rovásírás

Rovásírás, meaning “inscribed writing,” is a historical script used to write the Hungarian language in the medieval and early modern periods. It is an alphabetic, runic-style system distinct from the Latin script, though often used alongside it. In regional contexts it is also called Székely rovás.

Origins and development: The script appears in the Carpathian Basin from the 9th to 11th centuries, as Hungarians settled and Christianized. It is considered an indigenous invention adapted to Hungarian phonology, drawing on runic models and possibly earlier Eurasian symbol traditions. Glyphs represent Hungarian consonants and vowels; inscriptions appear on stones, monuments, and manuscripts.

Variants and usage: The best-known regional variant is Székely rovás, used by Székely communities in Transylvania; other forms circulated in medieval Hungarian territories. The script coexisted with Latin script and was used for religious, legal, and private writing but gradually declined as Latin became standard.

Decline and revival: After the late medieval period, Rovásírás fell into disuse for official purposes. In the 18th–19th centuries, it experienced revival as part of national and cultural revival movements. In modern times, Rovás is mainly studied by linguists and historians; it appears in museums, scholarly editions, and cultural works, and some communities use it in signage or education as a cultural symbol.

Further information on related topics includes runic scripts and the linguistic history of Hungarian, as well as the regional variant known as Székely rovás.