Reading Your First Words
Now that you know consonants and vowels, you can read complete words! Let's build a simple word from scratch, like the BOW example from the guide.
The Rules
- Read counterclockwise: Starting from the bottom (6 o'clock position)
- Glyphs: Each glyph combines is a consonant shape + decoration + potentially an attached vowel
- Lines: Glyph line decorations only apply if they start or end on the glyph, not if they just cross it
"Bow Ties Are Cool"
Let's read four simple words from the famous Doctor Who quote. Each demonstrates key principles:
BOW
BOW: BO-W (consonant+vowel, consonant)
TIES
TIES: TI-E-S (consonant+vowel, vowel, consonant)
ARE
ARE: A-RE (vowel, consonant+vowel)
COOL
COOL: CO-O-L (consonant+vowel, vowel, consonant)
Notice how glyphs combine consonants with their following vowels, and standalone vowels/consonants remain separate.
Common Connector Words
These short words appear constantly in English sentences. Learning to recognize them quickly will help you read Gallifreyan more fluently:
THE
AND
OF
TO
IN
FOR
Word Construction Tips
- Glyph grouping: Consonant + following vowel = one glyph
- Line placement: Endpoints touch the letters they connect
- Reading direction: Always counterclockwise from 6 o'clock
- Line flexibility: Straight, curved, or mixed - all valid!
Practice
Reading Practice
Can you read these simple words? Click each one to reveal the answer:
Hint: Read counterclockwise from the bottom, dividing into glyphs as you go.
Writing Practice
Now try writing your own simple words! Type a single word to see it in Gallifreyan:
Type a single word to see it in Gallifreyan
Want more practice? Check out the Practice section for curated word lists and reading exercises.
What's Next
You've mastered simple words! Next, let's tackle double letters and longer words like HELLO and TARDIS.