Sowilō (rune)

NameProto-GermanicOld EnglishOld Norse
*SōwilōSigel Sól
"Sun"
ShapeElder FutharkFuthorcYounger Futhark
Unicode
U+16CA
U+16CB
U+16CB
U+16CC
Transliterations
Transcriptionss, z
IPA[s][s], [z]
Position in
rune-row
1611

Sowilo (*sōwilō), meaning "sun", is the reconstructed Proto-Germanic language name of the s-rune (, ).

The letter is a direct adoption of Old Italic (Etruscan or Latin) s (𐌔), ultimately from Greek sigma (Σ). It is present in the earliest inscriptions of the 2nd to 3rd century (Vimose, Kovel).

The name is attested for the same rune in all three Rune Poems. It appears as Old Norse and Old Icelandic Sól and as Old English Sigel.