Common Coptic sayings
and it's medu netjer equivalent
nofri/ ⲛⲟϥⲣⲓ (hello)
Old Coptic (O)
Upper Egypt
Sahidic
or Thebaic Main Upper Egyptian dialect, most biblical texts are written in. (S)
Achmimic
Phonologically the most archaic dialect.
/x/ is realized as /ʃ/ in most other dialects (A)
Nag Hammadi
Gnostic codices written in this dialect. So named after the town Naj 'Hammádì at the Jabal al-Tárif where The Gnostic
Gospels were found (NH)
Lower Egypt
Bohairic
or Memphitic Used in the Delta
Fayyumic
spoken along the Nile River valley chiefly on the west bank, survived until the 8th century (F)
Lycopolitan or Subakhmimic or Assiutic (L)
Oxyrhynchite
or Mesokemic similarities with Fayyumic and is attested in manuscripts from the fourth and fifth centuries. (M)
Speak Coptic
èti nēi / ⲉ⳰ϯⲛⲏⲓ (Coptic)
rah di n.i / rA di n.i (Egyptian)
ar dyāʾ nyāʾ / أر دي نــي (Egyptian Arabic ?)
The man/ Egyptian
p.rōmā / ⲡ.ⲣⲱⲙⲉ (Coptic)
pa remtj / pA rmT (Egyptian)
The men/ Egyptians
p.rōmā / ⲡ.ⲣⲱⲙⲉ (Coptic)
pa remtj / pA rmT (Egyptian)
•
The woman/wife
tā.sḥimā / ⲧⲉ.ⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ (Coptic)
ta ḥemet / tA Hmt (Egyptian)
The women/wives
nā.ḥiomā / ⲛⲉ.ϩⲓⲟⲙⲉ (Coptic)
nA ḥemut / tA Hmwt (Egyptian)
•
The house
p.ḥi / ⲡ.ⲏⲓ (Coptic)
pa ḥut /pA Hwt (Egyptian)
The mother
t.maav / ⲧ.ⲙⲁⲁⲩ (Coptic)
ta mut / tA mwt (Egyptian)
The father
p.ïōt /ⲡ.ⲉⲓⲱⲧ (Coptic)
pa it /pA it (Egyptian)
The fathers
n.ïotā/ⲛ.ⲉⲓⲟⲧⲉ (Coptic)
na itēu/nA ityw (Egyptian)
•
èti nēi / ⲉ⳰ϯⲛⲏⲓ (Coptic)
rah di n.i / rA di n.i (Egyptian)
ar dyāʾ nyāʾ / أر دي نــي (Egyptian Arabic ?)
The man/ Egyptian
p.rōmā / ⲡ.ⲣⲱⲙⲉ (Coptic)
pa remtj / pA rmT (Egyptian)
The men/ Egyptians
p.rōmā / ⲡ.ⲣⲱⲙⲉ (Coptic)
pa remtj / pA rmT (Egyptian)
•
The woman/wife
tā.sḥimā / ⲧⲉ.ⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ (Coptic)
ta ḥemet / tA Hmt (Egyptian)
The women/wives
nā.ḥiomā / ⲛⲉ.ϩⲓⲟⲙⲉ (Coptic)
nA ḥemut / tA Hmwt (Egyptian)
•
The house
p.ḥi / ⲡ.ⲏⲓ (Coptic)
pa ḥut /pA Hwt (Egyptian)
The mother
t.maav / ⲧ.ⲙⲁⲁⲩ (Coptic)
ta mut / tA mwt (Egyptian)
The father
p.ïōt /ⲡ.ⲉⲓⲱⲧ (Coptic)
pa it /pA it (Egyptian)
The fathers
n.ïotā/ⲛ.ⲉⲓⲟⲧⲉ (Coptic)
na itēu/nA ityw (Egyptian)
•
Hello, hail, peace
khārā /ⲭⲉⲣⲉ Coptic
khaorə/χαιρε Greek
To give thanks
shapeḥmot/ϣⲁⲡϩ⳰ⲙⲟⲧ Coptic
Good morning
nofer duau/ nfr dwAw Egyptian
na-nā to-oui /ⲛⲁⲛⲉ ⲧⲟⲟⲩⲓ Coptic
Good Day
nfr hrw/ nofr horu Egyptian
nofri e-hò-ou /ⲛⲟϥⲣⲓ 'ⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ Coptic
Good night
nfr grH / nofer ḳeruḥ Egyptian
ⲛⲟϥⲣⲓ 'ⲉϫⲱⲣϩ / nofri e-gōrḥ (S) Coptic
nan.t rwHA/ nānt rōḥꜣ ? Egyptian
nanə rouḥə/ⲛⲁⲛⲉ ⲣⲟⲩϩⲉ ? Coptic
Good evening
mSrw nfr /meshrw nefer Egyptian
ⲣⲟⲩϩⲉ ⲛⲟϥⲣⲉ/ rwhꜣ nfr.t Coptic
Greetings
ⲛⲟϥⲣⲓ ⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲙⲉⲛⲣⲁϯ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩⲓⲧ/ Nōfri aḥōō namen-radi dērōu (Have a good day my dear) (B) Coptic
ⲛⲟϥⲣⲓ / Nofri (hello, welcome) Coptic
Bye
wDA/ udja (protection, preserve, prosperity salvation) Egyptian
ougai/ⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ (B, S), ougḥai/ⲟⲩϫϩⲁⲓ (S), oudjēi/ⲟⲩϫⲏⲓ (SA), oudjiāi/ⲟⲩϫⲓⲉⲓ (SA), oudjāi/ⲟⲩϫⲉⲓ (A, F),
oudjāāi/ⲟⲩϫⲉⲉⲓ (A, SA, F), /ⲟⲩϫⲉⲓⲧⲉ (A), ouòg/ⲟⲩⲟϫ (S, B, F), ouag/ⲟⲩⲁϫ (A, SA, F) (bye, be whole, safe, sound) Coptic
Thanks
dwA.k/ dua.ek (M) dwA.t / dua.et (F) (praise you) Egyptian
ⲥⲉⲡϩⲙⲟⲧ/ sepʰmot Coptic
You are welcome
ⲙⲙⲟⲛϩⲗⲓ/ mmonhli
Hail to you
inD-Hr.k/ inudj-ḥer.ek (M), inD-Hr.t/ inudj-ḥer.et (F) Egyptian
hir n nak ? Coptic
I am Androgynous
anok ou ḥ[o][o]uṭsḥime /ⲀⲚⲞⲔ’ ⲞⲨϨ̣[Ⲟ][Ⲟ]ⲨⲦⲤϨⲒⲘⲈ
I am mother
anok ou maav / ⲀⲚⲞⲔ ⲞⲨⲘⲀⲀⲨ
I am father
anok ou eyōt/ ⲀⲚⲞⲔ’ ⲞⲨⲈⲒⲰⲦ
Merry Christmas
nofr ḥòou ᵉmmisā ᵉmpikhristos /ⲛⲟϥⲣ ϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ︦ⲙⲓⲥⲉ ⲙ︦ⲡⲉⲭ︦ⲥ︦ (S) (Beautiful Day of the Birth of Christ)
nofr ḥòou ᵉmmisā ᵉmpikhristos /ⲛⲟϥⲣ ϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ︦ⲙⲓⲥⲉ ⲙ︦ⲡⲉⲭ︦ⲣⲓⲥ︦ⲧⲟⲥ (written out)
Nofri shai empihinmisi empikhristos/ⲛⲟϥⲣⲓ ϣⲁⲓ ⲉⲙⲠⲓϩⲓⲛⲙⲓⲥⲓ ⲉⲙⲠⲓⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ (Merry Feast of Christ's birth)
Pikhristos Afma(n)sf/ Ⲡⲓⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥⲁϥⲙⲁⲛⲥϥ ! (Christ is born!)
Khen Oumāthmēi Afma(n)sf /Ϧⲉⲛⲟⲩⲙⲉⲑⲙⲏⲓⲁϥⲙⲁⲛⲥϥ ! (In truth he is born!)
Pikhristos Aftonf /Ⲡⲓⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥⲁϥⲧⲱⲛϥ ! (Christ is risen!)
Khen Oumāthmēi Aftonf /Ϧⲉⲛⲟⲩⲙⲉⲑⲙⲏⲓⲁϥⲧⲱⲛϥ (In truth he us risen!)
Easter Greeting
Pikhristos Aftonf /Ⲡⲓⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥⲁϥⲧⲱⲛϥ ! (Christ is risen!)
Happy New Year
Upet ranpet nofret /wp.t rp.t nfr.t /Happy New Year Egyptian
nofri rawmpi em-veri / ⲛⲟϥⲣⲓ ⲣⲟⲙⲡⲓ ⲙ⳰ⲃⲉⲣⲓ (B) Coptic
nofri rōmpi em-veri/ ⲛⲟϥⲣⲓ ⲣⲱⲙⲡⲓ ⲙ⳰ⲃⲉⲣⲓ : Happy New Year (?) Coptic
noufyri pikhelom netā tirompi /ⲛⲟϥⲩⲣⲓ ⲡⲓⲭ⳰ⲗⲟⲙ ⲛ⳰ⲧⲉ ϯⲣⲟⲙⲡⲓ (S) (Happy Crown of the Year) Coptic
Sayings
ink rx sDd mdw n kmt : I can speak Egyptian language Egyptian
anok shgom esadji entiaspi enkhēmi /Ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ϣϫⲟⲙ ̀ⲉⲥⲁϫⲓ ̀ⲛϯⲁⲥⲡⲓ ̀ⲛⲬⲏⲙⲓ. I can speak the Egyptian language. (B) Coptic
* Ⲁⲛⲟⲕ (I), ϣϫⲟⲙ (to be able to, can), (ⲉ)ⲥⲁϫⲓ (speak), (ⲛϯ)ⲁⲥⲡⲓ (language, speech) ⲛ (of), Ⲭⲏⲙⲓ (Egypt)
ref. https://copticliterature.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/how-to-say-merry-christmas-in-coptic
khārā /ⲭⲉⲣⲉ Coptic
khaorə/χαιρε Greek
To give thanks
shapeḥmot/ϣⲁⲡϩ⳰ⲙⲟⲧ Coptic
Good morning
nofer duau/ nfr dwAw Egyptian
na-nā to-oui /ⲛⲁⲛⲉ ⲧⲟⲟⲩⲓ Coptic
Good Day
nfr hrw/ nofr horu Egyptian
nofri e-hò-ou /ⲛⲟϥⲣⲓ 'ⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ Coptic
Good night
nfr grH / nofer ḳeruḥ Egyptian
ⲛⲟϥⲣⲓ 'ⲉϫⲱⲣϩ / nofri e-gōrḥ (S) Coptic
nan.t rwHA/ nānt rōḥꜣ ? Egyptian
nanə rouḥə/ⲛⲁⲛⲉ ⲣⲟⲩϩⲉ ? Coptic
Good evening
mSrw nfr /meshrw nefer Egyptian
ⲣⲟⲩϩⲉ ⲛⲟϥⲣⲉ/ rwhꜣ nfr.t Coptic
Greetings
ⲛⲟϥⲣⲓ ⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲙⲉⲛⲣⲁϯ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩⲓⲧ/ Nōfri aḥōō namen-radi dērōu (Have a good day my dear) (B) Coptic
ⲛⲟϥⲣⲓ / Nofri (hello, welcome) Coptic
Bye
wDA/ udja (protection, preserve, prosperity salvation) Egyptian
ougai/ⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ (B, S), ougḥai/ⲟⲩϫϩⲁⲓ (S), oudjēi/ⲟⲩϫⲏⲓ (SA), oudjiāi/ⲟⲩϫⲓⲉⲓ (SA), oudjāi/ⲟⲩϫⲉⲓ (A, F),
oudjāāi/ⲟⲩϫⲉⲉⲓ (A, SA, F), /ⲟⲩϫⲉⲓⲧⲉ (A), ouòg/ⲟⲩⲟϫ (S, B, F), ouag/ⲟⲩⲁϫ (A, SA, F) (bye, be whole, safe, sound) Coptic
Thanks
dwA.k/ dua.ek (M) dwA.t / dua.et (F) (praise you) Egyptian
ⲥⲉⲡϩⲙⲟⲧ/ sepʰmot Coptic
You are welcome
ⲙⲙⲟⲛϩⲗⲓ/ mmonhli
Hail to you
inD-Hr.k/ inudj-ḥer.ek (M), inD-Hr.t/ inudj-ḥer.et (F) Egyptian
hir n nak ? Coptic
I am Androgynous
anok ou ḥ[o][o]uṭsḥime /ⲀⲚⲞⲔ’ ⲞⲨϨ̣[Ⲟ][Ⲟ]ⲨⲦⲤϨⲒⲘⲈ
I am mother
anok ou maav / ⲀⲚⲞⲔ ⲞⲨⲘⲀⲀⲨ
I am father
anok ou eyōt/ ⲀⲚⲞⲔ’ ⲞⲨⲈⲒⲰⲦ
Merry Christmas
nofr ḥòou ᵉmmisā ᵉmpikhristos /ⲛⲟϥⲣ ϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ︦ⲙⲓⲥⲉ ⲙ︦ⲡⲉⲭ︦ⲥ︦ (S) (Beautiful Day of the Birth of Christ)
nofr ḥòou ᵉmmisā ᵉmpikhristos /ⲛⲟϥⲣ ϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ︦ⲙⲓⲥⲉ ⲙ︦ⲡⲉⲭ︦ⲣⲓⲥ︦ⲧⲟⲥ (written out)
Nofri shai empihinmisi empikhristos/ⲛⲟϥⲣⲓ ϣⲁⲓ ⲉⲙⲠⲓϩⲓⲛⲙⲓⲥⲓ ⲉⲙⲠⲓⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ (Merry Feast of Christ's birth)
Pikhristos Afma(n)sf/ Ⲡⲓⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥⲁϥⲙⲁⲛⲥϥ ! (Christ is born!)
Khen Oumāthmēi Afma(n)sf /Ϧⲉⲛⲟⲩⲙⲉⲑⲙⲏⲓⲁϥⲙⲁⲛⲥϥ ! (In truth he is born!)
Pikhristos Aftonf /Ⲡⲓⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥⲁϥⲧⲱⲛϥ ! (Christ is risen!)
Khen Oumāthmēi Aftonf /Ϧⲉⲛⲟⲩⲙⲉⲑⲙⲏⲓⲁϥⲧⲱⲛϥ (In truth he us risen!)
Easter Greeting
Pikhristos Aftonf /Ⲡⲓⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥⲁϥⲧⲱⲛϥ ! (Christ is risen!)
Happy New Year
Upet ranpet nofret /wp.t rp.t nfr.t /Happy New Year Egyptian
nofri rawmpi em-veri / ⲛⲟϥⲣⲓ ⲣⲟⲙⲡⲓ ⲙ⳰ⲃⲉⲣⲓ (B) Coptic
nofri rōmpi em-veri/ ⲛⲟϥⲣⲓ ⲣⲱⲙⲡⲓ ⲙ⳰ⲃⲉⲣⲓ : Happy New Year (?) Coptic
noufyri pikhelom netā tirompi /ⲛⲟϥⲩⲣⲓ ⲡⲓⲭ⳰ⲗⲟⲙ ⲛ⳰ⲧⲉ ϯⲣⲟⲙⲡⲓ (S) (Happy Crown of the Year) Coptic
Sayings
ink rx sDd mdw n kmt : I can speak Egyptian language Egyptian
anok shgom esadji entiaspi enkhēmi /Ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ϣϫⲟⲙ ̀ⲉⲥⲁϫⲓ ̀ⲛϯⲁⲥⲡⲓ ̀ⲛⲬⲏⲙⲓ. I can speak the Egyptian language. (B) Coptic
* Ⲁⲛⲟⲕ (I), ϣϫⲟⲙ (to be able to, can), (ⲉ)ⲥⲁϫⲓ (speak), (ⲛϯ)ⲁⲥⲡⲓ (language, speech) ⲛ (of), Ⲭⲏⲙⲓ (Egypt)
ref. https://copticliterature.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/how-to-say-merry-christmas-in-coptic
Random Words
(The) Apollo (Greek God) : (pi) Apollōn/(ⲡⲓ)ⲁ⳰ⲡⲟⲗⲗⲱⲛ
Seraphim (troop of Angels) : srAfim, srf, im ; 𓇋𓅓, 𓐝𓏤, 𓊮 ; śārāf/שְׂרָפִים /שְׂרָפִים , שָׂרָף : Sərafim(n)/ⲥⲉⲣⲁⲫⲓⲙ(ⲛ); Serapheim/Σεραφεἱµ
chief of the Evil spirits : nikosmokrgtōr/ⲛⲓⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲕⲣⲇⲧⲱⲣ
devil : diabolos/ⲇⲓⲁⲃⲟⲗⲟⲥ
dragon : Dadianus /ⲇⲁⲇⲓⲁ⳰ⲛⲟⲥ
the dragon in Nun (satan) : pedrakōn etḥm pnoun/ ⲡⲉⲇⲣⲁⲕⲱⲛ ⲉⲧϩⲙ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛ
dragon, serpent : drakōn/ⲇⲣⲁⲕⲱⲛ < drákōn/δράκων Ancient Greek
Pagan : ḥgnḥəlēnos/ϩⲇⲛϩⲉⲗⲏⲛⲟⲥ
Poseidon (Greek God) : positōn /ⲡⲟⲥⲓⲧⲱⲛ
Phantom, apparition : ḥortᵉf/ϩⲟⲣⲧϥ︦ , ḥort/ϩⲟⲣⲧ (B)
Saint: Tiagia Ϯⲁⲅⲓⲁ (S) (female)
androgyne 'male female', Hermaphrodite (possibly): houtsḥimə/ϩⲟⲩⲧⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ
Homosexual: refenkotekempehoüt (T.G. Wilfong)
Seraphim (troop of Angels) : srAfim, srf, im ; 𓇋𓅓, 𓐝𓏤, 𓊮 ; śārāf/שְׂרָפִים /שְׂרָפִים , שָׂרָף : Sərafim(n)/ⲥⲉⲣⲁⲫⲓⲙ(ⲛ); Serapheim/Σεραφεἱµ
chief of the Evil spirits : nikosmokrgtōr/ⲛⲓⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲕⲣⲇⲧⲱⲣ
devil : diabolos/ⲇⲓⲁⲃⲟⲗⲟⲥ
dragon : Dadianus /ⲇⲁⲇⲓⲁ⳰ⲛⲟⲥ
the dragon in Nun (satan) : pedrakōn etḥm pnoun/ ⲡⲉⲇⲣⲁⲕⲱⲛ ⲉⲧϩⲙ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛ
dragon, serpent : drakōn/ⲇⲣⲁⲕⲱⲛ < drákōn/δράκων Ancient Greek
Pagan : ḥgnḥəlēnos/ϩⲇⲛϩⲉⲗⲏⲛⲟⲥ
Poseidon (Greek God) : positōn /ⲡⲟⲥⲓⲧⲱⲛ
Phantom, apparition : ḥortᵉf/ϩⲟⲣⲧϥ︦ , ḥort/ϩⲟⲣⲧ (B)
Saint: Tiagia Ϯⲁⲅⲓⲁ (S) (female)
androgyne 'male female', Hermaphrodite (possibly): houtsḥimə/ϩⲟⲩⲧⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ
Homosexual: refenkotekempehoüt (T.G. Wilfong)
Ref. The Martyrdom and miracles of Saint George of Cappadocia by E.A. Wallis Budge, wiktionary
