Goal: learn the first 7 vowels and 7 consonants: what each letter is called, how it looks in Coptic script, how it is said, and example words. You will also learn a bonus sign, the jinkim, and the rules for Epsilon. Read each part, then try the activity after it. Your answers are saved on this device.
The Coptic alphabet
Coptic is written in two ways. Book script has thick, decorated strokes, as in the Church’s books. Quick script has simpler shapes that are easier to write by hand. They are the same letters.
Activity
Book script and quick script
The letter is shown in book script. Choose the same letter in quick script.
The same letter, ⲁ, in both scripts: the book script has thicker, decorated strokes. See: The Coptic alphabet
The same letter, ⲉ, in both scripts: the book script has thicker, decorated strokes. See: The Coptic alphabet
The same letter, ⲙ, in both scripts: the book script has thicker, decorated strokes. See: The Coptic alphabet
The same letter, ⲩ, in both scripts: the book script has thicker, decorated strokes. See: The Coptic alphabet
The same letter, ⲛ, in both scripts: the book script has thicker, decorated strokes. See: The Coptic alphabet
The same letter, ϣ, in both scripts: the book script has thicker, decorated strokes. See: The Coptic alphabet
The same letter, ⲕ, in both scripts: the book script has thicker, decorated strokes. See: The Coptic alphabet
The same letter, ⲏ, in both scripts: the book script has thicker, decorated strokes. See: The Coptic alphabet
32 letters in three groups
The Coptic alphabet has 32 letters:
- 24 Greek letters
- 7 letters from ancient Egyptian (Demotic): ϣ ϥ ϧ ϩ ϫ ϭ ϯ. They come from Egyptian writing, for sounds Greek does not have.
- 1 letter used only as the number 6: ⲋ
Activity
Which group?
Is the letter Greek, ancient Egyptian (Demotic), or the number 6?
One of the 7 letters from ancient Egyptian (Demotic): ϣ ϥ ϧ ϩ ϫ ϭ ϯ. See: 32 letters in three groups
One of the 24 Greek letters. See: 32 letters in three groups
One of the 7 letters from ancient Egyptian (Demotic): ϣ ϥ ϧ ϩ ϫ ϭ ϯ. See: 32 letters in three groups
ⲋ is only used as the number 6. See: 32 letters in three groups
One of the 24 Greek letters. See: 32 letters in three groups
One of the 7 letters from ancient Egyptian (Demotic): ϣ ϥ ϧ ϩ ϫ ϭ ϯ. See: 32 letters in three groups
One of the 24 Greek letters. See: 32 letters in three groups
One of the 7 letters from ancient Egyptian (Demotic): ϣ ϥ ϧ ϩ ϫ ϭ ϯ. See: 32 letters in three groups
One of the 24 Greek letters. See: 32 letters in three groups
One of the 7 letters from ancient Egyptian (Demotic): ϣ ϥ ϧ ϩ ϫ ϭ ϯ. See: 32 letters in three groups
One of the 24 Greek letters. See: 32 letters in three groups
One of the 7 letters from ancient Egyptian (Demotic): ϣ ϥ ϧ ϩ ϫ ϭ ϯ. See: 32 letters in three groups
One of the 7 letters from ancient Egyptian (Demotic): ϣ ϥ ϧ ϩ ϫ ϭ ϯ. See: 32 letters in three groups
One of the 24 Greek letters. See: 32 letters in three groups
Vowels and consonants
The alphabet has 7 (+1) vowels, 24 consonants and the number 6. The vowels are front or back vowels:
| Vowel | Name | Sound | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⲁ | Alfa | A | |
| Front | ⲉ | Ei | E |
| Front | ⲓ | Yota | i |
| Front | ⲏ | Eeta | ii |
| Front | ⲩ | Epsilon | i, v, oo |
| Back | ⲟ | Omikron | o |
| Back | ⲱ | Omega | oa |
| Back | ⲟⲩ | Oo | oo |
The “+1” is ⲟⲩ: two letters that together make one sound.
oa = long open o (as in board, door, call). It is one sound, not two (o-a).
Activity
Vowel or consonant? Front or back?
First say whether the letter is a vowel. For a vowel, then say whether it is a front or a back vowel.
Vowel or consonant?
Front or back?
Front vowels: ⲉ ⲓ ⲏ ⲩ. See: Vowels and consonants
Vowel or consonant?
Front or back?
Back vowels: ⲟ ⲱ ⲟⲩ. See: Vowels and consonants
Vowel or consonant?
A consonant: one of the 24. See: Vowels and consonants
Vowel or consonant?
Front or back?
Front vowels: ⲉ ⲓ ⲏ ⲩ. See: Vowels and consonants
Vowel or consonant?
Front or back?
Back vowels: ⲟ ⲱ ⲟⲩ. See: Vowels and consonants
Vowel or consonant?
A consonant: one of the 24. See: Vowels and consonants
Vowel or consonant?
Front or back?
Front vowels: ⲉ ⲓ ⲏ ⲩ. See: Vowels and consonants
Vowel or consonant?
Front or back?
Back vowels: ⲟ ⲱ ⲟⲩ. See: Vowels and consonants
Vowel or consonant?
A consonant: one of the 24. See: Vowels and consonants
Vowel or consonant?
Front or back?
Front vowels: ⲉ ⲓ ⲏ ⲩ. See: Vowels and consonants
Vowel or consonant?
ⲁ is a vowel of its own, neither front nor back. See: Vowels and consonants
Vowel or consonant?
A consonant: one of the 24. See: Vowels and consonants
Jinkim, rule 1
The jinkim ( ̀ ) is a small stroke above a letter: it gives a voice to the silent letters. Over a consonant, the letter is said with a short “e” before it, as in “egg”. The letter also becomes a syllable of its own, apart from the letters after it.
| Without jinkim | Sound | With jinkim | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⲛ | N | ⲛ̀ | En |
| ⲣ | R | ⲣ̀ | Er |
| ⲕ | K | ⲕ̀ | Ek |
Activity
Jinkim: with and without
How is the letter said, with or without the jinkim?
ⲛ
Without a jinkim the consonant is said on its own: N. See: Jinkim, rule 1
ⲛ̀
A jinkim over a consonant gives a short "e" before it: En. See: Jinkim, rule 1
ⲣ
Without a jinkim the consonant is said on its own: R. See: Jinkim, rule 1
ⲣ̀
A jinkim over a consonant gives a short "e" before it: Er. See: Jinkim, rule 1
ⲕ
Without a jinkim the consonant is said on its own: K. See: Jinkim, rule 1
ⲕ̀
A jinkim over a consonant gives a short "e" before it: Ek. See: Jinkim, rule 1
The seven vowels
The vowels are the voice of the language. Each card shows the letter in book script (large) and quick script (small), its name, how it is said and three words from the lesson.
Alpha Ⲁ ⲁ
- Sound
- A
- As in
- "a" as in "father"
| Coptic | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ⲁⲛ | An | not |
| ⲁⲛⲟⲕ | Anock | I |
| ⲁⲛⲟⲛ | Anonn | we |
Ei Ⲉ ⲉ
- Sound
- E
- As in
- short "e" as in "bed"
| Coptic | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ⲉⲩⲁ | Eva | Eve |
| ⲉⲧⲁ | Eta | when, while |
| ⲉⲛ | En | ape |
Yota Ⲓ ⲓ
- Sound
- i / j
- As in
- short "i" as in "sit", or "y" as in "yes"
| Coptic | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ⲧⲓⲕ | Tick | spark |
| ⲓⲁⲛ | Jan | purple |
| ⲕⲓⲙ | Kimm | movement, to shake |
Eeta Ⲏ ⲏ
- Sound
- ii
- As in
- long "ee" as in "see"
| Coptic | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ⲙⲏⲛⲁ | Miina | Mina |
| ⲧⲏ | Tii | there |
| ⲕⲏⲕ | Kiik | cake |
Omikron Ⲟ ⲟ
- Sound
- o
- As in
- short "o" as in "lock", "stop"
| Coptic | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ϫⲟⲙ | Gomm | power |
| ⲟⲕⲉⲙ | Ockem | sad |
| ⲟⲛ | Onn | also, again |
Omega Ⲱ ⲱ
- Sound
- oa (oa = long open o (board, door, call))
- As in
- long open o, exactly like "oa" in "board", or "door", "call"
| Coptic | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ϫⲱⲙ | Goam | book |
| ⲱⲛ | Oan | On, Heliopolis (biblical name) |
| ⲱⲛⲓ | Oani | stone |
The 3 rules of Epsilon
- After ⲁ or ⲉ, ⲩ is said “v”: ⲁⲩ = av, ⲉⲩ = ev.
- After ⲟ, ⲩ is said “oo”: ⲟⲩ = oo.
- Otherwise ⲩ is said “i”.
Rule 1: after ⲁ or ⲉ
Epsilon Ⲩ ⲩ
- Sound
- v
- As in
- "v" as in "very"
| Coptic | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ⲥⲧⲁⲩⲣⲟⲥ | Stavros | cross |
| ⲉⲩⲁ | Eva | Eve (name) |
| ⲙⲁⲩ | Mav | mother |
Rule 2: after ⲟ (ⲟⲩ)
Epsilon Ⲩ ⲩ
- Sound
- oo
- As in
- "oo" as in "moon", "food"
| Coptic | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ⲟⲩⲣⲟ | Oo-ro | king |
| ⲟⲩⲣⲱ | Oo-roa | queen |
| ⲟⲩⲱⲟⲩ | oo-oa-oo | glory |
Rule 3: otherwise
Epsilon Ⲩ ⲩ
- Sound
- i
- As in
- "i" as in "sit"
| Coptic | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ | Kirie | Lord |
| Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲁ | Kiria | lady |
| Ⲙⲩⲣⲟⲛ | Myronn | myron, holy oil |
Activity
The 3 rules of Epsilon
How is the marked ⲩ said here?
ⲁⲩ
Rule 1: after ⲁ or ⲉ, ⲩ is said "v". See: The 3 rules of Epsilon
ⲉⲩ
Rule 1: after ⲁ or ⲉ, ⲩ is said "v". See: The 3 rules of Epsilon
ⲟⲩ
Rule 2: after ⲟ, ⲩ is said "oo" (ⲟⲩ). See: The 3 rules of Epsilon
ⲩ
Rule 3: otherwise ⲩ is said "i". See: The 3 rules of Epsilon
ⲥⲧⲁⲩⲣⲟⲥ
(cross)
Rule 1: after ⲁ or ⲉ, ⲩ is said "v". See: The 3 rules of Epsilon
ⲙⲁⲩ
(mother)
Rule 1: after ⲁ or ⲉ, ⲩ is said "v". See: The 3 rules of Epsilon
ⲉⲩⲁ
(Eve)
Rule 1: after ⲁ or ⲉ, ⲩ is said "v". See: The 3 rules of Epsilon
ⲟⲩⲣⲟ
(king)
Rule 2: after ⲟ, ⲩ is said "oo" (ⲟⲩ). See: The 3 rules of Epsilon
ⲟⲩⲣⲱ
(queen)
Rule 2: after ⲟ, ⲩ is said "oo" (ⲟⲩ). See: The 3 rules of Epsilon
Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ
(Lord)
Rule 3: otherwise ⲩ is said "i". See: The 3 rules of Epsilon
Ⲙⲩⲣⲟⲛ
(myron, holy oil)
Rule 3: otherwise ⲩ is said "i". See: The 3 rules of Epsilon
Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲁ
(lady)
Rule 3: otherwise ⲩ is said "i". See: The 3 rules of Epsilon
Shaping your mouth: ⲟ, ⲱ and ⲟⲩ
ⲟ, ⲱ and ⲟⲩ sound almost the same. The difference is easiest to hear when you see how the mouth is shaped.
- ⲟ Omikron: short, open o. The lips are slightly rounded and the mouth half open. English “lock”, “of”. Swedish “ont”. Arabic: قصيرة مفتوحة، كما في كُنْ، أُم
- ⲱ Omega: long, open o. The lips are rounded, the mouth is more open than for ⲟ, and the sound is held longer. Said exactly like “oa” in “board”, or as in “door” and “call” (IPA [ɔː]). Arabic: أوو طويلة مفتوحة، كما في دور، موز، لوز
- ⲟⲩ (Omikron + Epsilon): closed “oo”. The lips are small, rounded and pushed forward. English “moon”, “food”. Swedish “o” in “sol”, “stol”. Arabic: مضمومة، كما في سرور
One vowel changes the meaning. A short ⲟ or a long ⲱ makes two different words:
| Short ⲟ | Means | Long ⲱ | Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⲣⲟ (Ro) | door | ⲣⲱ (Roa) | mouth |
| ⲟⲩⲣⲟ (Oo-ro) | king | ⲟⲩⲣⲱ (Oo-roa) | queen |
Activity
Short ⲟ or long ⲱ?
How is the marked vowel said? Then choose what the word means. One vowel can change the meaning.
ⲣⲟ
Sound
Meaning
ⲣⲟ: short ⲟ, as in "lock". It means "door". See: Shaping your mouth: ⲟ, ⲱ and ⲟⲩ
ⲣⲱ
Sound
Meaning
ⲣⲱ: long, open ⲱ, "oa" as in "board". It means "mouth". See: Shaping your mouth: ⲟ, ⲱ and ⲟⲩ
ⲟⲩⲣⲟ
Sound
Meaning
ⲟⲩⲣⲟ: short ⲟ, as in "lock". It means "king". See: Shaping your mouth: ⲟ, ⲱ and ⲟⲩ
ⲟⲩⲣⲱ
Sound
Meaning
ⲟⲩⲣⲱ: long, open ⲱ, "oa" as in "board". It means "queen". See: Shaping your mouth: ⲟ, ⲱ and ⲟⲩ
ϫⲟⲙ
Sound
Meaning
ϫⲟⲙ: short ⲟ, as in "lock". It means "power". See: Shaping your mouth: ⲟ, ⲱ and ⲟⲩ
ϫⲱⲙ
Sound
Meaning
ϫⲱⲙ: long, open ⲱ, "oa" as in "board". It means "book". See: Shaping your mouth: ⲟ, ⲱ and ⲟⲩ
ⲟⲛ
Sound
Meaning
ⲟⲛ: short ⲟ, as in "lock". It means "also, again". See: Shaping your mouth: ⲟ, ⲱ and ⲟⲩ
ⲱⲛⲓ
Sound
Meaning
ⲱⲛⲓ: long, open ⲱ, "oa" as in "board". It means "stone". See: Shaping your mouth: ⲟ, ⲱ and ⲟⲩ
ⲣⲱⲙⲓ
Sound
Meaning
ⲣⲱⲙⲓ: long, open ⲱ, "oa" as in "board". It means "person". See: Shaping your mouth: ⲟ, ⲱ and ⲟⲩ
ⲟⲕⲉⲙ
Sound
Meaning
ⲟⲕⲉⲙ: short ⲟ, as in "lock". It means "sad". See: Shaping your mouth: ⲟ, ⲱ and ⲟⲩ
Seven consonants
Ro Ⲣ ⲣ
- Sound
- R
- As in
- "r" as in "room"
| Coptic | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ⲣⲏ | Rii | sun |
| ⲣⲁⲛ | Ran | name |
| ⲣⲱⲙⲓ | Roami | person |
Pi Ⲡ ⲡ
- Sound
- P
- As in
- "p" as in "pen"
| Coptic | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲁⲛ | Pekran | your name |
| ⲡⲁⲣⲁⲛ | Paran | my name |
| ⲡⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ | Pnevma | spirit |
Mey Ⲙ ⲙ
- Sound
- M
- As in
- "m" as in "mat"
| Coptic | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ | Maria | Mary |
| ⲙⲱⲟⲩ | Moa-oo | water |
| ⲙⲓⲟⲕ | Mjock | bravo |
Ney Ⲛ ⲛ
- Sound
- N
- As in
- "n" as in "night"
| Coptic | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ⲛⲓⲙ | Nim | who |
| ⲛⲉⲙ | Nem | and, with |
| ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ | Ente | of (belonging) |
Lola / Lavla Ⲗ ⲗ
- Sound
- L
- As in
- "l" as in "lamp"
| Coptic | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ⲗⲁⲥ | Las | tongue |
| ⲧⲁⲗⲟ | Talo | to lift, to carry |
| ⲡⲁⲗⲓⲛ | Palinn | again |
Kappa Ⲕ ⲕ
- Sound
- K
- As in
- "k" as in "king"
| Coptic | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ⲕⲉ | Ke | also, another |
| ⲕⲉⲗⲓ | Keli | knee |
| ⲕⲁⲛⲱⲛ | Kanoan | rule |
Shai Ϣ ϣ
- Sound
- Sh
- As in
- "sh" as in "she"
| Coptic | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ϣⲁ | Sha | to, until |
| ϣⲁⲓ | Shai | feast |
| ⲱϣ | Oash | to read |
Activity
The letter's name and sound
The letter is shown in book script. Choose its name, then how it is said.
Name
Sound
ⲁ is Alpha, said "A". See: The seven vowels
Name
Sound
ⲉ is Ei, said "E". See: The seven vowels
Name
Sound
ⲓ is Yota, said "i / j". See: The seven vowels
Name
Sound
ⲏ is Eeta, said "ii". See: The seven vowels
Name
Sound
ⲟ is Omikron, said "o". See: The seven vowels
Name
Sound
ⲱ is Omega, said "oa". See: The seven vowels
Name
Sound
ⲩ is Epsilon, said "i / v / oo". See: The 3 rules of Epsilon
Name
Sound
ⲟⲩ is Oo, said "oo". See: The 3 rules of Epsilon
Name
Sound
ⲣ is Ro, said "R". See: Seven consonants
Name
Sound
ⲡ is Pi, said "P". See: Seven consonants
Name
Sound
ⲙ is Mey, said "M". See: Seven consonants
Name
Sound
ⲛ is Ney, said "N". See: Seven consonants
Name
Sound
ⲗ is Lola / Lavla, said "L". See: Seven consonants
Name
Sound
ⲕ is Kappa, said "K". See: Seven consonants
Name
Sound
ϣ is Shai, said "Sh". See: Seven consonants
Reading practice
First read short syllables (ⲓⲁ, ⲁⲓ, ϣⲉ, ⲉϣ …), then words. Learn the words marked important by heart.
| Coptic | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ⲙⲁⲩ | mother · said "Mav" · important |
| ⲓⲱⲧ | father · said "Joat" · important |
| ϣⲏⲣⲓ | son · said "Shiiri" · important |
| ϣⲉⲣⲓ | daughter · said "Sheri" · important |
| ⲙⲓⲟⲕ | bravo · said "Mjock" · important |
| ⲛⲁⲛⲉ | good · said "Nane" · important |
| ⲙ̀ⲙⲟⲛ | no · said "Em-monn" · important |
| ⲥⲉ | yes · said "Se" · important |
| ⲓⲁⲣⲱⲟⲩ | rivers · said "Jaroa-oo" |
| ⲁ̀ⲙⲁⲓⲟⲩ | sea · said "A-majoo" |
| ⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ | light · said "Oo-ojni" |
| ⲕⲁⲩⲙⲁ | heat · said "Kavma" |
| ⲕⲁⲡ | thread · said "Kap" |
| ⲏⲓ | house · said "Ii" |
| ⲡⲉ | is · said "Pe" |
| ⲙⲁⲣⲉ | let (as in "let it be") · said "Mare" |
| ⲛⲏⲃ | lord, owner · said "Niib" |
| ⲙⲏⲣ | bound · said "Miir" |
| ϣⲓⲛⲓ | to ask · said "Shinni" |
| ⲙⲏⲧ | ten · said "Miit" |
| ⲓⲟⲙ | the sea · said "Jom" |
| ⲧⲁⲓⲟ | dignity, honour · said "Tajo" |
| ⲕⲗⲟⲗ | cloud · said "Kloll" |
| ⲧⲉⲛ | we · said "Ten" |
| ⲣⲱ | mouth · said "Roa" |
| ⲣⲟ | door · said "Ro" |
| ⲣⲓ | room · said "Ri" |
| ⲣⲏ | sun · said "Rii" |
Activity
Read the word
Read the word, choose how it is said, then what it means. Twelve words each round; the important words come more often.
ⲓⲁ
Sound
ⲓⲁ is said "Ja". See: Reading practice
ⲁⲓ
Sound
ⲁⲓ is said "Aj". See: Reading practice
ⲓⲟ
Sound
ⲓⲟ is said "Jo". See: Reading practice
ⲟⲓ
Sound
ⲟⲓ is said "Oj". See: Reading practice
ⲓⲉ
Sound
ⲓⲉ is said "Je". See: Reading practice
ⲉⲓ
Sound
ⲉⲓ is said "Ej". See: Reading practice
ⲟⲩⲓ
Sound
ⲟⲩⲓ is said "Oo-i". See: Reading practice
ⲓⲟⲩ
Sound
ⲓⲟⲩ is said "I-oo". See: Reading practice
ⲱⲓ
Sound
ⲱⲓ is said "Oaj". See: Reading practice
ⲓⲱ
Sound
ⲓⲱ is said "Joa". See: Reading practice
ϣⲉ
Sound
ϣⲉ is said "She". See: Reading practice
ϣⲁ
Sound
ϣⲁ is said "Sha". See: Reading practice
ϣⲏ
Sound
ϣⲏ is said "Shii". See: Reading practice
ϣⲱ
Sound
ϣⲱ is said "Shoa". See: Reading practice
ⲉϣ
Sound
ⲉϣ is said "Esh". See: Reading practice
ⲁϣ
Sound
ⲁϣ is said "Ash". See: Reading practice
ϣⲁϣ
Sound
ϣⲁϣ is said "Shash". See: Reading practice
ⲓϣ
Sound
ⲓϣ is said "Ish". See: Reading practice
ϣⲓⲡ
Sound
ϣⲓⲡ is said "Shipp". See: Reading practice
ϣⲓ
Sound
ϣⲓ is said "Shi". See: Reading practice
ϣⲟⲡ
Sound
ϣⲟⲡ is said "Shopp". See: Reading practice
ϣⲟ
Sound
ϣⲟ is said "Sho". See: Reading practice
ⲉⲡ
Sound
ⲉⲡ is said "Ep". See: Reading practice
ⲁⲡ
Sound
ⲁⲡ is said "Ap". See: Reading practice
ⲟⲡ
Sound
ⲟⲡ is said "Opp". See: Reading practice
ⲓⲡ
Sound
ⲓⲡ is said "Ipp". See: Reading practice
ⲙⲁⲩ
Sound
Meaning
ⲙⲁⲩ is said "Mav" and means "mother". See: Reading practice
ⲓⲱⲧ
Sound
Meaning
ⲓⲱⲧ is said "Joat" and means "father". See: Reading practice
ϣⲏⲣⲓ
Sound
Meaning
ϣⲏⲣⲓ is said "Shiiri" and means "son". See: Reading practice
ϣⲉⲣⲓ
Sound
Meaning
ϣⲉⲣⲓ is said "Sheri" and means "daughter". See: Reading practice
ⲙⲓⲟⲕ
Sound
Meaning
ⲙⲓⲟⲕ is said "Mjock" and means "bravo". See: Reading practice
ⲛⲁⲛⲉ
Sound
Meaning
ⲛⲁⲛⲉ is said "Nane" and means "good". See: Reading practice
ⲙ̀ⲙⲟⲛ
Sound
Meaning
ⲙ̀ⲙⲟⲛ is said "Em-monn" and means "no". See: Reading practice
ⲥⲉ
Sound
Meaning
ⲥⲉ is said "Se" and means "yes". See: Reading practice
ⲓⲁⲣⲱⲟⲩ
Sound
Meaning
ⲓⲁⲣⲱⲟⲩ is said "Jaroa-oo" and means "rivers". See: Reading practice
ⲁ̀ⲙⲁⲓⲟⲩ
Sound
Meaning
ⲁ̀ⲙⲁⲓⲟⲩ is said "A-majoo" and means "sea". See: Reading practice
ⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ
Sound
Meaning
ⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ is said "Oo-ojni" and means "light". See: Reading practice
ⲕⲁⲩⲙⲁ
Sound
Meaning
ⲕⲁⲩⲙⲁ is said "Kavma" and means "heat". See: Reading practice
ⲕⲁⲡ
Sound
Meaning
ⲕⲁⲡ is said "Kap" and means "thread". See: Reading practice
ⲏⲓ
Sound
Meaning
ⲏⲓ is said "Ii" and means "house". See: Reading practice
ⲡⲉ
Sound
Meaning
ⲡⲉ is said "Pe" and means "is". See: Reading practice
ⲙⲁⲣⲉ
Sound
Meaning
ⲙⲁⲣⲉ is said "Mare" and means "let (as in "let it be")". See: Reading practice
ⲛⲏⲃ
Sound
Meaning
ⲛⲏⲃ is said "Niib" and means "lord, owner". See: Reading practice
ⲙⲏⲣ
Sound
Meaning
ⲙⲏⲣ is said "Miir" and means "bound". See: Reading practice
ϣⲓⲛⲓ
Sound
Meaning
ϣⲓⲛⲓ is said "Shinni" and means "to ask". See: Reading practice
ⲙⲏⲧ
Sound
Meaning
ⲙⲏⲧ is said "Miit" and means "ten". See: Reading practice
ⲓⲟⲙ
Sound
Meaning
ⲓⲟⲙ is said "Jom" and means "the sea". See: Reading practice
ⲧⲁⲓⲟ
Sound
Meaning
ⲧⲁⲓⲟ is said "Tajo" and means "dignity, honour". See: Reading practice
ⲕⲗⲟⲗ
Sound
Meaning
ⲕⲗⲟⲗ is said "Kloll" and means "cloud". See: Reading practice
ⲧⲉⲛ
Sound
Meaning
ⲧⲉⲛ is said "Ten" and means "we". See: Reading practice
ⲣⲱ
Sound
Meaning
ⲣⲱ is said "Roa" and means "mouth". See: Reading practice
ⲣⲟ
Sound
Meaning
ⲣⲟ is said "Ro" and means "door". See: Reading practice
ⲣⲓ
Sound
Meaning
ⲣⲓ is said "Ri" and means "room". See: Reading practice
ⲣⲏ
Sound
Meaning
ⲣⲏ is said "Rii" and means "sun". See: Reading practice
You have learnt 15 letters
The seven vowels ⲁ ⲉ ⲓ ⲏ ⲟ ⲱ ⲩ, ⲟⲩ, and the seven consonants ⲣ ⲡ ⲙ ⲛ ⲗ ⲕ ϣ.
Homework
- Read through the lesson calmly.
- Practise writing each letter 5 times, by hand in your notebook.
- Do the activities. You can copy the questions into your notebook.
- Read through the reading practice. You can copy the words into your notebook.
- Find the vowels in Our Father below (5–10 minutes).
Our Father
The Lord’s Prayer in Coptic. You cannot read all of it yet, but you already know the vowels.
Activity
Our Father: find the vowels
Tap every vowel (ⲁ ⲉ ⲓ ⲏ ⲟ ⲱ ⲩ) in the prayer, then check.
:
: :
: : :
: : : .
: : .
Green: found. Red: not a vowel. Dashed: missed.
The seven vowels are ⲁ ⲉ ⲓ ⲏ ⲟ ⲱ ⲩ. ϯ (Ti) is a consonant, even though it is said "ti". See: Our Father