Ⲙⲉⲧ Ⲣⲉⲙ̀ⲛⲭⲏⲙ/Met Rem en kēmi
The Coptic Language
The Coptic language is the last evolutionary step of Ancient Egyptian. Ancient Egyptian might have been one the longest used languagesIt is a hybrid of Demotic Egyptian and Greek loanwords. The Coptic Alphabet is written using Greek letters with a few added letters from Demotic Egyptian. The language is still being used today by Coptic Egyptians. The word Coptic is from (Latin) Coptus which comes from qubṭ,qibṭ/ قبط Copt (Arabic) which comes from the kuptaion/ⲕⲩⲡⲧⲁⲓⲟⲛ (Sahidic Coptic) > aiguption/ⲁⲓⲅⲩⲡⲧⲓⲟⲛ (Bohairic Coptic) > Aigýptios/Αἰγύπτιος (Greek), ḥut-ka-ptaḥ (Temple of the soul of Ptah) (Ancient Egyptian) a name for Egypt. And also from the (Greek) Kóptos/Κόπτος from kbt (Egyptian) a name for a town. Today the Coptics are a Orthodox Christians. Old coptic started around the 1st century. Most Old Coptic texts were non Christian Egyptian pagan prayers and magical papyri and most would be written from original Demotic or Hieratic texts. Once Christianity started to spread in Egypt there became a need for a Greek Egyptian hybrid language. The Coptic language flourished in the 2nd and 3rd century. Shenoute/Ϣⲉⲛⲟⲩϯ was an abbot in Egypt during the 4th and 5th century who spoke both Ancient Egyptian and Greek fluently, he fully standardized the language which is known as the Sahidic dialect.
The Coptic people are direct descendants of the Ancient Egyptians, who claim their own ethnic identity separate from Arab and African ethnicities. They have historically been persecuted and still are in many areas. Coptic is today mostly only spoken in Egypt and Nubia and is used liturgically. There is quite a few different dialects which differ from place to place in terms of phonology, morphology, and vocabulary.
The Coptic people are direct descendants of the Ancient Egyptians, who claim their own ethnic identity separate from Arab and African ethnicities. They have historically been persecuted and still are in many areas. Coptic is today mostly only spoken in Egypt and Nubia and is used liturgically. There is quite a few different dialects which differ from place to place in terms of phonology, morphology, and vocabulary.
Dialects of Upper Egypt
Sahidic (S)
Upper Egypt is associated with the dialect of Sahidic also know as Thebaic or Theban. and abbreviated with a (S). From the region Sahid as well as Cairo, the Valley. It is pre-Islamic period and was the most widely used to write texts. It started in the beginning of the 9th century possibly dating back to the 4th century and is the dialect mostly learned out side the church.
ⲧⲙⲛⲧⲣⲙⲛ ⲕⲏⲙⲉ /t.mənt.rəm.ən.kēme (To speak the language of Egypt 'Egyptian language')
ⲧⲙⲛⲧⲕⲩⲡⲧⲁⲓⲟⲛ/ timentkuptaion from the Copto-Greek form ⲧⲙⲛⲧⲁⲓⲅⲩⲡⲧⲓⲟⲛ /timentaiguption/ ('Egyptian language').
Akhmimic
Akhmimic dates back to the 4th century and is the most archaic Coptic dialects from the region of Akhmim/Khmin/ Khent-min (Panopolis). One feature is the x remains unlike most other dialects where it becomes ʃ . ⲕ instead of ϭ
Lycopolitan
Lycopolitan, also known as Subakhmimic or Assiutic closely related to Akhmimic, yet manuscripts tend to be from the Asyut area. Used extensively for translations of Gnostic and Manichaean works.
Dialects of Lower Egypt
Bohairic (B)
Lower Egypt is associate with the dialect of Bohairic also know as Memphitic and abbreviated as (B). From the province Bohairah, the southwest of Alexandria, the Nile delta from around 4th century, but more texts come from the 9th. This dialect is the one most used today and is spoken in the Church. It replaced Sahidic in the 11th century.
ϯⲙⲉⲧⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ ⲭⲏⲙⲓ/ ti.met.rem.ən.khēmi (To speak the language of Egypt 'Egyptian language')
Fayyumic
Fayyumic or Faiyumic are older version of Bashmuric. It comes from the Nile Valley in a province of Faiyum/Ⲫⲓⲟⲙ/ pA-ymā (Crocodilopolis) from around 3rd century to 10th. This is where you get the r, l cross over. They used ⲗ for l while other dialects used ⲣ for r. Replaced by Sahidic.
Oxyrhynchite
Oxyrhynchite or Mesokemic is the dialect of Oxyrhynchus and areas around it. It is one of the youngest dialects. Oxyrhynchite is similar to Fayyumic and is attested in manuscripts from the fourth and fifth centuries.
Greco-Bohairic (GB)
Late Coptic (LC)
Alexandrian
ϯⲁⲥⲡⲓ ⲛ̀ⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲭⲏⲙⲓ /ti aspi ən rem ən kēmi 'the Egyptian language'
Rules
ϫⲓⲛⲕⲓⲙ jinkim '
Consonant
add an e before the consonant (ə) and pronounced as separate syllables
ⲙ⳰ = em ⲛ⳰ = en ⲧ⳰ = et ⲍ⳰ = ez ⲕ⳰ = ek (`)
Arabic =a, =e (coptic manuscript)
Vowel
pronounced separately a-xxx
ⲁ' ⲟ' ⲓ' ⲗ'
syllabic pronunciation
letters with a stroke over them
ⲃ︦ = ᵉb or ⁱb, (ex.) ⲧ︦ⲃⲃⲟ / ᵉtb-bo
New Kingdom ⲃ 'b' became ⲡ 'p'
A
Ⲁ, ⲁ
Alpha/Ⲁⲗⲫⲁ
alpha/άλφα(Greek)[a],[aː]
1
ex. ⲁⲛⲟⲕ/ anok 'I'
Transliteration: a
(glottal stop a for all dialects ex. (B)
(a like in German "Mann" (S)
IPA: /ʔ/; [a] (B)(S) (LC); [ɑ] (GB)
Egyptian: A 𓄿
Old Coptic : Alef/ⲳ
Arabic: Alef a/ā/أ (Coptic manuscript) [ⲃⲁⲧⲟⲥ/wāṭōs]; ⲁ+ʉ = ā
Ⲁ, ⲁ
Alpha/Ⲁⲗⲫⲁ
alpha/άλφα(Greek)[a],[aː]
1
ex. ⲁⲛⲟⲕ/ anok 'I'
Transliteration: a
(glottal stop a for all dialects ex. (B)
(a like in German "Mann" (S)
IPA: /ʔ/; [a] (B)(S) (LC); [ɑ] (GB)
Egyptian: A 𓄿
Old Coptic : Alef/ⲳ
Arabic: Alef a/ā/أ (Coptic manuscript) [ⲃⲁⲧⲟⲥ/wāṭōs]; ⲁ+ʉ = ā
Demotic
B
Ⲃ, ⲃ
Bēta/Vēta/Ⲃⲏⲧⲁ, Vida/ Ⲃⲓⲇⲁ, Wīda (original)
Veta, beta/βήτα (Greek)[b], [v]
2
Transliteration: w, b
Wīda/Ⲃⲏⲧⲁ (original)
w-(everywhere except at the end of words) w- Wilhelm
b-(at the end of words) b-pub
Bēta/Ⲃⲏⲧⲁ (traditional, reformed)
b-(at the end of words, fallowed by a consonant, proper nouns) b-blue
ex. ϩⲱⲃ/ hōb 'something'
Bēta/Ⲃⲏⲧⲁ (Basic)
b-(at the end of words, fallowed by a consonant, everywhere else v)
Wita/Ⲃⲏⲧⲁ (LC)
w, ū, ou (beginning & middle of words) w-Wilhelm (B)
w-(except at the end of a word, then b) (Old-Bohairic) w-well
Vita/ Ⲃⲏⲧⲁ (modern)
/β/ normally either /b/ or /v/ (S)
v-(when it's fallowed by a vowel emphatic, names)(Greco-Bohairic) v-vex (S)
ex. ⲃⲁⲕⲓ/ vaki 'city'
IPA: [β] (B)(S); [w], [b] final (Late Coptic); [b], [v] (GB),ve
Egyptian = b 𓃀, p 𓊪, f 𓆑
Arabic: Wāw w/ و (Coptic manuscript) [wāṭōs/ⲃⲁⲧⲟⲥ] ; (B) , Bā b ب ; Vā v ڤ (GB)
Listen β (Voiced bilabial fricative)
Ⲃ, ⲃ
Bēta/Vēta/Ⲃⲏⲧⲁ, Vida/ Ⲃⲓⲇⲁ, Wīda (original)
Veta, beta/βήτα (Greek)[b], [v]
2
Transliteration: w, b
Wīda/Ⲃⲏⲧⲁ (original)
w-(everywhere except at the end of words) w- Wilhelm
b-(at the end of words) b-pub
Bēta/Ⲃⲏⲧⲁ (traditional, reformed)
b-(at the end of words, fallowed by a consonant, proper nouns) b-blue
ex. ϩⲱⲃ/ hōb 'something'
Bēta/Ⲃⲏⲧⲁ (Basic)
b-(at the end of words, fallowed by a consonant, everywhere else v)
Wita/Ⲃⲏⲧⲁ (LC)
w, ū, ou (beginning & middle of words) w-Wilhelm (B)
w-(except at the end of a word, then b) (Old-Bohairic) w-well
Vita/ Ⲃⲏⲧⲁ (modern)
/β/ normally either /b/ or /v/ (S)
v-(when it's fallowed by a vowel emphatic, names)(Greco-Bohairic) v-vex (S)
ex. ⲃⲁⲕⲓ/ vaki 'city'
IPA: [β] (B)(S); [w], [b] final (Late Coptic); [b], [v] (GB),ve
Egyptian = b 𓃀, p 𓊪, f 𓆑
Arabic: Wāw w/ و (Coptic manuscript) [wāṭōs/ⲃⲁⲧⲟⲥ] ; (B) , Bā b ب ; Vā v ڤ (GB)
Listen β (Voiced bilabial fricative)
D
Ⲇ, ⲇ
Delta/ Ⲇⲉⲗⲧⲁ, Thelta, Dalda (original) /ⲇⲁⲗⲇⲁ
delta/δέλτα(Greek)[d]
4
Transliteration: d
d- (used in proper names) (Old-Bohairic) d- Dan (S)
ex. Ⲇⲓⲛⲁ/ Dian
tj (Bohairic?)
t (Greek words)
dh- (soft th /ᵗʰ/) (Greco-Bohairic) th- this
Th (ð)- (every where else) th- then
ex. ⲇⲱⲣⲟⲛ/ thōron 'gift'
IPA: /d/; /tʲ/; /c/; [t] (Greek); [ð], [d] (GB)
Egyptian : d 𓂧?
Arabic : Dal d د , Thāl th ذ
Ⲇ, ⲇ
Delta/ Ⲇⲉⲗⲧⲁ, Thelta, Dalda (original) /ⲇⲁⲗⲇⲁ
delta/δέλτα(Greek)[d]
4
Transliteration: d
d- (used in proper names) (Old-Bohairic) d- Dan (S)
ex. Ⲇⲓⲛⲁ/ Dian
tj (Bohairic?)
t (Greek words)
dh- (soft th /ᵗʰ/) (Greco-Bohairic) th- this
Th (ð)- (every where else) th- then
ex. ⲇⲱⲣⲟⲛ/ thōron 'gift'
IPA: /d/; /tʲ/; /c/; [t] (Greek); [ð], [d] (GB)
Egyptian : d 𓂧?
Arabic : Dal d د , Thāl th ذ
E
Ⲉ, ⲉ
Ei/ Ⲉⲓ, Ey, Aia, Ai (original)/ Ⲉⲓⲉ
5
Transliteration: ə
a (Original) a-many
e or è (Greco-Bohairic) e- ten or ai - rain
ex. menre/ⲙⲉⲛⲣⲉ 'to love'
a (Old-Bohairic) a-many
IPA: [ɛ], [ə] (S)(B); [a] (LC); [e̞] (GB); /e/; /ʔ/; /i/
Egyptian : 𓇋 ?
Arabic : Alif ā/ا (Coptic manuscript) [ex. adā/ⲉ́ⲧⲉ] ; Soft Alif ī/ ى (Coptic manuscript) [ex. adā/ⲉ́ⲧⲉ]
; Aleph Hamza e ﺇ
Listen j (Palatal approximant)
Ⲉ, ⲉ
Ei/ Ⲉⲓ, Ey, Aia, Ai (original)/ Ⲉⲓⲉ
5
Transliteration: ə
a (Original) a-many
e or è (Greco-Bohairic) e- ten or ai - rain
ex. menre/ⲙⲉⲛⲣⲉ 'to love'
a (Old-Bohairic) a-many
IPA: [ɛ], [ə] (S)(B); [a] (LC); [e̞] (GB); /e/; /ʔ/; /i/
Egyptian : 𓇋 ?
Arabic : Alif ā/ا (Coptic manuscript) [ex. adā/ⲉ́ⲧⲉ] ; Soft Alif ī/ ى (Coptic manuscript) [ex. adā/ⲉ́ⲧⲉ]
; Aleph Hamza e ﺇ
Listen j (Palatal approximant)
EI
Ⲉⲓ
ei (at the beginning of a syllable)
y (as a consonant)
/e/ in let (S)
ⲉ͡ⲓ , ⲟ͡ⲩ,
y, i, ey ⲉ+ⲓ
IPA: [j] , [i] (S); Ï (end of words), /əj/ (B), [a] (LC)
Egyptian : A 𓄿 (Ꜣ), a 𓂝 (ꜥ) , i 𓇋 (ȧ) , y 𓇋𓇋
Ⲉⲓ
ei (at the beginning of a syllable)
y (as a consonant)
/e/ in let (S)
ⲉ͡ⲓ , ⲟ͡ⲩ,
y, i, ey ⲉ+ⲓ
IPA: [j] , [i] (S); Ï (end of words), /əj/ (B), [a] (LC)
Egyptian : A 𓄿 (Ꜣ), a 𓂝 (ꜥ) , i 𓇋 (ȧ) , y 𓇋𓇋
EU
Eu/ⲉⲩ
ev (Greco-Bohairic)
ew (Greco-Bohairic)
Eu/ⲉⲩ
ev (Greco-Bohairic)
ew (Greco-Bohairic)
Ē
Ⲏ, ⲏ
Hēta/ϩⲏⲧⲁ, Ēta/Ⲏⲧⲁ, Hīda
eta/ήτα (Greek) [ɛː] ē
8
Transliteration: aa , ê
Ī - (Original) (partly) a -man + ī, a (stressed)
e - (Bohairic)
ē - (Greco-Bohairic) e- jeep
ex. ϣⲏⲣⲓ/ shēr 'son'
a (if comes from Egyptian u/w) a- man
ā - (Old-Bohairic) ai - hair
é like in ate (Amentet Neferet)
/ā/ - (Sahidic) a- ate, ē
ⲏⲏ /eː/ (B, S, L, A)
IPA: /e:/; ʔ; ê ; [ē] (S)(B); /æ/, /i:/ ; [i] , [a] (LC); [iː] (GB)
Egyptian : y, ēē 𓇌 , ā 𓂝 ?
Arabic : Alef ā/ا (Coptic Manuscript) [ϧⲏⲧϥ/xādf]; Alef with Hamza ʔ/ أ
Ⲏ, ⲏ
Hēta/ϩⲏⲧⲁ, Ēta/Ⲏⲧⲁ, Hīda
eta/ήτα (Greek) [ɛː] ē
8
Transliteration: aa , ê
Ī - (Original) (partly) a -man + ī, a (stressed)
e - (Bohairic)
ē - (Greco-Bohairic) e- jeep
ex. ϣⲏⲣⲓ/ shēr 'son'
a (if comes from Egyptian u/w) a- man
ā - (Old-Bohairic) ai - hair
é like in ate (Amentet Neferet)
/ā/ - (Sahidic) a- ate, ē
ⲏⲏ /eː/ (B, S, L, A)
IPA: /e:/; ʔ; ê ; [ē] (S)(B); /æ/, /i:/ ; [i] , [a] (LC); [iː] (GB)
Egyptian : y, ēē 𓇌 , ā 𓂝 ?
Arabic : Alef ā/ا (Coptic Manuscript) [ϧⲏⲧϥ/xādf]; Alef with Hamza ʔ/ أ
F
Ϥ , ϥ
Fai/ ϥⲁⲓ , Fāi/ϥⲉⲓ
90
f- from
Transliteration: f
ex. ϥⲱⲥⲓ/ fōsi 'axe'
IPA: [f] (S)(B)(LC)(GB)
Egyptian: f 𓆑
Arabic : Fā f ف
Ϥ , ϥ
Fai/ ϥⲁⲓ , Fāi/ϥⲉⲓ
90
f- from
Transliteration: f
ex. ϥⲱⲥⲓ/ fōsi 'axe'
IPA: [f] (S)(B)(LC)(GB)
Egyptian: f 𓆑
Arabic : Fā f ف
Demotic
G
Ⲅ , ⲅ
Gamma/ Ⲅⲁⲙⲙⲁ
gamma/γάμμα (Green)
3
Transliteration: g, gh
g (Ⲅ followed by ⲉ, ⲓ , ⲏ, ⲩ) hard g - good
ex. ⲅⲉⲛⲟⲥ/ genos 'race, gender'
gh (Ⲅ followed by ⲁ, ⲟ, ⲱ or a consonant) (Greco-Bohairic)(Old-B) gh - ghost
ex. ⲁⲅⲟⲣⲁ/ aghora 'market'
n (ⲅ fallowed by ⲝ, ⲕ, ⲭ ) n, ŋ- no
ex. ⲁⲛⲁⲅⲕⲏ/ anangee 'need'
k (Greek words)
ng - (when doubled ⲄⲄ/gg ) (Greco-Bohairic) ng- angel
ex. ⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ/ angelos 'angel'
nj - (when doubled ⲄⲄ/gg ) (Old-Bohairic)
ex. ⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ/ anjelos 'angel'
dj - (Old-Bohairic) dj- fudge
k (ⲅ fallowed by ⲛ)?
(based on position in the word)
IPA: /g/; [k] (Greek words) (S); [ɣ, g, ŋ] (GB)
Egyptian: k 𓎡, ḳ 𓎼?
Arabic: g ج , gh غ , n ن
Ⲅ , ⲅ
Gamma/ Ⲅⲁⲙⲙⲁ
gamma/γάμμα (Green)
3
Transliteration: g, gh
g (Ⲅ followed by ⲉ, ⲓ , ⲏ, ⲩ) hard g - good
ex. ⲅⲉⲛⲟⲥ/ genos 'race, gender'
gh (Ⲅ followed by ⲁ, ⲟ, ⲱ or a consonant) (Greco-Bohairic)(Old-B) gh - ghost
ex. ⲁⲅⲟⲣⲁ/ aghora 'market'
n (ⲅ fallowed by ⲝ, ⲕ, ⲭ ) n, ŋ- no
ex. ⲁⲛⲁⲅⲕⲏ/ anangee 'need'
k (Greek words)
ng - (when doubled ⲄⲄ/gg ) (Greco-Bohairic) ng- angel
ex. ⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ/ angelos 'angel'
nj - (when doubled ⲄⲄ/gg ) (Old-Bohairic)
ex. ⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ/ anjelos 'angel'
dj - (Old-Bohairic) dj- fudge
k (ⲅ fallowed by ⲛ)?
(based on position in the word)
IPA: /g/; [k] (Greek words) (S); [ɣ, g, ŋ] (GB)
Egyptian: k 𓎡, ḳ 𓎼?
Arabic: g ج , gh غ , n ن
6
𐋦 , ⲋ
So / Ⲥⲟ
6
𐋦︦
so
ex. ⲥⲟⲟⲩ/ so-ou 'six'
6-ⲛdj
Greek : Ϛʹ
Transliteration: st
Egyptian : sis 𓐉
Arabic : Ṣād-waw so صـو
𐋦 , ⲋ
So / Ⲥⲟ
6
𐋦︦
so
ex. ⲥⲟⲟⲩ/ so-ou 'six'
6-ⲛdj
Greek : Ϛʹ
Transliteration: st
Egyptian : sis 𓐉
Arabic : Ṣād-waw so صـو
Z
Ⲍ , ⲍ
Zita, Zida/ Ⲍⲓⲧⲁ
zeta/ζήτα (Greek)[z]
7
z- zebra
ex. ⲍⲱⲟⲛ/ zōòn, zaw-on 'animal'
z (S, B)
s (in Greek words)
Transliteration: z
IPA: /z/; [s] (Greek words) (S); [z] (GB)
Egyptian : z 𓊃
Arabic : Zain z ز
Ⲍ , ⲍ
Zita, Zida/ Ⲍⲓⲧⲁ
zeta/ζήτα (Greek)[z]
7
z- zebra
ex. ⲍⲱⲟⲛ/ zōòn, zaw-on 'animal'
z (S, B)
s (in Greek words)
Transliteration: z
IPA: /z/; [s] (Greek words) (S); [z] (GB)
Egyptian : z 𓊃
Arabic : Zain z ز
Th
Ⲑ , ⲑ
Tʰēta/Ⲑⲏⲧⲁ Tʰita,Tʰita, Tʰida/ Ⲑⲓⲧⲁ, Tīda (orginal)
Theta/ θήτα(Greek) [tʰ]
9
t (Original) t-stop
t (strong t, comes after ϣ, ⲧ, ⲥ) (Old-Bohairic) t-stop
ex. ϣ⳰ⲑⲏⲛ/ eshtēn 'tunic'
t.h (S)
tʰ (t+h- ⲑⲉ/ tʰā) (Bohairic)(B)
t (Late Coptic)
tʰ (t+h/ tᵊh) (Sahidic) (S)
Transliteration: t
IPA: [t.h] (S); [tʰ] (B); [t] (LC); [θ] (GB); ť
Egyptian= t 𓏏 , X (th, tʰ) 𓄡 ?
Arabic : Tah tˤ/ ط (Coptic Manusript) ; Tā t/ ت (Coptic manuscript) (sometimes); Thā th ث , ?
Listen (Aspirated consonant)
Ⲑ , ⲑ
Tʰēta/Ⲑⲏⲧⲁ Tʰita,Tʰita, Tʰida/ Ⲑⲓⲧⲁ, Tīda (orginal)
Theta/ θήτα(Greek) [tʰ]
9
t (Original) t-stop
t (strong t, comes after ϣ, ⲧ, ⲥ) (Old-Bohairic) t-stop
ex. ϣ⳰ⲑⲏⲛ/ eshtēn 'tunic'
t.h (S)
tʰ (t+h- ⲑⲉ/ tʰā) (Bohairic)(B)
t (Late Coptic)
tʰ (t+h/ tᵊh) (Sahidic) (S)
Transliteration: t
IPA: [t.h] (S); [tʰ] (B); [t] (LC); [θ] (GB); ť
Egyptian= t 𓏏 , X (th, tʰ) 𓄡 ?
Arabic : Tah tˤ/ ط (Coptic Manusript) ; Tā t/ ت (Coptic manuscript) (sometimes); Thā th ث , ?
Listen (Aspirated consonant)
I
Ⲓ , ⲓ
Iōta,Yōta,Yōda (original)/ Ⲓⲱⲧⲁ, Iauda/Ⲓⲁⲩⲧⲁ
iota/ιώτα (Greek) [i], [iː]
10
Transliteration: i
y (original) ī (when stressed) short i (unstressed), y (as consonant)
y (if a vowel comes before or after or begging of words) y- yellow
ex. ⲓⲱⲧ/ yawt, yōt 'father'
i (everywhere else) (Old-Bohairic) i - in
ex. ⲣⲱⲙⲓ/ rōmi 'man'
/ea/ in sea, not fallowed by vowl /j/ in you (S)
(based on position in the word)
IPA: [i], [j] (S)(B)(LC); /i:/ ; [i], [j], [ɪ] (GB)
Egyptian = i, ē 𓇋, y, ēē 𓇋𓇋, A 𓄿
Arabic : Yā ī, j/ي (Coptic Manuscrit), Alef a/ا [ⲓ̇] (Coptic Manuscrit), Soft Alif ī/ ى (Coptic manuscript) [ex. adā/ⲉ́ⲧⲉ]
Ⲓ , ⲓ
Iōta,Yōta,Yōda (original)/ Ⲓⲱⲧⲁ, Iauda/Ⲓⲁⲩⲧⲁ
iota/ιώτα (Greek) [i], [iː]
10
Transliteration: i
y (original) ī (when stressed) short i (unstressed), y (as consonant)
y (if a vowel comes before or after or begging of words) y- yellow
ex. ⲓⲱⲧ/ yawt, yōt 'father'
i (everywhere else) (Old-Bohairic) i - in
ex. ⲣⲱⲙⲓ/ rōmi 'man'
/ea/ in sea, not fallowed by vowl /j/ in you (S)
(based on position in the word)
IPA: [i], [j] (S)(B)(LC); /i:/ ; [i], [j], [ɪ] (GB)
Egyptian = i, ē 𓇋, y, ēē 𓇋𓇋, A 𓄿
Arabic : Yā ī, j/ي (Coptic Manuscrit), Alef a/ا [ⲓ̇] (Coptic Manuscrit), Soft Alif ī/ ى (Coptic manuscript) [ex. adā/ⲉ́ⲧⲉ]
ⲒⲈ
IE
Arabic : Yā yā,ya/ي
IE
Arabic : Yā yā,ya/ي
K
Ⲕ , ⲕ
Kappa, Kabba (original) /Ⲕⲁⲡⲡⲁ
kappa/ κάππα (Greek) [k]
20
Transliteration: k
k- kind
ex. ⲕⲁϩⲓ/ kaḥi 'earth'
/k/ Enlish but with no asperation (S)
IPA: [k] (S)(B)(LC)(GB); /g/, k', /g̊/
Egyptian= k 𓎡, x 𓐍, q 𓏘, ḳ 𓎼
Arabic : Qāf q/ ق (Coptic Manuscript), Khā kh خ
Listen kʼ (Velar ejective plosive)
Ⲕ , ⲕ
Kappa, Kabba (original) /Ⲕⲁⲡⲡⲁ
kappa/ κάππα (Greek) [k]
20
Transliteration: k
k- kind
ex. ⲕⲁϩⲓ/ kaḥi 'earth'
/k/ Enlish but with no asperation (S)
IPA: [k] (S)(B)(LC)(GB); /g/, k', /g̊/
Egyptian= k 𓎡, x 𓐍, q 𓏘, ḳ 𓎼
Arabic : Qāf q/ ق (Coptic Manuscript), Khā kh خ
Listen kʼ (Velar ejective plosive)
Demotic
K
Ⲹ, ⲹ
Kapa /Ⲹⲁⲡⲁ
k- kind
(dialect P)
Egyptian : q 𓏘, k 𓎡, g 𓎼
Old Coptic : Kapa ⲹ
Ⲹ, ⲹ
Kapa /Ⲹⲁⲡⲁ
k- kind
(dialect P)
Egyptian : q 𓏘, k 𓎡, g 𓎼
Old Coptic : Kapa ⲹ
Demotic
L
Ⲗ , ⲗ
Lola, Laula/ Ⲗⲁⲩⲗⲁ
lamda/λάμδα, labda/λάβδα (Greek) [l]
30
l- love
ex. ⲗⲁⲗⲓ/ lali 'to sing'
Transliteration: l
IPA: [l] (S)(B)(LC)(GB)
Egyptian : rw > l 𓃭
Arabic : Lām l ل
Ⲗ , ⲗ
Lola, Laula/ Ⲗⲁⲩⲗⲁ
lamda/λάμδα, labda/λάβδα (Greek) [l]
30
l- love
ex. ⲗⲁⲗⲓ/ lali 'to sing'
Transliteration: l
IPA: [l] (S)(B)(LC)(GB)
Egyptian : rw > l 𓃭
Arabic : Lām l ل
M
Ⲙ , ⲙ
Mē/ Ⲙⲏ , Mī/ Ⲙⲓ (orginal)
mu/ μυ (Greek) [m]
40
m- most
ex. ⲙⲁⲩ/ mav 'mother'
Transliteration: m
IPA: [m] (S)(B)(LC)(GB)
Egyptian : m /𓅓 𓐝, late kingdom 𓄱, b/𓃀 (B)
Sometimes n 𓈖 becomes ⲙ
Arabic : Mīm m م
Ⲙ , ⲙ
Mē/ Ⲙⲏ , Mī/ Ⲙⲓ (orginal)
mu/ μυ (Greek) [m]
40
m- most
ex. ⲙⲁⲩ/ mav 'mother'
Transliteration: m
IPA: [m] (S)(B)(LC)(GB)
Egyptian : m /𓅓 𓐝, late kingdom 𓄱, b/𓃀 (B)
Sometimes n 𓈖 becomes ⲙ
Arabic : Mīm m م
N
Ⲛ , ⲛ
Ni/ Ⲛⲓ
nu/νυ (Greek) [n]
50
n- now
ex. ⲛⲟϥⲣⲓ/nofri 'good'
Transliteration: n
IPA: [n] (S)(B)(LC)(GB) ; ṉ̣
Egyptian : n 𓈖, 𓋔
Arabic : Nūn n ن
Ⲛ , ⲛ
Ni/ Ⲛⲓ
nu/νυ (Greek) [n]
50
n- now
ex. ⲛⲟϥⲣⲓ/nofri 'good'
Transliteration: n
IPA: [n] (S)(B)(LC)(GB) ; ṉ̣
Egyptian : n 𓈖, 𓋔
Arabic : Nūn n ن
Demotic
KS
Ⲝ , ⲝ
Ksi, Xi, Exi/ ⲝ, Ksī/ⲝⲓ (orginal)
xi/ξι (Greek) [ks]
60
Transliteration: ks
ks (original)
ex. ⲝⲉⲛⲟⲥ/ khsenos 'stranger'
ⲕ+ⲥ (ks- ⲝⲟⲩⲣ/ kᵉsur 'ring')
k+s like English x (S)
IPA: [ks], [ e̞ks] (GB) ; /ks/; x
Demotic :
Egyptian: X (kh, tʰ) 𓄡, x kh 𓐍
Arabic : Khā kh x خ , x kh اﻛس
O
Ⲟ, ⲟ
O/ Ⲟ
omicron/όμικρον (Greek) [o]
70
Transliteration: o
o or ò (short ō)- o-not (as in British)
o or Ɔ (Old-Bohairic) o-off , o-oat
ɔ (S, B)
/o/ like in log (S)
u (Late Coptic)
ex. ⲟⲛϧ/ onkh 'alive'
IPA: [ɔ] (S)(B); [u] (LC); [o̞, u] (GB) ; /o/, /ʔ/
Arabic : Waw ō,o/ﻭ (Ciptic manscript)[ⲙⲟϩ/moh][ⲟⲛ/ōn]
Ⲟ, ⲟ
O/ Ⲟ
omicron/όμικρον (Greek) [o]
70
Transliteration: o
o or ò (short ō)- o-not (as in British)
o or Ɔ (Old-Bohairic) o-off , o-oat
ɔ (S, B)
/o/ like in log (S)
u (Late Coptic)
ex. ⲟⲛϧ/ onkh 'alive'
IPA: [ɔ] (S)(B); [u] (LC); [o̞, u] (GB) ; /o/, /ʔ/
Arabic : Waw ō,o/ﻭ (Ciptic manscript)[ⲙⲟϩ/moh][ⲟⲛ/ōn]
P
Ⲡ , ⲡ
Pi , Bi (orginal)/ Ⲡⲓ
pi/πι (Greek) [p]
80
Transliteration: b
b (original) b-boat
p (Greco-Bohairic) p-panther
ex. ⲡ⳰ϣⲱⲓ/ epshōi 'sublimity'
b (Old-Bohairic) b-boat
p (S, B)
b (Late Coptic)
IPA: [p] (S)(B)(GB); [b] (LC); /b̥/ (pb, bp)
Egyptian= b 𓃀, p 𓊪
Arabic : Bā p ب (Coptic manuscript) [ⲡⲓ/bī]; p ݒ n?
Ⲡ , ⲡ
Pi , Bi (orginal)/ Ⲡⲓ
pi/πι (Greek) [p]
80
Transliteration: b
b (original) b-boat
p (Greco-Bohairic) p-panther
ex. ⲡ⳰ϣⲱⲓ/ epshōi 'sublimity'
b (Old-Bohairic) b-boat
p (S, B)
b (Late Coptic)
IPA: [p] (S)(B)(GB); [b] (LC); /b̥/ (pb, bp)
Egyptian= b 𓃀, p 𓊪
Arabic : Bā p ب (Coptic manuscript) [ⲡⲓ/bī]; p ݒ n?
R
Ⲣ , ⲣ
Ro/ Ⲣⲟ
rho, ρο (Greek) [r]
100
Transliteration: r
r-road
ex. ⲃⲉⲣⲓ/ veri 'new'
r (orginal)
/r/ rolled r (S)
IPA: [r] (S)(B)(LC); [ɾ] (GB)
Egyptian : r 𓂋?
Arabic : Rā r ر
Listen r (Alveolar trill)
Ⲣ , ⲣ
Ro/ Ⲣⲟ
rho, ρο (Greek) [r]
100
Transliteration: r
r-road
ex. ⲃⲉⲣⲓ/ veri 'new'
r (orginal)
/r/ rolled r (S)
IPA: [r] (S)(B)(LC); [ɾ] (GB)
Egyptian : r 𓂋?
Arabic : Rā r ر
Listen r (Alveolar trill)
S
Ⲥ , ⲥ
Sīma/ Ⲥⲓⲙⲁ
sigma/σίγμα (Greek) [s]
200
Transliteration: s
s- see (most words) (orginal)
ex. ⲥⲟⲛ/ son 'brother'
z- zoo (Greek origin words followed by ⲙ)
ex. ⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ/ kozmos 'world'
(based on position in the word)
IPA: [s] (S)(B)(LC)(GB)
Egyptian: s 𓋴, z 𓊃
Old Coptic : =
Arabic : Sīn s س, Zain z ﺯ , Sad s ص , Qāf q ق
Listen s (Voiceless alveolar sibilant)
Ⲥ , ⲥ
Sīma/ Ⲥⲓⲙⲁ
sigma/σίγμα (Greek) [s]
200
Transliteration: s
s- see (most words) (orginal)
ex. ⲥⲟⲛ/ son 'brother'
z- zoo (Greek origin words followed by ⲙ)
ex. ⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ/ kozmos 'world'
(based on position in the word)
IPA: [s] (S)(B)(LC)(GB)
Egyptian: s 𓋴, z 𓊃
Old Coptic : =
Arabic : Sīn s س, Zain z ﺯ , Sad s ص , Qāf q ق
Listen s (Voiceless alveolar sibilant)
T
Ⲧ, ⲧ
Tav, Dau (original) /Ⲧⲁⲩ
tau/ταυ (Greek) [t]
300
Transliteration: d, t
d- (orginal, mostly everywhere except at the end) d-do
t- (everywhere else, esp at the end of a word) t-time
ex. ⲧⲏⲃ /tēb 'finger'
d- (after n/Ⲛ) (Old-Bohairic) d-do
ex. ⲡⲁⲛⲧⲁ/ panda 'everything'
/t/ as in English with out asperation (S)
'th' when preceded by m, n, l, r, b, j, w ?
IPA: [t] (S)(B); [d], [t] Final (LC); [t] (GB); /d̥/ (td)
Egyptian : d 𓂧; t 𓏏, T tj 𓍿, D dj𓆓
Arabic : Dal d/ د (Coptic Manusript); Tah tˤ/ ط (Coptic Manusript)(sometimes); Tā t ت,
Listen tʼ (Alveolar ejective plosivea)
Ⲧ, ⲧ
Tav, Dau (original) /Ⲧⲁⲩ
tau/ταυ (Greek) [t]
300
Transliteration: d, t
d- (orginal, mostly everywhere except at the end) d-do
t- (everywhere else, esp at the end of a word) t-time
ex. ⲧⲏⲃ /tēb 'finger'
d- (after n/Ⲛ) (Old-Bohairic) d-do
ex. ⲡⲁⲛⲧⲁ/ panda 'everything'
/t/ as in English with out asperation (S)
'th' when preceded by m, n, l, r, b, j, w ?
IPA: [t] (S)(B); [d], [t] Final (LC); [t] (GB); /d̥/ (td)
Egyptian : d 𓂧; t 𓏏, T tj 𓍿, D dj𓆓
Arabic : Dal d/ د (Coptic Manusript); Tah tˤ/ ط (Coptic Manusript)(sometimes); Tā t ت,
Listen tʼ (Alveolar ejective plosivea)
U
Ⲩ , ⲩ
Ue/ Ⲩⲉ, We, he/ ϩⲩ (orginal)
upsilon/ ύψιλον (Greek) [y], [y:]
400
Transliteration: u
i- (when surrounded by consonants) (orginal) i-pin
i- (when combined with vowels) (orginal) u
i- (when surrounded by consonants)(Old-Bohairic) i-pin
ex. Ⲅⲩⲡⲧⲓⲟⲥ/ giptios 'Egypt'
(ⲩ⳰) ey
v- (when Ⲩ comes after Ⲁ or Ⲉ) v- vase
ex. ⲙⲁⲩ/mav 'mother'
u, w (S, B)
w- (when surrounded by vowels)(Old-Bohairic) w-we
ex. ⲟⲩⲓ⳰/oowi 'one'
ou-ⲟⲩ ou-soup
(based on position in the word)
IPA: [w] (S)(B)(LC); [i], [w], [v], [u] (GB); /u/; /u:/; ü
Egyptian : w 𓅱? y 𓇌 ?
Arabic : Fā v ف, Wāw ō و, Alif Maqṣūrah (yā) y ى , y / ī (Yāʾ) ي
Ⲩ , ⲩ
Ue/ Ⲩⲉ, We, he/ ϩⲩ (orginal)
upsilon/ ύψιλον (Greek) [y], [y:]
400
Transliteration: u
i- (when surrounded by consonants) (orginal) i-pin
i- (when combined with vowels) (orginal) u
i- (when surrounded by consonants)(Old-Bohairic) i-pin
ex. Ⲅⲩⲡⲧⲓⲟⲥ/ giptios 'Egypt'
(ⲩ⳰) ey
v- (when Ⲩ comes after Ⲁ or Ⲉ) v- vase
ex. ⲙⲁⲩ/mav 'mother'
u, w (S, B)
w- (when surrounded by vowels)(Old-Bohairic) w-we
ex. ⲟⲩⲓ⳰/oowi 'one'
ou-ⲟⲩ ou-soup
(based on position in the word)
IPA: [w] (S)(B)(LC); [i], [w], [v], [u] (GB); /u/; /u:/; ü
Egyptian : w 𓅱? y 𓇌 ?
Arabic : Fā v ف, Wāw ō و, Alif Maqṣūrah (yā) y ى , y / ī (Yāʾ) ي
Au
au/ⲁⲩ
u (in combination with vowels)
ow- cow ?
v- very
IPA : av, aw (Greco-Bohairic)
au/ⲁⲩ
u (in combination with vowels)
ow- cow ?
v- very
IPA : av, aw (Greco-Bohairic)
OU
ou/ⲟⲩ
ou (Greco-Bohairic) ou-soup
oo (Greco-Bohairic and Old-Bohairic) oo-book
ⲁⲗⲟⲩ/ aloo 'maiden'
aw (aw before a vowel) (Old-Bohairic) w-were
w (consonant)
ⲟⲩⲏⲣ/ wair (pronounced where) 'great'
IPA: u, w
Egyptian = Aw/iw became ou, 𓅱, rarely 𓃀, 𓊪
Arabic: او (Coptic Manuscript) [ⲟⲩⲇⲉ/ouda]
Listen ou (Voiced labio-velar approximant)
ou/ⲟⲩ
ou (Greco-Bohairic) ou-soup
oo (Greco-Bohairic and Old-Bohairic) oo-book
ⲁⲗⲟⲩ/ aloo 'maiden'
aw (aw before a vowel) (Old-Bohairic) w-were
w (consonant)
ⲟⲩⲏⲣ/ wair (pronounced where) 'great'
IPA: u, w
Egyptian = Aw/iw became ou, 𓅱, rarely 𓃀, 𓊪
Arabic: او (Coptic Manuscript) [ⲟⲩⲇⲉ/ouda]
Listen ou (Voiced labio-velar approximant)
PH
Ⲫ , ⲫ
Phe/ ⲫⲉ, Phī/ ⲫⲓ
phi/φι (Greek) [pʰ]
500
Transliteration: f , b
b (original) (Coptic words) f (Greek words)
pʰ, ph (Greco-Bohairic) p- pin (with p+h), ph-phantom
ex. Ⲫⲟⲟⲩ/phòou 'today'
b (Old-Bohairic) b-book
f (Greco-Bohairic) f-favorite
IPA: [p.h] (S); [pʰ] (B); [b~f] (LC); [f] (GB)
Bohairic pʰ
Egyptian : p, pʰ 𓊪
Arabic : Fā f, ph ف
Listen (Aspirated consonant)
Ⲫ , ⲫ
Phe/ ⲫⲉ, Phī/ ⲫⲓ
phi/φι (Greek) [pʰ]
500
Transliteration: f , b
b (original) (Coptic words) f (Greek words)
pʰ, ph (Greco-Bohairic) p- pin (with p+h), ph-phantom
ex. Ⲫⲟⲟⲩ/phòou 'today'
b (Old-Bohairic) b-book
f (Greco-Bohairic) f-favorite
IPA: [p.h] (S); [pʰ] (B); [b~f] (LC); [f] (GB)
Bohairic pʰ
Egyptian : p, pʰ 𓊪
Arabic : Fā f, ph ف
Listen (Aspirated consonant)
KH
Ⲭ , ⲭ
Khi/ⲭⲓ
chi/χι (Greek) [kʰ]
600
Transliteration: kh
k- (in Coptic words) (original)
š - (in Greek words) like German ich (before e, i) (original)
ḫ - (in Greek words) like German buch (before a, o, ou) (original)
k - (in Greek words) (between vowls) (original)
kʰ, kh- (normally in Coptic) k-Kim
ex. Ⲭⲏⲙⲓ/ kheemi 'Egypt'
sh- (Greek words when before ⲉ, ⲏ, ⲓ, ⲩ) ch- ich (German)
ex. ⲓⲥⲭⲩⲣⲟⲥ/ ishiros 'strong'
kh- (Greek words when followed by ⲁ, ⲟ, ⲱ, ⲟⲩ) kh- Khnum
ex. ⲭⲱⲣⲁ/khawra 'religion'
ⲕ+ϩ (k+h ⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥ/ kᵉ ha ris 'grace') ?
k.h (S)
kʰ (B)
k (Late Coptic)
(based on position in the word)
IPA: [k.h] (S) ; [kʰ] (B); [k] (LC) ; [k, x, ç] (GB)
Bohairic kʰ
Egyptian : x/kh 𓐍, q 𓏘
Arabic : Khā kh خ, Kāf q ق , k ك, Shīn sh ش
Greek: Chi/ χι kʰ/Χ
Listen (Aspirated consonant)
Ⲭ , ⲭ
Khi/ⲭⲓ
chi/χι (Greek) [kʰ]
600
Transliteration: kh
k- (in Coptic words) (original)
š - (in Greek words) like German ich (before e, i) (original)
ḫ - (in Greek words) like German buch (before a, o, ou) (original)
k - (in Greek words) (between vowls) (original)
kʰ, kh- (normally in Coptic) k-Kim
ex. Ⲭⲏⲙⲓ/ kheemi 'Egypt'
sh- (Greek words when before ⲉ, ⲏ, ⲓ, ⲩ) ch- ich (German)
ex. ⲓⲥⲭⲩⲣⲟⲥ/ ishiros 'strong'
kh- (Greek words when followed by ⲁ, ⲟ, ⲱ, ⲟⲩ) kh- Khnum
ex. ⲭⲱⲣⲁ/khawra 'religion'
ⲕ+ϩ (k+h ⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥ/ kᵉ ha ris 'grace') ?
k.h (S)
kʰ (B)
k (Late Coptic)
(based on position in the word)
IPA: [k.h] (S) ; [kʰ] (B); [k] (LC) ; [k, x, ç] (GB)
Bohairic kʰ
Egyptian : x/kh 𓐍, q 𓏘
Arabic : Khā kh خ, Kāf q ق , k ك, Shīn sh ش
Greek: Chi/ χι kʰ/Χ
Listen (Aspirated consonant)
Kh
Ⳉ, ⳉ
Khei/ Ⳉⲉⲓ
khē - key
gh, ẍ, ġ, ğ
IPA: x
Akhmimic : ẖ, /x/, kha
Egyptian : x 𓐍
Arabic : Khā kh خ
Listen x (Voiceless velar fricative)
Ⳉ, ⳉ
Khei/ Ⳉⲉⲓ
khē - key
gh, ẍ, ġ, ğ
IPA: x
Akhmimic : ẖ, /x/, kha
Egyptian : x 𓐍
Arabic : Khā kh خ
Listen x (Voiceless velar fricative)
Ps
Ⲯ, ⲯ
Epsi,Psi/ ⲯⲓ
psi/ψι (Greek) [ps]
700
Transliteration: ps
ps ⲡ+ⲥ (eps, ps, both p and s pronounced) ps- pepsi
ex. ⲯⲩⲭⲟⲥ/ psikhos 'cold'
IPA: [ps] , [e̞ps] (GB)
Egyptian: -
Arabic : - ps ݒس
Ⲯ, ⲯ
Epsi,Psi/ ⲯⲓ
psi/ψι (Greek) [ps]
700
Transliteration: ps
ps ⲡ+ⲥ (eps, ps, both p and s pronounced) ps- pepsi
ex. ⲯⲩⲭⲟⲥ/ psikhos 'cold'
IPA: [ps] , [e̞ps] (GB)
Egyptian: -
Arabic : - ps ݒس
Ō
Ⲱ, ⲱ
O/ ⲱ , au/ⲁⲩ
omega/ωμέγα (Greek) [ɔː]
800
Transliteration: ô
ō, ó, ô (long ō) - long
ex. ⲱϣ / awsh, ōsh 'to read'
ō (S , B)
oa (Old-Bohairic) oa-boat
u (Late Coptic)
IPA: [o] (S)(B) ; [u] (LC) ; [o̞ː] (GB) ; /o:/; /u:/; /ʔ/
Egyptian : wA> ō 𓍯
Arabic: Wāw ō, o/ و (Coptic manuscript) [ⲣⲱⲕϩ/rōkh]
Ⲱ, ⲱ
O/ ⲱ , au/ⲁⲩ
omega/ωμέγα (Greek) [ɔː]
800
Transliteration: ô
ō, ó, ô (long ō) - long
ex. ⲱϣ / awsh, ōsh 'to read'
ō (S , B)
oa (Old-Bohairic) oa-boat
u (Late Coptic)
IPA: [o] (S)(B) ; [u] (LC) ; [o̞ː] (GB) ; /o:/; /u:/; /ʔ/
Egyptian : wA> ō 𓍯
Arabic: Wāw ō, o/ و (Coptic manuscript) [ⲣⲱⲕϩ/rōkh]
SH
Ϣ, ϣ
Shai/ ϣⲁⲓ, Shāi /ϣⲉⲓ (orginal)
Transliteration: š
sh- shake
ex. ϣⲁⲓ/ shai 'feast'
IPA: [ʃ] (S)(B)(LC)(GB)
Egyptian : SA sha 𓆷, S sh 𓈙, x kh 𓐍
Old Coptic : ⳅ shei /ʃ/
Arabic : Shīn sh ش
Listen ʃ (Voiceless palato-alveolar sibilant)
Ϣ, ϣ
Shai/ ϣⲁⲓ, Shāi /ϣⲉⲓ (orginal)
Transliteration: š
sh- shake
ex. ϣⲁⲓ/ shai 'feast'
IPA: [ʃ] (S)(B)(LC)(GB)
Egyptian : SA sha 𓆷, S sh 𓈙, x kh 𓐍
Old Coptic : ⳅ shei /ʃ/
Arabic : Shīn sh ش
Listen ʃ (Voiceless palato-alveolar sibilant)
Demotic
KH
Ϧ, ϧ
Khai/ ϧⲁⲓ , Khāi/ ϧⲉⲓ
Transliteration: x
ḫ (original) (Spanish hijo h-hoe, Arabic tarikh, German Buch)
ch (hard ch like German and Scotch) (B only)
kh, ḫ (x)- as in German Achtung (harder throaty sound), Spanish hijo
ex. ϧⲁϧ/ khakh 'neck'
IPA: [x] (B)(LC)(GB)
Bohairic : /x/
Egyptian= xA/kha 𓆼 (B), X /tʰ, kh 𓄡, x/kh 𓐍
Arabic: Ḫā (throaty kh, like spitting almost) ﺥ
Listen x (Voiceless velar fricative)
Ϧ, ϧ
Khai/ ϧⲁⲓ , Khāi/ ϧⲉⲓ
Transliteration: x
ḫ (original) (Spanish hijo h-hoe, Arabic tarikh, German Buch)
ch (hard ch like German and Scotch) (B only)
kh, ḫ (x)- as in German Achtung (harder throaty sound), Spanish hijo
ex. ϧⲁϧ/ khakh 'neck'
IPA: [x] (B)(LC)(GB)
Bohairic : /x/
Egyptian= xA/kha 𓆼 (B), X /tʰ, kh 𓄡, x/kh 𓐍
Arabic: Ḫā (throaty kh, like spitting almost) ﺥ
Listen x (Voiceless velar fricative)
Demotic
Ḥ
Ϩ, ϩ
Ḥori/ ϩⲟⲣⲓ
Transliteration: h
h, ḥ (original) h- Horus
ḥ (Heavy back of throat H, like Arabic Ḥā)
h (mostly translated as h - how)
ẖ (Sahidic)
ex. ϩⲏⲧ/ hēt 'heart'
IPA: [h] (S)(B)(LC)(GB); ḥ - /ħ/
Egyptian: H/ḥ 𓎛 , h/h 𓉔, x/kh 𓐍, X (tʰ, kh) 𓄡
Hw/ḥu, bH/bḥ, biA/bia 𓄑𓏛 , Hw/ ḥw, Hi/ḥi 𓇉
Old Coptic : hori ⳍ /ħ/
Arabic: Ḥā ḥ/ ح /ħ/ (Coptic Manuscript); ʕ/ع ء+ϩ [ʔ]; Hāh h ﮬ
Listen ħ (Voiceless pharyngeal fricative)
Ϩ, ϩ
Ḥori/ ϩⲟⲣⲓ
Transliteration: h
h, ḥ (original) h- Horus
ḥ (Heavy back of throat H, like Arabic Ḥā)
h (mostly translated as h - how)
ẖ (Sahidic)
ex. ϩⲏⲧ/ hēt 'heart'
IPA: [h] (S)(B)(LC)(GB); ḥ - /ħ/
Egyptian: H/ḥ 𓎛 , h/h 𓉔, x/kh 𓐍, X (tʰ, kh) 𓄡
Hw/ḥu, bH/bḥ, biA/bia 𓄑𓏛 , Hw/ ḥw, Hi/ḥi 𓇉
Old Coptic : hori ⳍ /ħ/
Arabic: Ḥā ḥ/ ح /ħ/ (Coptic Manuscript); ʕ/ع ء+ϩ [ʔ]; Hāh h ﮬ
Listen ħ (Voiceless pharyngeal fricative)
Demotic
hat ⳕ /ħ/
Egyptian: H/ḥ 𓎛
Egyptian: H/ḥ 𓎛
Ⳋ, ⳋ
Hori/ ϩⲟⲣⲓ
(dialect P)
ḫ
š
IPA : [xʲ][ç]
Egyptian: x/kh 𓐍
Hori/ ϩⲟⲣⲓ
(dialect P)
ḫ
š
IPA : [xʲ][ç]
Egyptian: x/kh 𓐍
Demotic
ⳃ
Shei
IPA : [xʲ][ç]
Shei
IPA : [xʲ][ç]
TSH, CH
Ϭ, ϭ
Cheema, Šima, Tšīma (orginal)/ ϭⲓⲙⲁ (B), Tshima (Modern)
Transliteration: c
tš ch-church (original)
cʰ - ϭⲣⲟⲙⲡⲓ/ cʰrompi (B) kʲ , kⁱ - key; t͡ʃʰ tch (B)
kʲ - ϭⲣⲟⲟⲙⲡⲉ/ kᴶroompā 'dove' (S) sh-shoe
tš ch - church
š, ʃ /sh (B), (Late Coptic)
IPA: [kʲ] , ç (S); [cʰ] (B); [ʃ] (LC); /tʃ/, [e̞tʃ] ; t͡ʃʰ ; (GB); č,
all other dialects : /kᴶ/
Greco-Bohairic - tʃ, e̞tʃ
Egyptian: k 𓎡, q 𓏘, g 𓎼, T/tj 𓍿
Old Coptic: Shima ⳛ /c/
Arabic : - Shīn sh/ ﺶ (Coptic Manuscript), ch/ ﺗﺶ (modern)
German: sch
Ϭ, ϭ
Cheema, Šima, Tšīma (orginal)/ ϭⲓⲙⲁ (B), Tshima (Modern)
Transliteration: c
tš ch-church (original)
cʰ - ϭⲣⲟⲙⲡⲓ/ cʰrompi (B) kʲ , kⁱ - key; t͡ʃʰ tch (B)
kʲ - ϭⲣⲟⲟⲙⲡⲉ/ kᴶroompā 'dove' (S) sh-shoe
tš ch - church
š, ʃ /sh (B), (Late Coptic)
IPA: [kʲ] , ç (S); [cʰ] (B); [ʃ] (LC); /tʃ/, [e̞tʃ] ; t͡ʃʰ ; (GB); č,
all other dialects : /kᴶ/
Greco-Bohairic - tʃ, e̞tʃ
Egyptian: k 𓎡, q 𓏘, g 𓎼, T/tj 𓍿
Old Coptic: Shima ⳛ /c/
Arabic : - Shīn sh/ ﺶ (Coptic Manuscript), ch/ ﺗﺶ (modern)
German: sch
Demotic
DJ
Ϫ, ϫ
Djendja, Ǧenǧa/ ϫⲉⲛϫⲁ, Janja/ϫⲁⲛϫⲁ
Transliteration: j
j (when it is fallowed by ⲉ,ⲓ,ⲏ) j - Judge
ex. ϫⲏⲕ/ jeek 'perfect'
dj (Old-Bohairic) g-age
g (all other words?) g- go
ex. ϫⲁⲙⲏ/ gamē 'calm'
tʲ (S)
c (B)
ɟ (Late Coptic)
IPA: [tʲ] (S) ; [c] Voiceless palatal stop, [č], [j] (B) ; [ɟ] (LC) ; [g] , [ʤ] (GB);
j, dzh, /č/, /c̥/
Egyptian : DA/ dja 𓍑 , D/ dj 𓆓, g 𓎼, q 𓏘, T/tj 𓍿, k 𓎡
Arabic : Jīm j/ غ (Coptic Manuscript); Jīm d͡ʒ/g(hard)/ ج (Coptic Manuscript); Hah w/ three dots j ݘ
Listen cʼ (Palatal ejective)
Ϫ, ϫ
Djendja, Ǧenǧa/ ϫⲉⲛϫⲁ, Janja/ϫⲁⲛϫⲁ
Transliteration: j
j (when it is fallowed by ⲉ,ⲓ,ⲏ) j - Judge
ex. ϫⲏⲕ/ jeek 'perfect'
dj (Old-Bohairic) g-age
g (all other words?) g- go
ex. ϫⲁⲙⲏ/ gamē 'calm'
tʲ (S)
c (B)
ɟ (Late Coptic)
IPA: [tʲ] (S) ; [c] Voiceless palatal stop, [č], [j] (B) ; [ɟ] (LC) ; [g] , [ʤ] (GB);
j, dzh, /č/, /c̥/
Egyptian : DA/ dja 𓍑 , D/ dj 𓆓, g 𓎼, q 𓏘, T/tj 𓍿, k 𓎡
Arabic : Jīm j/ غ (Coptic Manuscript); Jīm d͡ʒ/g(hard)/ ج (Coptic Manuscript); Hah w/ three dots j ݘ
Listen cʼ (Palatal ejective)
Demotic
TI
Ϯ, ϯ
Di/Ϯ (OC, B),Dei, Ti/Ϯ (modern)
Transliteration: di
ti /ⲧ+ⲓ (ti- party)
ex. ϯⲙⲓ/ timi 'village'
di (ready) (B) dīj , diy
ti except when preceded by n/ⲛ then di (Greek and beginning of reform)
dah- raḳōdah/ⲣⲁⲕⲟϯ<𓂋𓂝𓐪𓂧𓇋𓇋𓏏𓊖 /radyt/ 'Alexandria' (LE)
IPA: [di] (S); [də] ? (B); [di] (GB) ;/ti/
Egyptian: di > ti 𓂞𓏏
Arabic: - di دى , ti ﰏ
Ϯ, ϯ
Di/Ϯ (OC, B),Dei, Ti/Ϯ (modern)
Transliteration: di
ti /ⲧ+ⲓ (ti- party)
ex. ϯⲙⲓ/ timi 'village'
di (ready) (B) dīj , diy
ti except when preceded by n/ⲛ then di (Greek and beginning of reform)
dah- raḳōdah/ⲣⲁⲕⲟϯ<𓂋𓂝𓐪𓂧𓇋𓇋𓏏𓊖 /radyt/ 'Alexandria' (LE)
IPA: [di] (S); [də] ? (B); [di] (GB) ;/ti/
Egyptian: di > ti 𓂞𓏏
Arabic: - di دى , ti ﰏ
Demotic
ref.
http://www.stshenouda.org/coptlang/coptalfa.htm, Coptic in 20 Lessons Introduction to Sahidic Coptic by Bentley Layton, http://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Bohairic&item_type=topic, https://www.facebook.com/coptic4all , https://incubator.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wp/cop#Coptic_alphabet_and_its_pronunciation
