Atbash Cipher Translator
Flip the alphabet to write a secret message: A becomes Z, B becomes Y and so on. Type in either box, because Atbash encodes and decodes in exactly the same way.
Atbash cipher key
Write the alphabet forwards, then backwards underneath. Each letter swaps with the one it lines up with, and every pair works both ways.
- A Z
- B Y
- C X
- D W
- E V
- F U
- G T
- H S
- I R
- J Q
- K P
- L O
- M N
How to use the Atbash cipher
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Write the alphabet from A to Z, and underneath it from Z back to A.
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Swap every letter of your message for the one it lines up with: A for Z, B for Y, M for N.
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To decode, do exactly the same thing. Spaces, numbers and punctuation stay as they are.
Use Atbash in your own escape room
Atbash is a great first cipher for players: once they spot the mirror pattern, the whole message opens up. Hide a reversed alphabet in the room as a clue. Our printable escape rooms are full of puzzles like this, ready to print and play at home tonight.
Atbash cipher questions
What is the Atbash cipher?
Atbash is a substitution cipher that reverses the alphabet, so the first letter swaps with the last, the second with the second to last, and so on. In English, A becomes Z, B becomes Y and M becomes N.
Where does the name Atbash come from?
It was first used with the Hebrew alphabet. The name joins the first, last, second and second to last Hebrew letters: aleph, tav, bet and shin, which is exactly the swap the cipher makes.
How do you decode an Atbash cipher?
Use the same swap again. Because each pair of letters mirrors the other, encoding a message twice brings back the original. Paste the code into this tool to read it straight away.
Is this tool free?
Yes. It is free to use for puzzles, classrooms, games and secret messages, with no signup.
