The Widgit Symbols (previously known as Rebus), created by Widgit Software, have been developed for over the past 20 years and are used in many countries worldwide.

The symbols are clean concise and suitable for all ages. They have been carefully designed to illustrate a single concept without adding unnecessary information such as gender.

They follow a schematic structure facilitating independent vocabulary development.

There are over 10,000 images in both colour and black-and-white covering a vocabulary of over 35,000 words. This vocabulary is continually being extended and gives you access to a wide range of topics and curricular areas.

Symbols released in the 2011 update

Sample of the new symbols

Download FREE Widgit Symbols Updates
Download Widgit Symbol Dictionary Spring 2011 Update (8 MB)

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Symbols released in the 2009 update

Colour can be very motivating

The entire symbol set is provided in both black-and-white and colour formats. The line drawings are exactly the same, with colour having being carefully and sensitively added. The tone values have been set so that the colour symbols print well in black-and-white, to give a more solid image.

You can change between colour and black-and-white at the press of a button

In the Communicate series of programs there is the option to see your work in either colour or as line drawings. Change the view between colour and line drawings at the press of a button. You do not have to make the document again. You can select specific symbols to see in colour as well as change the colour to suit your meaning.

If you change the colour of a symbol you can save it for re-use. For example the trousers in this illustration have been changed, and so there are now two images for trousers available.

There are options for different skin tones. Choose the default colour according to your preference, but you can still change the skin tones of individual symbols, and save any re-named symbols with the appropriate skin tone.

Note: The Widgit Symbols colour set is only available with the Communicate: In Print 2 ANZ. Users of Writing with Symbols can also use the coloured symbols (after Communicate: In Print 2 is installed) by putting their wordlists through a simple utility.

Widgit Symbols for Boardmaker and Widgit Symbols Metafile Collection are also available.

Widgit Symbols Set (Black-and-white Line Drawings)

The Widgit Symbols are line drawings in a schematic structure designed and produced for supporting literacy.

The simplicity and consistency of the design of the line drawing set makes them particularly useful for language work and developing symbol supported texts.

Groups of symbols have a strong visual similarity, making it easier for readers to develop vocabulary and to understand new symbols as they are encountered.

There is a programme of development for the Widgit Symbols to include curriculum vocabulary to match the UK National Curriculum as well as meeting the social vocabulary needs of adult users.

A full description of the structure of the symbol set is included in the printed Glossary, together with small images of each of the symbols included in the main vocabulary. The wordlists created from these symbols extend to well over 35,000 words including synonyms and different part of speech and more symbols are being developed.