Cipher methods Symbols
Bibi-binary (Boby Lapointe, 1968)
Bibi-binary (or bibi) is a hexadecimal notation invented by Robert ‘Boby’ Lapointe (1922-1972), a French singer, humorist and mathematician, published in his essay Une éducation manquée in 1968. The principle: each half-byte (4 bits, i.e. one hex digit between 0 and 15) is represented by a two-letter phonetic syllable:
| Hex | Syllable |
|---|---|
| 0 | HO |
| 1 | HA |
| 2 | HE |
| 3 | HI |
| 4 | BO |
| 5 | BA |
| 6 | BE |
| 7 | BI |
| 8 | KO |
| 9 | KA |
| A | DO |
| B | DA |
| C | DE |
| D | DI |
| E | GO |
| F | GA |
The 4 consonants (H, B, K/D-G) signal high-order bits; the 4 vowels (O, A, E, I) signal low-order bits. Lapointe also designed a glyph for each syllable (combined circles and arcs), and that visual alphabet is what dCode reproduces. Read aloud, binary numbers become rhythmic songs — characteristic of the musical sensibility of the singer of Aragon et Castille and Marcelle.
Lapointe pushed the concept far enough to propose a bibi multiplication table and even a mechanical bibi calculator (never commercialised). The system never found practical success but remains a French cultural monument celebrated by lovers of chanson à texte.
How does Bibi-binary work?
Bibi-binary is a hexadecimal notation, not an alphabetic substitution: the table holds 16 graphical syllables for the 16 hex digits (0-9 + A-F), i.e. 16 symbols in total. To encode a decimal number, first convert it to hex (255 → FF, then FF → two Bibi glyphs).
Historical and modern usage
- Une éducation manquée essay (1968) — original publication.
- French chanson — often cited in books on French songwriting, on Lapointe and on mathematical games.
- Pedagogy — playful gateway to teach hexadecimal to French students.
- Francophone geek culture — regular reference in computing and chanson communities.
Related variants
- Standard hexadecimal notation — 0-9 + A-F without dedicated glyphs.
- Braille — see our dedicated entry, another visual 6-bit system.
What are the weaknesses?
- Hexadecimal notation, not encryption — provides no security (public table).
- Conversion required — to encode text, you must first convert it to hex (UTF-8 → bytes → hex), adding a transcription step.
- Glyph variations — different editions of the system can redraw the syllables.
The 6 A-F syllables
The 10 digits
