pictogram
A picture that represents a word or an idea by illustration.
Hieroglyph
A hieroglyph (Greek for "sacred carvings") was a character of the ancient Egyptian writing system. Logographic scripts that are pictographic in form in a way reminiscent of ancient Egyptian are also sometimes called "hieroglyphs".
Pictogram
A pictogram, also called a pictogramme, pictograph, or simply picto, and in computer usage an icon, is a graphic symbol that conveys its meaning through its pictorial resemblance to a physical object. Pictographs are often used in writing and graphic systems in which the characters are to a considerable extent pictorial in appearance.
Hieroglyph
A picture or symbol used in hieroglyphic writing.
Pictogram
See pictograph.
Hieroglyph
Something that suggests a hieroglyph.
Hieroglyph
An element of an ideographic (hieroglyphic) writing system.
Hieroglyph
(informal) Any obscure or baffling symbol.
Hieroglyph
To represent by hieroglyphs.
Hieroglyph
A sacred character; a character used in picture writing, as of the ancient Egyptians, Mexicans, etc. Specifically, in the plural, the picture writing of the ancient Egyptian priests. It is made up of three, or, as some say, four classes of characters: first, the hieroglyphic proper, or figurative, in which the representation of the object conveys the idea of the object itself; second, the ideographic, consisting of symbols representing ideas, not sounds, as an ostrich feather is a symbol of truth; third, the phonetic, consisting of symbols employed as syllables of a word, or as letters of the alphabet, having a certain sound, as a hawk represented the vowel a.
Hieroglyph
Any character or figure which has, or is supposed to have, a hidden or mysterious significance; hence, any unintelligible or illegible character or mark.
Hieroglyph
A writing system using picture symbols; used in ancient Egypt
Hieroglyph
A character in a script consisting of a vast array of symbols.
The tomb was adorned with rows of intricate hieroglyphs.
Common Curiosities
What is a hieroglyph?
It is a symbol from an ancient Egyptian writing system.
Did other cultures besides Egyptians use hieroglyphs?
Similar systems were used but Egyptian hieroglyphs are unique.
Are hieroglyphs still used today?
No, they are not used in modern writing systems.
Are pictograms universal?
Pictograms aim to be universally understood, though cultural differences can affect interpretation.
What materials were hieroglyphs written on?
They were carved in stone, written on papyrus, and more.
Where are pictograms commonly found?
On public signs, labels, and information graphics.
Why are pictograms important?
They provide immediate communication without the need for literacy.
Can pictograms represent abstract ideas?
Yes, they can symbolize both concrete and abstract ideas.
What is a pictogram?
A pictogram is a symbol that represents an object or concept visually.
Is learning hieroglyphs like learning another language?
Yes, it involves understanding grammar, vocabulary, and syntax.
Do pictograms form a language?
No, they are not a structured language but symbols used within languages.
How are pictograms created?
They are designed based on common visual perceptions of objects or ideas.
Can hieroglyphs be phonetic?
Yes, some represent sounds as well as objects or concepts.
Can hieroglyphs stand for multiple things?
Yes, a single hieroglyph can have multiple meanings or sounds.
Were hieroglyphs only religious texts?
No, they were used for a variety of texts, not just religious ones.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
