Reference
Pigpen Cipher Alphabet
The pigpen cipher replaces each letter with a piece of a grid, sometimes with a dot inside. It uses two tic-tac-toe grids and two X shapes to hold all 26 letters. The chart below shows the symbol for every letter.
How the grid is built
Letters A to I sit in the first tic-tac-toe grid, and each letter takes the shape of the lines around its cell. J to R go in a second grid, drawn the same way but with a dot added inside each shape.
The final letters fill two large X shapes, S to V in the first X and W to Z in the second, again with dots on the second set. To write a letter you draw the surrounding lines; to read one, match the shape and any dot back to the chart.
Frequently asked questions
How do you read the pigpen cipher?
Match each symbol to its position in the two grids and two X shapes. The shape shows which lines surround the letter's cell, and a dot means it comes from the second grid or X.
Is the pigpen cipher hard to crack?
No. It is a simple substitution cipher, so it offers no real security. Its appeal is that it looks mysterious while being easy and fun to learn.