fehu ᚠ

Unicode: ᚠ

Pronunciation:

FAY-hoo (Proto-Germanic)

Alternative names:

fé (Old Norse, Younger Futhark)

feoh (Old English, Futhorc)

Translation:

cattle, possibly sheep

Sound:

“f” as in “fee”

Associated Concepts and Interpretations

Abundance, plenty

Bounty, prosperity

Cattle, sheep, livestock

Creation, creativity

Earth

Luck or hamingja (also: personification or presence of a guardian spirit)

Money, gold, wealth (especially mobile)

Passion, sexual energy

Productivity

Reward or gain

Sharing of prosperity and wealth

Warnings against excess, greed, materialism, hoarding

Associated Rune Poems

(as translated by Bruce Dickins, 1915; public domain)

A number of interpretations are derived from the various runic poems and those associated with this rune (where available) are included below for further consideration.

Norwegian:

Fé vældr frænda róge;
føðesk ulfr í skóge

Wealth is a source of discord among kinsmen;
the wolf lives in the forest.

Icelandic:

Fé er frænda róg
ok flæðar viti
ok grafseiðs gata
aurum fylkir.

Wealth -- Source of discord among kinsmen
and fire of the sea
and path of the serpent

Anglo-Saxon:

Feoh byþ frofur fira gehwylcum;
sceal ðeah manna gehwylc miclun hyt dælan
gif he wile for drihtne domes hleotan

Wealth is a comfort to all men;
yet must every man bestow it freely,
if he wish to gain honour in the sight of the Lord

A list of references is available.

Audio associated with this rune is a creation of the author’s and is released to the public domain. Back-linking and attribution are appreciated, but not required, for use.

last updated: 21 nov 2022