The Egyptians used the hieroglyphic script for nearly 3,500 years, beginning in about 3300 BC until the end of the fourth century AD. At about the start of the third century AD, the Egyptians began to write their languages in a script composed of the Greek alphabet, to which were added seven characters derived ultimately from hieroglyphs. In this form the language came to be known as Coptic, a corruption of the Greek word for Egypt, Aiguptios. Knowledge of the hieroglyphic script was lost after it had been superseded and no key to its meaning was found until the discovery of the Stone of Rosetta.

This script has different types of pictures of symbols. Some of the symbols have multiple meanings. For example the legs mean walk, run, come and go. Other symbols do not mean anything but can be used in combinations. The hieroglyphs can be written in three directions. From top to bottom, from left to right and from right to left. Hieroglyphics were decrypted by Champollion. who studied the Stone of Rosetta for 14 years and found the key. For most of the letters in the English alphabet, there is a corresponding hieroglyph script symbol, however, there are some exceptions.