Pigpen Cipher Chart (Free Printable Secret Code Alphabet for Kids)

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Want to learn a fun secret code? The Pigpen Cipher is a simple and clever way to write secret messages using symbols instead of letters. Kids love it because it feels like a real spy code—and it’s surprisingly easy to learn!

This free printable Pigpen Cipher pack includes:

A full alphabet chart
Practice activities
A secret message challenge

Everything kids need to learn and use the code right away!

What is the Pigpen Cipher?

The Pigpen Cipher is a secret code that replaces letters of the alphabet with simple geometric symbols.

Instead of writing letters like A, B, or C, you draw shapes based on:

a grid pattern
an X-shaped pattern
and sometimes a dot inside the shape

It has been used historically for private communication and is still a fun way to send coded messages today.

Even though it looks complicated at first, the cipher is actually one of the easiest secret codes to learn.

History of the Pigpen Cipher

The Pigpen Cipher dates back hundreds of years and has been used as a simple method of secret communication.

It became especially well known through the Freemasons in the 1700s, which is why it is sometimes called the Masonic Cipher or Freemason’s Cipher. The code was used to write private messages using symbols instead of letters.

The Pigpen Cipher is not a true language—it is a substitution code where each letter is replaced with a symbol based on a grid or X-shaped pattern.

Today, the cipher is mostly used for:

educational activities
puzzles and games
escape rooms
spy-themed fun

Pigpen Cipher Chart (Printable)

This Pigpen Cipher chart (also called a Pigpen Cipher key) shows all the symbols for the alphabet so you can quickly learn and use the code.

How the Cipher Works

The alphabet is divided into four simple groups:

Grid Shapes (A–I)

Letters are placed in a tic-tac-toe style grid, which is why the Pigpen Cipher is sometimes called the tic-tac-toe cipher.

Each letter becomes the shape of its box.

Grid Shapes + Dots (J–R)

The same shapes are used again—but with a dot added inside each one.

X Shapes (S–V)

Letters are placed in sections of an X shape.

X Shapes + Dots (W–Z)

The same X shapes are used again, but with dots added.

Once you understand the pattern, it becomes easy to read and write!

Decode the Pigpen Cipher
(How to Read or Write Messages)

To decode or decrypt a message, match each symbol to the letter on the chart.

Each shape represents a specific letter, and once you recognize the patterns, you can quickly translate symbols back into words.

Keep the chart nearby while learning—it becomes easier with practice! an

To translate or encrypt a message into Pigpen Cipher, replace each letter with its matching symbol from the chart.

Try writing:

your name
a secret message
a note to a friend

Example:
HELLO becomes a series of symbols instead of letters!

Try Writing a Secret Message

Challenge yourself or your kids:

Write a message using the cipher
Have someone else decode it
Trade messages back and forth

It’s a fun way to practice and learn!

Fun Pigpen Cipher Activities

Make it even more engaging:

Create a spy notebook
Write hidden clues for a scavenger hunt
Decode secret messages
Play a “secret agent” game

Free Pigpen Cipher Printable Pack

This free printable pack includes everything you need to get started:

A full Pigpen Cipher chart (your decoding key)
A practice page to write and translate words
A secret message challenge page

Perfect for:

homeschool
classroom activities
rainy day fun
spy-themed play

Download it and start writing secret messages today!

Kids Love Secret Codes!

Learning codes like this helps kids:

build problem-solving skills
recognize patterns
explore communication systems
learn through play

With just a few simple shapes, kids can start writing their own coded messages in minutes!

Pigpen Cipher Chart (Free Printable Secret Code Alphabet for Kids)

What is the Pigpen Cipher?

History of the Pigpen Cipher

Pigpen Cipher Chart (Printable)