Lesson 3
COPTIC ALPHABET
ebolhiten
Rafyk Nacyf
THE COPTIC ALPHABET The Jinkim ▪ Before we move to the next group of Coptic letters, it is time to get introduced to the jinkim. ▪ Jinkim is a diacritic/ accent that looks like a stroke and is added in front of letters.
(` ) `mmon
▪
(E-) If it comes before a consonant, it adds an ‘e’ before the consonant
No/ not
v o ee th i a
`ftou
Four (4)
f t oo
mmo n
bo`y;ia
▪
(Stress) If it comes before a vowel, it stresses the vowel or start a separate syllable
help/ aid
ou`inam ou i n a m
right hand
THE COPTIC ALPHABET Notes on the Jinkim
▪ Sometimes the meaning of a word can change depending on where the Jinkim is, like `noutotc (a chair) and noutotc (their chair). ▪ Jinkim is a Coptic sign and does not appear on Greek words like ;ronoc, <rictoc ▪ Jinkim also does not appear before the following letters: b - d - ^ - z - l - x - r - ' - ]
Coptic Consonants ▪ The Coptic alphabet, has 26 consonant letters. ▪ In the next group of lessons, we will get to know these letters in groups based on how they are pronounced. ▪ Some Coptic letters have only (1) pronunciation, some have (2) pronunciations, and three of them have (3) pronunciations. We will start by a group of letters that have one, simple pronunciation: Letters with (1) Pronunciation
Letters with (2) Pronunciations
Letters with (3) Pronunciations
Demotic Letters (last 7 letters)
THE COPTIC ALPHABET Letters with (1) Pronunciation
Zz
(Z) ▪ Always pronounced ‘z’
Zeeta
anzyb a n
en
zyloc
jealousy
ee l o c
ee b
zenzen en
school
lizard
zwny w n ee
belt
THE COPTIC ALPHABET Letters with (1) Pronunciation
Kk
(K) ▪ Always pronounced ‘k’
Kappa
keli
knee
ee n
Earth/ land
a hi
e l i
kyn
kahi
finish (v)/ done
kemkem em
em
cymbals
THE COPTIC ALPHABET Letters with (1) Pronunciation
Ll
(L) ▪ Always pronounced ‘l’
Lavla/ Loula
lac
tongue/ language
th e ee
lamp
a mp ac
a c
;elyl
lampac
rejoice (v)
laoc a o c
people/ nation
THE COPTIC ALPHABET Letters with (1) Pronunciation
Mm
(M) ▪ Always pronounced ‘m’
Mei
mici
give birth (v)
a
multitude/ crowd
ee sh
isi
ma
mys
place
`viom ef i o
The sea
THE COPTIC ALPHABET Letters with (1) Pronunciation
Nn
(N) ▪ Always pronounced ‘n’
Nei
nane a
oo ti
niben
every
iv e
e
`vnou] ef
good
God
nobi ovi
sin
THE COPTIC ALPHABET Additional Examples
anok a
I
a
o
jinmici j i
amyn
Amen/ verily
ee
birth
ici
`vnou] nai nan
kyn san `mmon?
God have mercy on us
Done or not?
THE COPTIC ALPHABET Lesson Vocabulary
`mmon
`ftou
zenzen
zwny
lac
bo`y;ia ou`inam anzyb keli
lampac ;elyl
ma
`viom
nane
anok
amyn
jinmici
zyloc
kahi
kyn
kemkem
laoc
mici
mys
niben
`vnou]
nobi