Mannaz

M-rune of the Elder Futhark


title: "Mannaz" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["runes"] description: "M-rune of the Elder Futhark" topic_path: "general/runes" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannaz" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary M-rune of the Elder Futhark ::

::data[format=table title="infobox rune"]

FieldValue
lang1pg
name1mannaz
name2man[n]
name3maðr
meaning13'man, human'
shape12[[File:Runic letter mannaz.svg
shape3a[[File:Long-branch m rune.svg
shape3b[[File:Short-twig m rune.svg
unicode hex1216D7
unicode hex3a16D8
unicode hex3b16D9
transliteration13m
transcription13m
IPA13
position1220
position314
::

| lang1 = pg | lang2 = oe | lang3 = on | name1 = mannaz | name2 = man[n] | name3 = maðr | meaning13 = 'man, human' | shape12 = [[File:Runic letter mannaz.svg|x50px|class=skin-invert-image]] | shape3a = [[File:Long-branch m rune.svg|x50px|class=skin-invert-image]] | shape3b = [[File:Short-twig m rune.svg|x50px|class=skin-invert-image]] | unicode hex12 = 16D7 | unicode hex3a = 16D8 | unicode hex3b = 16D9 | transliteration13 = m | transcription13 = m | IPA13 = | position12 = 20 | position3 = 14 ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Formrun.svg" caption="Two early forms of the /m/ rune of the Younger Futhark."] ::

Mannaz is the conventional name of the /m/ rune of the Elder Futhark. It is derived from the reconstructed Proto-Germanic (or Common Germanic) word for 'man', mannaz.

The Younger Futhark equivalent is maðr ('man'). It took up the shape of the algiz rune , replacing Elder Futhark .

As its sound value and form in the Elder Futhark indicate, it is derived from the letter for /m/, , in the Old Italic alphabets, ultimately from the Greek letter mu (uppercase , lowercase ).

Rune poems

The rune is recorded in all three rune poems, in the Norwegian and Icelandic poems as maðr, and in the Anglo-Saxon poem as man.

::data[format=table]

Rune poemEnglish translation
::

Modern usage

For the 'man' rune of the Armanen Futharkh as the 'life' rune in Germanic mysticism, see Lebensrune.

References

References

  1. Original poems and translation from the [http://www.ragweedforge.com/poems.html Rune Poem Page] {{webarchive. link. (1999-05-01 ("Ragnar's Ragweed Forge").)

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runes