The Coptic Alphabet

Sahidic Coptic is written in the Greek alphabet augmented by six letters borrowed from Demotic script, the last stage of Egyptian hieroglyphic writing. The letters of the full alphabet, together with their conventional transcription, are as follows:

The following paragraphs deal with the Coptic, not the Greek, pronunciation of this alphabet.

Spelling and Pronunciation⬆

a. The Consonants

ⲃ was apparently pronounced like English v in voice, but it is generally read simply as b in back.

ⲅ occurs only as a positional variant of ⲕ in a very small set of forms. Pronounced like the g of good.

ⲇ and ⲍ do not normally occur in standard Sahidic spelling. ⲍ may occur for ⲥ in a few words, e.g. ⲁⲛⲍⲏⲃⲉ for ⲁⲛⲥⲏⲃⲉ school. Pronounced d as in dog and z as in zoo respectively.

ⲫ, ⲑ, and ⲭ occur in Sahidic Coptic words only as combinations of two consonants: ⲡ + ϩ, ⲧ + ϩ, and ⲕ + ϩ respectively. ⲑ is fairly frequent, e.g. ⲡⲉⲑⲟⲟⲩ evil, for ⲡⲉⲧ ϩⲟⲟⲩ. ⲫ and ⲭ are rare and need not be used at all. The Copts seem to have used this same pronunciation for these letters in Greek words, contrary to the ordinary Greek pronunciation of ⲫ as f, ⲑ as th (thin), and ⲭ as ch (German ich, ach).

ⲕ, ⲡ, and ⲧ were like English k, p, t, but without aspiration. Thus, they were more like the k, p, t of skin, spin, stop than the aspirated sounds of kin, pin, top.

ⲗ, ⲙ, and ⲛ were probably the same as English l, m, and n.

ⲝ is simply a combination of ⲕ + ⲥ, rarely used. E.g. ⲝⲟⲩⲣ ring.

ⲣ is conventionally pronounced like English r in road. Its actual pronunciation is unknown.

ⲥ was like English s in see.

ⲯ is simply ⲡ + ⲥ, rarely used. E.g. ⲯⲓⲧⲉ nine (psite).

ϣ was the sh of shall.

ϥ was the f of foot.

ϩ was probably like English h in hope.

ϫ is conventionally pronounced like the j of judge. Its actual pronunciation was probably closer to that of the [tʸ] of tune.¹

ϭ, conventionally like the ch of church, was probably closer to the [kʸ] of cue, cute.

ϯ is merely a graphic symbol for ⲧ + ⲓ, but it was the normal way to spell this sequence of sounds. E.g. ϯⲙⲉ village (time).

¹ Brackets are used to indicate phonetic pronunciation in standard phonetic symbols. Do not confuse these with the conventional transcriptions.

b. The simple vowels

ⲁ like the a of father. E.g. ⲁϥ [af] meat.

ⲉ like the e of let. E.g. ϩⲉⲛ [hɛn] some.

ⲏ probably like the a of hate. E.g. ⲙⲏⲧ [met] ten.

ⲓ like the i of machine. This vowel is always spelled ⲉⲓ in initial positions: ⲉⲓⲛⲉ [íne] to bring, ⲉⲓⲥ [is] behold. Internally and finally the spelling alternates between ⲓ and ⲉⲓ, but ⲓ is preferred.

ⲟ like the o of log, fog, dog, off, on. E.g. ⲧⲟⲡ [tɔp] edge.

ⲩ does not appear as a simple vowel in Coptic words.

ⲟⲩ is the normal writing of the vowel [u], the oo of food. E.g. ⲛⲟⲩⲃ noub [nub] gold.

ⲱ like the o of hope. E.g. ϩⲱⲡ [hop] to hide.

c. Semivowels and diphthongs

The consonants y and w of English yet and wet are often referred to as semivowels because they are the same sounds as the vowels [i] and [u] of beet and boot very briefly articulated. The Coptic vowels ⲉⲓ (ⲓ) and ⲟⲩ may function as consonants in the same way. E.g. ⲉⲓⲱⲧ [yot] father, ⲟⲩⲟⲡ [wɔp] to become pure.

The semivowels ⲉⲓ (ⲓ) and ⲟⲩ combine with a preceding simple vowel to form various diphthongs. Many of the diphthongs have more than one spelling; the reader should follow the spelling used in the Lessons. The diphthongs should be pronounced carefully, with the value of the single vowel as given above plus a final y or w as the case may be.

ⲁⲓ, ⲁⲉⲓ as in ⲥⲁⲉⲓⲛ [sayn] physician, ⲁⲓⲡⲱⲧ [aypót] I ran.

ⲁⲩ (rarely ⲁⲟⲩ) as in ⲛⲁⲩ [naw] to see, ⲁⲩⲡⲱⲧ [awpót] they ran.

ⲉⲓ (less commonly ⲉⲉⲓ) as in ⲡⲉⲓⲣⲱⲙⲉ [pɛyrómɛ] this man. Although a knowledge of the grammar is necessary for making the correct distinction between ⲉⲓ = [i] and ⲉⲓ = [ɛy], the problem is not a serious one: in normal Sahidic spelling ⲉⲓ has the value ⲉ + ⲓ (1) in the demonstrative adjectives ⲡⲉⲓ- ⲧⲉⲓ- ⲛⲉⲓ- (Lesson 5), (2) in the first person verbal prefixes of the forms ⲉⲓ-, ⲛⲉⲓ-, ⲙⲉⲓ- (Lesson 21 and following), and in a few isolated words like ⲉⲓⲉ [ɛyɛ] (Lesson 29).

ⲉⲩ (rarely ⲉⲟⲩ), as in ⲉⲩϣⲁϫⲉ [ɛwšátʸɛ] while they were talking.

ⲏⲓ as in ⲡⲏⲓ [pey] the house.

ⲏⲩ (less commonly ⲏⲟⲩ) as in ⲧⲏⲩ [tew] wind.

ⲓⲉⲓ, ⲉⲓⲉⲓ is very rare and is [yi] not [iy], e.g. ϩⲓⲉⲓⲃ [hyib] lamb.

ⲓⲟⲩ is rare, e.g. ⲥⲓⲟⲩ [siw] star.

ⲟⲉⲓ, ⲟⲓ as in ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ [wɔyn] light.

ⲟⲟⲩ as in ⲙⲟⲟⲩ [mɔw] water, ⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ [mɔwt] dead.

ⲱⲓ as in ⲉϫⲱⲓ [ɛtʸóy] on me; rare except in final position.

ⲱⲟⲩ as in ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ [town] to stand up, ⲉϫⲱⲟⲩ [ɛtʸów] on them.

ⲟⲩⲓ (rare) as in ⲛⲟⲩⲓ [nuy] mine; also possibly as [wi] in some words, e.g. ⲕⲟⲩⲓ [kwi] small.

ⲟⲩⲟⲩ (rare) as in ⲙⲟⲩⲟⲩⲧ [muwt] to kill, ⲛⲟⲩⲟⲩ [nuw] theirs.

Double Vowels⬆

The double writing of any of the simple vowels is generally understood to be an indication of the presence of a glottal stop, i.e. the complete but very brief stoppage of airflow in the glottis, conventionally indicated by ʾ in transcription. Thus ⲙⲁⲁⲃ máʾăb thirty, ⲥⲉⲉⲡⲉ séʾĕpe remainder, ϣⲟⲟⲡ šóʾŏp to be. The stress is on the first vowel; the vowel after the glottal stop was probably of very brief duration.

Vowel doubling occurs in diphthongs as well, e.g. ⲙⲁⲁⲩ máʾăw mother, ⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ méʾĕwe to think. There is no sure way of knowing whether ⲟⲟⲩ indicates [ɔw] or [ɔ́ʾɔ̆w].

Syllabification and the Supralinear Stroke⬆

One of the most distinctive features of Sahidic spelling is the short stroke placed over certain consonants or groups of consonants. This supralinear stroke, as it is called, indicates a syllable, but there is some disagreement among Coptic scholars on how this syllabification actually sounded in the spoken language. When the stroke is used over a voiced consonant such as ⲛ, it probably meant that the consonant is functioning as the vowel, i.e. the most sonorous part, of the syllable in question, exactly like the final n of English button and sudden, phonetically [-tn̥] and [-dn̥]. Thus, ϣⲛ̅ⲧ (to seek me) was pronounced [šn̥t] and ⲛ̅ⲧ (to bring me) as [n̥t]. The voiced consonants capable of having this syllabic pronunciation are ⲃ, ⲗ, ⲙ, ⲛ, and ⲣ, known mnemonically as the blemner consonants. Note that they are all voiced continuants, i.e. consonants whose voiced duration may be prolonged at will (remember that ⲃ is v, not b). E.g.

ⲧⲛ̅ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ (we hear) [tn̥sótm̥]
ϣⲧⲟⲣⲧⲣ̅ (to disturb) [štɔ́rtr̥]
ⲧⲃ̅ⲧ (fish) [tv̥t]
ⲕⲣⲙ̅ⲣⲙ̅ (to mutter) [krḿ̥rm̥]

The stroke over the remaining consonants may be pronounced as a brief ⲉ or as ə (the first vowel of English above) before the consonant over which the stroke is placed, e.g. ⲥⲡ̅ⲥⲱⲡϥ̅ [səpsópəf] to entreat him. This pronunciation may also be used with the blemner consonants for the sake of convenience.

In non-standard texts, of which there are many, the vowel ⲉ is often written instead of using the stroke (and vice versa), but most frequently in proclitic elements and initial clusters, e.g. ⲥⲉⲡⲥⲱⲡϥ̅ = ⲥⲡ̅ⲥⲱⲡϥ̅, ϩⲉⲙ ⲡⲏⲓ = ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲏⲓ. In standard spelling ⲉ is used regularly instead of the stroke only when the consonant preceding the consonant that would have had the stroke is a blemner; thus ⲙⲟⲕⲙⲉⲕ and ⲛⲟϭⲛⲉϭ are words of the same pattern as ⲥⲟⲡⲥⲡ̅ and ⲥⲟⲗⲥⲗ̅. This convention may have been adopted to prevent incorrect syllabification: ⲙⲟⲕⲙⲕ could be read as [mɔ́km̥k] or [mɔ́kmək]. The chief exceptions are indeed words where a different syllabification is required: ϣⲟⲙⲛ̅ⲧ [šɔ́mn̥t] three, ⲧⲱⲙⲛ̅ⲧ [tómn̥t] to befall. The ⲛ̅ of these words is an intrusive (secondary) glide from the labial ⲙ to the dental ⲧ; the earlier forms were ϣⲟⲙⲧ̅ and ⲧⲱⲙⲧ̅. The convention likewise does not apply when the final consonant is also a blemner: ⲛⲁϩⲙⲛ̅ [náhmn̥] to rescue us. Much of the variation between ⲉ and a stroke that occurs in the writing of certain verbal prefixes (e.g. ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣϥ̅-, ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲉϥ-; ⲙⲁⲣϥ̅-, ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥ-) probably results from inconsistent application of this rule.

The forms ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ (to arise) and ⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ̅ (to know) have been standardized in the Lessons. In the Reading Selections the orthography of the source has been followed.

Stress⬆

Coptic is a highly compounding language, mostly by prefixation. All prefixal elements are proclitic, i.e. unstressed and bound, to the word which stands last in the sequence, regardless of its length, e.g.

ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲉϥⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲧⲧⲁⲕⲟ = ϩⲛ̅-ⲧⲉ-ϥ-ⲙⲛ̅ⲧ-ⲁⲧ-ⲧⲁⲕⲟ́

in his imperishability

Any element designated as prefixal in the course of the Lessons should be considered as proclitic. All simple prepositions are proclitic, like ϩⲛ̅ in the above example, but for the sake of clarity they are written as separate words in this text.

The main stress, then, is on the word standing at the end of the compound. The successive application of the following rules will enable the reader to apply the correct stress in all but the rarest cases:

  1. Stress is always on one of the last two syllables of a word.
  2. The vowels ⲏ, ⲟ, and ⲱ are always stressed.
  3. Final simple -ⲁ and simple -ⲉⲓ, -ⲓ are always stressed.
  4. Final -ⲟⲩ is stressed except (1) when it is the suffixed pronoun of the 3rd person plural (a knowledge of the grammar will make this clear), and (2) in the words ⲡⲁϩⲟⲩ (back), ⲥⲡⲟⲧⲟⲩ (lips), ⲥⲁϩⲟⲩ (curse), and ⲣⲁⲥⲟⲩ (dream).
  5. Final -ⲉ is unstressed except in the adjectives introduced in Lesson 15 (thus, ⲥⲁⲃⲉ́, wise, ⲃⲗ̅ⲗⲉ́, blind, etc.) and in a few miscellaneous words like ⲃⲉⲕⲉ́ (wages), ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲣⲉ́ (witness), ⲕⲛ̅ⲧⲉ́ (figs), ⲛⲁⲙⲉ́ (truly).
  6. A final syllable marked by a stroked consonant is never stressed unless it is the only syllable of the word.

Assimilation⬆

Assimilation, for our present purposes, may be defined briefly as the alteration of a sound due to its proximity to another sound, usually resulting in greater phonetic compatibility. The final ⲛ̅ of prefixal elements (e.g. prepositions, particles, articles) is regularly assimilated to ⲙ̅ before ⲡ and ⲙ, e.g.

*ϩⲛ̅ ⲡⲏⲓ → ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲏⲓ

in the house

*ⲛ̅ⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ → ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ

the signs

The assimilation of consonant -ⲛ also occurs but is not standard, e.g. ⲧⲉⲙⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ for ⲧⲉⲛⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ (our faith). In some texts the particle ⲛ̅, which has several grammatical functions, assimilates completely to ⲃ, ⲗ, and ⲣ, e.g. ⲛ̅ⲃⲣ̅ⲣⲉ → ⲃ̅ⲃⲣ̅ⲣⲉ (the young), ⲛ̅ⲣⲱⲙⲉ → ⲣ̅ⲣⲱⲙⲉ (the men). This is not considered standard, but it is not uncommon; numerous examples will be met in our reading selection from the Wisdom of Solomon.

Whatever the pronunciation of the supralinear stroke was, an alternate spelling with -ⲁ- often occurs before final -ϩ: ⲱⲛⲁϩ = ⲱⲛϩ̅ to live. This represents an assimilation to the guttural quality of ϩ.

An alternation between -ⲱ- and -ⲟⲩ- in certain word patterns is a result of an assimilation in the pre-Coptic stage. ⲱ was altered to ⲟⲩ after ⲙ and ⲛ; thus, words like ⲙⲟⲩϩ, ⲛⲟⲩϫⲉ, ⲙⲟⲩⲟⲩⲧ, and ⲛⲟⲩⲕ originally had the same vowel as ⲕⲱⲧ, ⲕⲱⲧⲉ, ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ, and ⲧⲱⲕ respectively.

The Spelling of Greek Words⬆

Greek words in Coptic are usually spelled correctly. Certain types of errors do occasionally occur, however, resulting in part from the discrepancy between the classical spelling and the contemporary pronunciation, and they must be taken into account when consulting a standard Greek dictionary. The most frequent of these are confusions between (1) ⲏ and ⲩ; (2) ⲉ and ⲁⲓ; (3) ⲓ and ⲏ; (4) ⲟ and ⲱ; (5) ⲅ and ⲕ; (6) ⲓ and ⲉⲓ; (7) ⲏ and ⲉ; (8) ⲧ and ⲇ; (9) initial ϩ and zero. All of these are illustrated by the following words chosen from our Reading Selections.