3
You can use a calculator not only to do maths, but also to write words. Although the vocabulary is somewhat limited, it’s enough for short messages. We’ll show you how it’s done.
Writing words on a calculator: here’s how it works
There are no letters on the calculator. The upside-down numbers form the letters you can use to write individual words.
- The alphabet made up of inverted numbers has its own name: it’s called Beghilos.
- When turned upside down, the 1 becomes an ‘I’, the 2 a ‘Z’, the 3 an ‘E’, the 4 an ‘h’, the 5 an ‘S’, the 6 a ‘g’, the 7 an ‘L’, the 8 a ‘B’, the 9 a ‘G’ and the 0 an ‘O’.
- As you turn the calculator upside down to read it, you have to ‘write’ the words backwards.
- For example, if you want to write the word ‘Liebe’, type in ‘38317’ and turn the calculator round.
- You can write ‘GOOGLE’ on the calculator by typing in the digits ‘379009’.
- If a word ends with the letter ‘O’, start by typing ‘0’. Normally, a ‘0’ at the start of a number isn’t displayed on the calculator. To make this work, type a full stop after the ‘0’.
- Type 0.7734 and turn the digits upside down to read the word “HELLO”.
History and origin of the “Beghilos” alphabet
The so-called Beghilos alphabet refers to a specific selection of letters that can be formed from the shapes of seven-segment displays (such as those used on calculators or digital watches) by turning numbers upside down.
- The name ‘Beghilos’ derives from the letters that can be represented in this way: B, E, G/g, h, I, L, O and S – sometimes Z is included as well. This practice dates back to the time when schoolchildren experimented with displaying words on calculators by entering sequences of numbers and then turning the device upside down (“calculator language”).
- Each digit on a seven-segment display can mimic certain letters when turned upside down: 0 → O, 1 → I, 3 → E, 4 → h, 5 → S, 6 → G or g, 7 → L, 8 → B, 9 → g and 2 → Z (optional).
- Example: The sequence of digits 31907018, when read upside down, spells out the word “BIOLOGY”.
- Beghilos is therefore a modern, technology-based ‘alphabet’ that arose from the display possibilities of digital digits; originally used as a bit of fun and for keeping secrets amongst schoolchildren, it is now often used as a form of puzzle or entertainment.
Practical examples and creative applications
Calculator words can be used in a variety of creative ways – for example, for funny messages, entertaining puzzles and little secret messages in everyday life or in the classroom.
- Examples of funny messages: Using number combinations such as 38317 (“Liebe”), 0.7734 (“HELLO”), 7353 (“DONKEY”) or 31907018 (“BIOLOGY”), a wide variety of words and names can be “conjured up” on the calculator.
- Words such as 53045 (“SHOES”) or 0.1134 (“hELLO”) are classics in English; they are ideal for a bit of fun or as a secret greeting. With a bit of creativity, you can create personal messages, such as birthday or friendship messages, provided the sequence of letters can be represented in the Beghilos alphabet.
- Puzzles and games: Simple puzzles: “Which word adds up to 7353 when turned upside down?” Answer: “ESEL”. Word chains: One person gives a sequence of digits; others must find the corresponding word or form a new word from letters with swapped digits. School challenges: Who can find the longest or most creative calculator word? Who can create a message with the most letters?
- Educational and social applications: School lessons: Teaching number systems, creativity and ‘mirroring’ numbers as a motivating exercise. Social codes: Secret messages between friends that remain incomprehensible to outsiders foster a sense of community.
- Extra tips: By using the trick of adding a full stop or a zero at the start (e.g. “0.7734” instead of “7734” to display “HELLO” correctly), more words can be displayed. Puzzle questions that fit on the display, such as “Find the animal with the number sequence 3537” (answer: “DONKEY”) or “What does 379009 mean?” (“GOOGLE”).
- The possible applications thus range from entertaining messages to mathematical or creative puzzles at school, amongst friends or within the family.
