A COURSE OF LESSONS IN

COPTIC LANGUAGE

Dr. NABIL S. ISSHAKTranscribed by AMBROSE BOLES

Suitable for Deacons and Sunday Schools

HIS HOLINESS POPE SHENOUDA IIIPOPE OF ALEXANDRIA and PATRIARCH OF THE SEE OF ST. MARK

Copyright Dr Nabil S. Isshak Transcribed by Ambrose Boles ambroseboles@yahoo.co.uk http://www.geocities.com/ambroseboles Date of publication: 15th February 2006 (version 1) 2

ALPHABETCapital lettersA B G D E Z Y : I K L M N X O P R C T U V < ' W S F Q H J { }

Small lettersa b g d e ^ z y ; i k l m n x o p r c t u v , ' w s f q h j [ ]

Pronunciation a v, b g, gh, n the, d e z ie th i k l m n x o p r o t v, i, ou f k, sh, kh ps oo sh f kh h g, j ch ti

Name alpha beta ghamma thelta ey co zita ieta theta yota kappa lola mi ni exi o pi ro oima tav ipsolen fi ki epsi oo shay fay khay hori ganga chima ti

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UNIT 1To make a Coptic sentence, you need a subject (noun or pronoun) and a verb. Other components include objects and prepositions.

(1) VERBSVerbs given here can be used in the imperative form, i.e. for a request or giving an order. Hemci Mosi [I Cwtem Ouwm Cw Ouwst `slyl `cmou Caji sit go/walk take listen eat drink kneel/worship pray bless speak heamsi moshi chi soateam ou-woam soah ou-woasht eshleel esmou saji

(2) NOUNSNouns are used as subjects or objects. First we shall study single masculine nouns. These take the definite article pi, meaning the, and the indefinite article ou, meaning a. ourwmi pirwmi oualou Pialou Ououyb piouyb Piervei Pitotc Piro Pilaoc Pima a man the man a boy the boy a priest the priest the altar the chair the door the people the place ou-roami pi-roami ou-alou pi-alou ou-ou-weep pi-ou-weep pi-erfeay pitots piroh pilawos pimah

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Pimanvici pikahi piry (Kahiry) Pidiakwn

the kitchen the floor the sun Cairo [land of the sun] the deacon

pimanfisi pikahi piree kahiree pi-thiakoan

(3) PREPOSITIONThis is a word (e.g. in, from, to) often placed before a noun or pronoun to show place, direction source etc. The object separated from a verb by a preposition is called an indirect object. qen Ejen/hijen nem `e in/by on with to khean ejean/hijean neam eah

The following sentences are made up from a verb in the imperative, a preposition and an indirect object. Caji nem pirwmi Mosi nem pialou `slyl nem piouyb Hemci hijen pitotc Hemci hijen pikahi `slyl qen piervei Ouwm qen pimanvici speak with the man walk with the boy pray with the priest sit on the chair sit on the floor pray (in) the altar eat in the kitchen

(4) VOCABULARYAri`hmot Ari`hmot cw Ari`hmot hemci `mper `mpercaji Alla `mpercaji alla cwtem please (do) please drink please sit down do not do not speak but do not speak but listen ari-ehmot ari-ehmot soah ari-ehmot heamsi empear empear saji allah empear saji allah soateam

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`mpermosi alla hemci `mperhemci hijen pikahi alla hemci hijen pitotc Nane Nane emasw Nane atoou`i Oujai

do not walk but sit down do not sit on the floor but sit on the chair good very good good morning bye bye/cheer you

empear moshi allah heamsi empear heamsi hijean pikahi allah heamsi hijean pitots naneah naneah eamashoah naneah ato-ou-wi ougay

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UNIT 2(1) We have learned the definite article pi meaning the, is used for singlemasculine nouns. In this unit, two rather special definite articles are presented. These are `p and `v. They are frequently used for single masculine nouns of particular importance in religious texts. `viwt `vran `vnou] `vry `vnobi `p[oic `psyri `pouro the father the name (the) God the sun the sin the Lord the son the king efyoat efraan efnouti efree efnovi epchois epsheeri ep-ou-roh

You will be familiar with these special definite articles in the course of your study, and will hear them all the time in the church liturgy. Note however, that many other religious words take the usual definitive article (pi). Pi`,rictoc Pi`pneuma e;ouab piagioc (the) Christ the Holy Spirit the saint pi-ekhristos pi-epnevma eth-ou-wab pi-ag-yos

(2) DIRECT OBJECTAn indirect object is separated from the verb by a preposition. In the absence of a preposition, the object is called a direct object. This implies the action of the verb falls directly on the object, e.g. the boy drinks milk so milk is the direct object of the verb drink. In Coptic, the common form of verbs is separated from the direct object by one of these articles: `e, `m or `n. These, we call the object signs. (A) Some verbs take the object sign `e Hwc `cmou Sari Areh Cwtem praise bless hit/smack keep/study listen/hear hoas ecmou shari areah soateam

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[oh Nau swlem joust `cmou `e`vnou] Hwc `e`p[oic joust `epialou Cwtem `epi`slyl Areh `epiws

touch see smell look bless God praise the Lord look (at) the boy listen (to) the prayer study the lesson

tchoh nav shoaleam gousht ecmou eah efnouti hoas eah epchois gousht eah pi-alou soateam eah pi-eshleel areah eah pi-oash

(B) All other verbs take the object sign `n [I `noutotc Cw `noumwou take a chair drink water chi en ou-tots soah en ou-moa-ou

When a noun starts with one of these letters p, m, v, b, the object sign `m is used instead of `n. Note that the beginning of a noun is usually a definite or indefinite article. Ouwst `m`p[oic `slyl `m`vnou] Cob] `mpima worship the Lord pray (to) God prepare the place ou-woasht em epchois eshleel em efnouti sovti em pimah

(3) OTHER USES OF `m AND `n(A) To mean of, which is a preposition that connects its noun with the preceding noun, adjective, or adverb. Again, the choice of `m or `n depends on the first letter of the second noun. There is, however, the preposition `nte, which also means of, and is used freely regardless of the starting letter of the noun that follows it. `vran `m `viwt Piouyb `m piervei Pisw `nte `viom the name of the father the priest of the altar the sand of the sea efraan em efyoat pi-ou-weep em pi-erfeay pishoah enteah efyom

(B) In conjunction with an adjective. As you know, an adjective is a word that describes a quality, or that defines or limits a noun, e.g. yellow, great. Pijwm `mberi the new book pigoam emveari

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Pirwmi `ncabe Ounou] `nouwt Piwnq `n`eneh

the wise man one God the eternal life

pi-roami ensaveh ounouti en-ouwoat pi-oankh en eneah

Note the adjective comes after the noun in Coptic. Some adjectives come before the noun, and in this case they take over the definite or the indefinite article of the noun. Pinis] `nouro Pikouji `nalou Pimonogenyc `nsyri the great king the young (small) boy the Only-Begotten Son pinishti en ouroh pikouji en alou pimonoghenees en sheeri

(C) In association with numbers Somt `nalou Coou `nehoou `smyn `ncop Myt `nrwmi Se `nrompi three boys six days eight times ten men hundred years shomt en alou so-ou en eho-ou eshmeen en sop meet en roami sheah en rompi

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UNIT 3In this unit we shall learn the definite articles of single feminine and plural nouns, and present you with simple parts of the liturgy. A few sentences and expressions of every day use will also be included.

(1) The definite article for single feminine nouns is ]. There are also twospecial articles commonly used in religious context. These are `t and `;. ]seri ]jom ]`chimi ]anavora ]`triac ]agia ]par;enoc ]soury ]ourw ]bwki ]ek`klycia ]ri ]anzyb `tseri `tve `;nyb `;mau the girl/daughter the power the woman the liturgy the Trinity the (lady) saint the Virgin the censer the queen the slave/servant the church the room the school the girl/daughter the heaven the lady the mother ti sheari ti gom ti eshimi ti anaforah ti etrey yas ti agey ya ti parthanos ti shouree ti ouroah ti voaki ti eak eklee seyah ti ri ti anzeeb et sheari et feah ethneeb ethmav

(2) The definite article for plural nouns is ni. While in English, there is noindefinite article; in Coptic we have han, for plural nouns, which means some. Hanrwmi Hanseri Hanma men girls places Nirwmi Niseri nima the men the girls the places

Most nouns do not change in the plural, though the articles change. Some nouns do however change.

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Piro pirwou `pouro niourwou Pialou nialwou`i `viwt niio]

the doors the kings the boys the fathers

ni roa ou ni ou roa ou ni aloa ou wi ni ioti

(3) The words for the pronouns who, whom, and that, are vyet, for thesingular masculine, ;yet for the singular feminine, nyet for the plural and et for any of them. Pirwmi vyetcaji (etcaji) ]`chimi ;yetvici (etvici) Nirwmi nyet`slyl (et`slyl) Vyethemci hijen pi`;ronoc Nyetswni `nte pilaoc the man who speaks the woman who cooks the men who pray who sits on the throne who are sick in the people (the sick in the people)

(4) SIMPLE PARTS OF THE LITURGYQen `vran `m`viwt nem `psyri nem pi`pneuma e;ouab ounou] `nouwt amyn. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the One God amen. The chant (qen `vran) Qen `vran `m`viwt nem `psyri nem pi`pneuma e;ouab ]`triac e;ouab `nomooucioc aXiac aXiac aXiac ]agia maria ]par;enoc aXioc aXioc aXioc pa[oic `pouro georgioc. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the constitutional Holy Trinity worthy, worthy, worthy the saint Virgin Mary worthy, worthy, worthy my lord the king George. Note (i) aXiac (axey yas) means worthy for the singular feminine, and aXioc is worthy for the singular masculine. You might have noticed the same pattern for agioc and agia, meaning saint. These nouns and adjectives are Greek words, where -oc is the end for singular masculine, and -ia, -iac for singular feminine. (ii) pa, ta, na are possessive adjectives of the 1st person singular e.g. pa[oic my lord, ta[oic my lady, and na[oic my lords.

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(5) FOR EVERYDAY PRACTICEAs pe pekry] paiwt? As pe pekry] pacon? As pe pekry] pa`svyr? As pe pery] tamau? As pe pery] tacwni? as pe pery] ta`sveri? Pairy] Caji `mpairy] `mperhemci `mpairy] Ce `mmon Aha Aryou Qen outajro Ou nofri pe Ec`eswpi how are you (my) father? how are you my brother? how are you my friend? (m.) how are you my mother? how are you my sister? how are you my friend? (f.) like this/this way speak like this do not sit like this yes no yes/OK may be surely fine/alright agreed/so it will be ash peh peareeti payoat ash peh peareeti pason ash peh peareeti pa eshfeer ash peh peh reeti tamav ash peh peh reeti tasoani ash peh peh reeti ta eshfeari pay reeti saji em pay reeti empear heamsi empay reeti seah emmon aha areeyou khean ou tagroh ou nofri peah eseashoabi

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UNIT 4(1) POSSESIVE ARTICLESA For singular masculine nouns (i) Piiwt the father (pi yoat) paiwt Pekiwt Peiwt Pefiwt Peciwt Peniwt Peteniwt pouiwt my father your father (sing. masc.) your father (sing. fem.) his father her father our father your father (plur.) their father pa yoat peak yoat peah yoat peaf yoat peas yoat pean yoat peatean yoat pou yoat

(ii) Pijwm the book (pi goam) pajwm Pekjwm Pejwm Pefjwm Pecjwm Penjwm Petenjwm poujwm (iii) Examples ;wn pe pekiwt? Efsop qen ]ek`klycia ;wn pe pefkas? Ef,y qen ]ri ;wn pe petenyi? Ic pe penyi where is your father? he is in the church where is his pen? it is in the room where is your house? here is our house thoan peah peak yoat eafshop khean ti eak ek lee siya thoan peah peaf kash eafkee khen titi thoan peah peatean ee yis peah pean ee my book your book (sing. masc.) your book (sing. fem.) his book her book our book your book (plur.) their book pa goam peak goam peah goam peaf goam peas goam pean goam peatean goam pou goam

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B For singular feminine nouns (i) ]mau the mother (timav) tamau tekmau temau tefmau tecmau tenmau tetenmau toumau (ii) ]ri the room (tiri) tari tekri teri tefri tecri tenri tetenri touri (iii) Examples ;wn te tesau? Ic te tasau ;wn te tetenmau? Ecsop qen pi[wm ;wn te ]soury? Ec,y qen piervei C For plural nouns (i) Pi`cnyou the brothers (ni esniy ou) where is your cat? here is my cat where is your mother? she is in the garden where is the censer? it is in the altar thoan teah teah shav yis teah tashav thoan teah teatean mav easshop khean pitchoam thoan teah ti shouree easkee khean pi earfeay my room your room (sing. masc.) your room (sing. fem.) his room her room our room your room (plur.) their room tari teakri teari teafri teasri teanri teateanri touri my mother your mother (sing. masc.) your mother (sing. fem.) his mother her mother our mother your mother (plur.) their mother tamav teakmav teamav teafmav teasmav teanmav teateanmav toumav

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Na`cnyou nek`cnyou ne`cnyou nef`cnyou nec`cnyou nen`cnyou neten`cnyou nou`cnyou (ii) Examples ;wn ne nek`cnyou? Eusop qen ]anzyb. D Important notes

my brothers your brothers (sing. masc.) your brothers (sing. fem.) his brothers her brothers our brothers your brothers (plur.) their brothers

na esniy you neak esniy you neah esniy you neaf esniy you neas esniy you nean esniy you neatean esniy you nou esniy you

where are your brothers? they are in the school

thoan neah neak esniy you eav shop khean ti anzeeb

Pe, te and ne mean is for the singular masculine, singular feminine and are for the plural. These verbs are mainly descriptive, e.g. as to say He is a man. Ef,y, ec,y and eu,y (literally mean present or placed) and efsop, ecsop and eusop (literally mean being, dwelling or present), are used to mean is, is and are when talking about position, as seen in the previous examples.

(2) THE HYMN OF HITENHiten ni`precb`ia `nte ];e`otokoc e;ouab maria `p[oic ari`hmot nan `mpi,w ebol `nte nennobi. Hiten ni`precb`ia `nte pisasf `nar,yaggeloc nem nitagma `n`epouranion. Hiten nieu,y `nte na[oic `nio] `napoctoloc nem `pcepi `nte nima;ytyc `p[oic. Hiten nieu,y `nte pi;e`orimoc `neuaggelictyc markoc Through the pleadings of the Mother of God saint (adj.) Mary, Lord grant (to) us the forgiveness of our sins. Through the pleadings of the seven Archangels and the Heavenly Hosts. Through the prayers of my Masters (and) fathers the Apostles, and the rest of the Disciples Lord. Through the prayers of the Beholder of the Lord (the one with vision of

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piapoctoloc pia;lovoroc `mmarturoc pa[oic `pouro georgioc. Hiten nieu,y `nte nye;ouab `nte paiehoou piouai piouai kata pefran `p[oic. Hiten noueu,y areh `e`pwnq `mpeniwt ettaiyout `nar,y`ereuc papa abba senouda. Vocabulary used in the hymn Hiten Ni`precbia (G) (] precbeia (MG)) Pi,w ebol ,w nyi ebol ,w nan ebol `n,w ebol Ar,yaggeloc (G) Nitagma (G) Tagma (MG) `epouranion (G) (ouranoc (fem., G)) Nieu,y (G) Proceu,y (fem. G) Apoctoloc (G) Ma;ytyc (G) (ma;yma (neut., MG)) (ma;ytyc (MG)) `pcepi Orama (neut., G) ;eoc (G) Pi;e`orimoc Euaggelio(n) (G) Eyaggelictyc (G) through/by

God) the Evangelist Mark the Apostle who wears (the man of) the struggle, (the) martyr my Lord the king George. Through the prayers of the saints of this day, each one (the one, the one) according to his name (o Lord). Through their prayers preserve the life our father, the honoured Pontiff (head of priests) the Pope Abba Shenouda.

hitean ni epreas viya Ti preas viya pi koah eavol koah nee eavol koah nan eavol enkoah eavol arshee angealos ni tagma tagma epou ranion ouranos ni eavkee pros evkee apostolos matheetees matheema matheetees epseapi orama thea-os pi thea-orimos pi eav angeal ion eav angealistees

the pleadings the embassy the forgiveness forgive me forgive us sorry Archangel Hosts order/battalion heavenly heaven the prayers the prayer apostle disciple lesson Student/pupil the rest/remaining vision/sight God the Beholder of God Bible (masc. in Coptic) Evangelist

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] a;lycic (G) Vorw (G) A;lovoroc (G) Piouai ]ou`i Kata (G) Wnq Piwkq Ettaiyout Taio Nye;ouab

bravery/struggle/heroism tiathleesis to wear/put on the man of bravery and struggle the one (sing. masc.) the one (sing. fem.) according to/about to live the life the honoured respect/honour the saints foroah athloforos pi ou way ti ou wi kata oankh pi oankh eat tayi out tayo nee eath ou wab

Note: G = Greek, MG = Modern Greek.

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UNIT 5(1) VERBS IN PRESENT TENSE]caji `kcaji Tecaji `fcaji `ccaji tencaji tetencaji cecaji I speak you speak (sing. masc.) you speak (sing. fem.) he speak she speak we speak you speak (plur.) they speak ti saji ek saji teh saji ef saji es saji tean saji teatean saji seah saji

(A) Most of the Coptic verbs are regular, in the sense that the ends of the verbs do not change. (B) The subject pronouns ], `k, te, `f, `c, ten, teten and ce, unlike the case in English, join the verb directly. Furthermore, they indicate in our example the person who speaks: I, you, he, she but cannot be used separately, i.e. independent from the verb. The independent pronouns in Coptic are: Anok `n;ok `n;o `n;of `n;oc Anon `n;wten `n;wou I you (sing. masc.) you (sing. fem.) he she we you (plur.) they anok enthok entho enthof enthos anon enthoatean enthoa ou

(C) To negate a verb, an is placed after it. ]caji ]`slyl ]ka] `fouwm tenouws I speak I pray I understand he eats we want ]caji an ]`slyl an ]ka] an `fouwm an Tenouws an I do not speak I do not pray I do not understand he does not eat we do not want

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(D) In English, we use either a noun like the boy, people, Peter, apple etc., or a pronoun we cannot use both of them together. So we say the boy eats or he eats but cannot say the boy he eats. In Coptic the subject pronoun is used in the presence of the subject noun. Pialou `fjerjer ]`chimi `ccaji an Cami nem petroc cecaji The boy plays The woman does not speak Sami and Petros speak Pi alou ef geargear Ti eshimi essaji an Sami nem petros seah saji

(E) The future tense is similar to the present tense, apart from the addition of na to the subject pronouns ], `k, te, `f ]nacaji `knacaji Tenacaji `fnacaji `cnacaji Tennacaji Tetennacaji cenacaji Some examples: ]na`slyl qen ]ek`klycia `nrac] `fna`I nem pefiwt `e penyi Tennacwtem `e ]anavora `nte peniwt morkoc Nialwou`I cenaareh `e nouws ]na[I `nhanloukouji ebol qen pacon ]na`I an `nrac] alla ]na`I `ncarac] Ill pray in the church tomorrow he will come with his father to our house we shall listen to the mass of our father Morkos the children will study their lessons Ill take some money from my brother I shall not come tomorrow, but I shall come the day after tina eshleel khen ti eakek lee siya enrasti efna e neam peaf yoat eah pean ee tenna soateam eah ti anaphora enteah peanyoat morkos ni aloa ou wi seana areah eah nou oash tina chi en hanloukouji eavol khean pason tina e an enrasti allah tina e ensarasti I will speak you will speak (sing. masc.) you will speak (sing. fem.) he will speak she will speak we shall speak you will speak (plur.) they will speak

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]namoukh amasw icje `kcwtem an Tennaswp `nhan`hryri e;be tenmau Tena,w `nou`hmou ejen ]qre? Tetennacomc `eniou`w hi (pitelenau)? (F) How to ask questions

tomorrow Ill be very upset if you do not listen we shall buy some flowers for our mother will you (sing. fem.) put salt on the food? shall you (plur.) watch the news on the TV?

tina moukh eamashoah isjea eksoateam an teanna shoap en han enreeri ethneah tean mav teana koah en ou ehmou eagean ti ekhreah teateanna soms eah ni ou oah hi piteali nav

In the last two examples, you have noticed that the structure of the sentence has not changed. Like the case in French and colloquial Arabic, you just change the tone of voice to inquire about something e.g. `kouws? do you want?, `kna`I? are you coming?. In addition, the question article my could be added to the sentence, again without change in the structure of the sentence. So, the previous questions will be my `kouws? and my `kna`i? `kouws `eouwm ]nou? Ce ]ouws `eouwm ]nou. `mmon ]ows an `eouwm ]nou My teouws `ese `e]anzyb `nrac]? Ce ]ouws `mmon ]ouws an do you want to eat now? yes, I want to eat now no, I do not want to eat now do you want to do to the school tomorrow? yes, I want. no, I do not want ek ou woash eah ou woam tinou seah ti ou woash eah ou woam tinou emmon ti ou woash an eah ou woam tinou mee teah ou woash eah sheah eah ti anzeeb enrasti seah ti ou woash emmon ti ou woash an ekmeav e je piseeni efna e enrasti timev e an je efna e tisoah oun an isje efna e yeh emmon

`kmei`I je picyini `fna`I do you think (that) the doctor will come `nrac]? tomorrow? I do not think (that) he ]meu`I an je `fna`i will come I do not know whether ]cwoun an icje (if) he will come or not `fna`I ie `mmon

(2) VOCABULARY

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`mnai `mmau Ka] Pika] Eswp Ouws Meu`i Aryou `nrac] `nca `ncarac] Piehoou Piejwrh pirouhi Piabot ]rompi Piansasf E;nyou ]rompi e;nyou Comc Pitelenau Niou`w Hi Moukh [i Jerjer `pyi Ws Piws Emasw Niloukouji Picon E;be

here there understand the understanding if/whether want think/believe may be tomorrow towards the day after tomorrow the day the night the evening the month the year the week next/the coming next year watch TV ** the news ** from/on/by/at upset/be upset take play the house read the lesson very the money the brother for/because

emnay emmav kati pikati eshoap ou woash meav e aree you enrasti ensah ensarasti pi eaho ou pi eagoarh pi rouhi pi avot ti rompi pi anshashf eathneeyou ti rompi eathneeyou soms pi teali nav ni ou oah hi moukh tchi jearjear ep ee oash pi oash eamashoah ni loukouji pi son eathveah

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E;be ou ]`hryri Swp Pi`hmou

why the flower buy/accept the salt

eathveah ou ti ehreeri shoap piehmou

** Newly introduced words.

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UNIT 6(1) DIFFERENT IMPERATIVE FORMSWe have seen that most verbs do not change when used in the imperative i.e. when used for a request or to give an order. Examples of verbs given before are: Hemci Ouwm Areh And examples of recently studies verbs: [i Ws ,w ,w ebol/,a ebol Swp Cwoun to take/take to read/read to put/put to forgive/forgive (literally put outside) to buy/to accept/buy/accept to know/know to sit/sit to eat/eat to keep/to study/keep/study

However, the two frequently used verbs mentioned in the last unit `I to come and se meaning to go have special imperative forms. The same applies to the common verb ] which means to give. (A) `I to come: in the imperative form Amou Amy Amwini come (sing. masc.) come (sing. fem.) come (plur.)

(B) se to go: in the imperative form masenak masene masenwten go (sing. masc.) go (sing. fem.) go (plur.)

(C) ] to give: in the imperative form

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Moi (moy)

give (sing. masc., sing. fem., plur.)

Examples of these three important verbs: Amou `mnai ebol ha pek`hmot Amy `eqoun ebol ha pe`hmot Amwini `e payi ebol ha peten`hmot Moi nan `ntekhiryny Moi nyi `noucoucou Moi nyi `n]soury come here if you please come in if you please come to my house, if you please give us your peace give me a minute give me the censer amou emnay eavol ha peak ehmot amee eah khoun eavol ha peah ehmot amoay ni eah pa ee eavol ha peatean ehmot moy nan enteak hireenee moy nee en ou sousou moy nee en ti shouree moy en ni ehreeri eah teak mav masheanak eah tivaki enrasti masheaneah eavol ha pay mah masheah noatean eah epshemmo khean pi anshashf eathnee you

Moi `nni`hryri `etekmau give the flowers to your mother Masenak `e]baki `nrac] Masene ebol ha paima Masenwten `e `psemmo qen piansasf e;nyou go to the city tomorrow get out of this place go abroad next week

In the next unit, we shall learn about more verbs that have special imperative forms.

(2) The Coptic language is unique in having a special way to put theimperative form of verbs in a polite presentation. In this form, you do not have to say please. It is also used in prayers, to express hope and inspiration for the prayers to be heard and accepted. A third use of this form is to mean let. maricaji marekcaji marecaji marefcaji marecaji marencaji let me speak would you speak (sing. masc.) would you speak (sing. fem.) let him speak let her speak let us speak

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maretencaji maroucaji (A) General examples Marenhemci qen (picalwn) Maretenhemci hi ]vorsi ouoh ouwm Icje `fouws `e`I> maref`i (B) In prayers

would you speak (plur.) let them speak

let us sit in the sitting room would you please sit at the table and eat if he wants to come, let him come

marean heamsi khean pisaloan mareatean heamsi hi tiforshi ou woh ou woam isjeah efou woash eah e mareaf e

Marensep`hmot `ntotf `mpireferpe;nanef ouoh `nnayt@ `vnou] `viwt `mpen[oic ouoh pennou] ouoh pencwtyr iycouc pi`,rictoc. Let us give thanks to the Gracious and Merciful God, the Father of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ. mareansheap ehmot entotf empi reafear peath naneaf ouwoh enna eet efnouti efyoat empean tchois ouwoh peannouti ouwoh pean soateer eesous pi ekhristos Marenouwst `mpencwtyr pimairwmi `naga;oc. Let us worship our Saviour, the Good Lover-of-mankind. marean ouwoasht empean soateer pimay roami en aghathos You may have noticed the word sep`hmot `ntotf meaning to thank him. This is a compound word, made of: sep from swp which means accept, `hmot, that means grace, and the object pronoun `ntotf which means from his hand. In Coptic, there are many of these compound verbs. It is worth learning the word tot which means hand, the way it changes as an object pronoun and some of the verbs it forms. Tot Totk To] Totf Totc my hand your hand (sing. masc.) your hand (sing. fem.) his hand her hand

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Toten toteten totou ]sep`hmot `ntotk Tensep`hmot `ntotf `fna,a totf ejen penyi `can]toten qen vai Septotf ]cemne totk

our hand your hands (plur.) their hand I thank you we thank him he will take over (possess) our house she will help us in this shake hands with him I agree with you

Notice the word tot could come as an object pronoun, e.g. in ]sep`hmot `ntotk and as a second subject pronoun in verbs like `fna,a totf ejen, which literally means he will put his hand on.

(3) VOCABULARY(A) ] to give this verb enters in the formation of complex verbs. ] ebol ] tot ] `cbw ] `oci ] hap ] vi ] `mton to sell to help to teach to loose to condemn/to judge to kiss to comfort

(B) [I to take, also enters in the structure of complex verbs. [I `cbw [I semsi [I `wou [I `mkah to learn to use to be glorified to suffer

(C) `I to come is used with prepositions in verbs. `I ebol `I `e`pswi go out/get out to go up e eavol e eah epshoay

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`I `epecyt `I `eqoun `I `e`thy `I hivahou

to go down to come in/to enter to advance/to progress to go back/to retreat

e eah peah seet e eakhoon e eah eathee e hi fahou

The imperative form of these verbs requires changing `I to amou, amy and amwini, e.g. Amou `eqoun come (get) in. (D) Some more vocabulary ]baki Semsi Pisemsi Semmo Se `e`psemmo Semmwou (shemmoa ou) the city to serve the service stranger travel (abroad) strangers/foreigners

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UNIT 7(1) More of verbs that have special imperative forms. There are manycomplex verbs that have the prefix er from the verb `iri, which means to do. In the imperative form the er prefix is changed to ari. Pihwb Erhwb ]helpic Erhelpic Pinobi Ernobi Pisau Ersau the work to work the hope to hope the sin to sin the benefit to benefit

The imperative to these verbs are: arihwb, arihelpic, arinobi, and arisau.

(2) In the absence of the object, the object pronouns `m and `n are changed to:`mmoi `mmok `mmo `mmof `mmoc `mmon `mmwten `mmwou me you (sing. masc.) you (sing. fem) him/it her/it us you (plur.) them

Notice that it is translated to `mmof or `mmoc in Coptic, depending on whether the object is masculine or feminine. ]`cqai `mpiws ]`cqai `mmof Moi nyi `nnijwm Moi nyi `mmwou ]ka] an `mmok I write the lesson I write it give me the books give them (to) me I do not understand you

When the verb takes `e as an object sign, then it changes to: 28

`eroi `erok `ero `erof `eroc `eron `erwten `erwou Hwc `e `vnou] Hwc `erof `cmou `erof kata `pasai `nte tefmetnis] Cwtem `eron> `cmou `eron> areh `eron> aribo`y;in `eron `knacomc `eniou`w hi pitelenau? `mmon> ]nacomc an `ewou

me you (sing. masc.) you (sing. fem.) him/it her/it us you (plur.) them praise God praise Him bless Him according to the abundance of His greatness hear us, bless us, preserve us, help us are you going to watch the news on the TV? no, I shall not watch (them)

As you remember, `e also means to and comes also with the verb hw] that means should. The dealing of `e is the same. `n`;nau `knase `e`psemmo `e amerika? (en eathnav eknasheah eah epsemmoah eah amerrika) ]nase `e`psemmo `eroc qen piabot e;nyou Hw] `erok `e`slyl qen picyou `mpihojhej Sa means to and until, e.g. Masenak sa pimanjwkem ]na`ohi `mnai sarouhi Ha also means to and until, e.g. go to the bath Ill stay here until evening when shall you travel to America?

I shall travel to it next month you should pray in the time of trouble

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`fnatas;o* (efna tasto) ha pefyi * When ; follows c, it sounds like t t.

he will return to his home

Ha also means at and with somebody or at the place of somebody. When combined with ebol, it means away from, e.g. ]naswpi harok `nrac] `wli `mpekjwnt ebol haron Ill be with you (at your home) tomorrow lift your anger away from us

The treatment of sa and ha is the same as `e: Saroi sarok Saro Sarof Saroc Saron Sarwten sarwou haroi harok haro harof haroc haron harwten harwou

(3) THE PAST TENSE(A) The simple past tense is constructed by the addition of ai, ak, are, af, ac, an, areten, and au. aiouwm Akouwm Areouwm Afouwm Acouwm Anouwm Aretenouwm auouwm Some examples: Af`I ouoh afcw] `mmon He came and saved us I ate you ate (sing. masc.) you ate (sing. fem.) he ate she ate we ate you ate (plur.) they ate

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Af[I `n ouwik `ejen nefjij e;ouab `nata[ni ouoh `nat;wleb ouoh `mmakarion Afjoust `e`pswi `e`tve harwk Afsep`hmot af`cmou `erof aferagiazin `mmof (afear ageya zin em mof)

He took bread upon His holy hands (the) spotless, undefiled and blessed He looked up toward the heaven towards You He thanked He blessed it He sanctified it

(B) The continuous past tense is very similar to the simple past. You add: nai, nak, nare, naf, nac, nan, nareten, and nau. Naicaji nem pipwmi qa nef`hbyoou`I (neaf ehvi ou we) Nafqerqer sa `atoou`i I was talking to the man about his business He was snoring until morning

(C) The perfect past tense is used with the simple or continuous past. It tells the action of its verb. It is frequently translated when or as It is made as follows: etai, etak, etare, etaf, etac, etan, etareten, and etau. (D) General examples employing the three past forms Etainau `erof airasi `emasw Etancemni `emosi anmou] `eoutakci Auer`svyri `emasw etau`emi je tencaji `n]acpi `nrem`n,ymi (ti aspi en ream enkeemi) Ouoh hanmys auvwrs `nnou`hbwc hi pimwit Hanke,wouni aukwrj `nhanjal `n`ssyn `ebol qen niiohi ouoh auvwrs `mmon Ouoh af`I `eqoun `eieroucalym `eqoun `epiervei. `etafcomc `e`ptyrf> af`I ebol. when I saw him I was very pleased (happy) as we decided to go, we called a taxi they were very surprised to know (when they knew) that we speak the Coptic language and many people spread their clothes on the road others had cut branches of trees cut from the fields and spread them He entered Jerusalem, into the temple. And after he looked around at everything, he went out.

(4) VOCABULARYErsau to benefit

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Atsau ]metsau `cqai `cqai `ejen `cqai `nca `cqai `ebol (])`cqai (])met`cqai (pi)`cqi (pi)`cqi `njij (pi)`cqai cabol Ka] Jemka] Kathyt Rem`nka] Atka] Erbo`y;in (G) (])bo`y;ia Asai (`p)asai Nis] (])metnis] Ernis] Cw] Picwtyr Picw] Piwik ]jij Pia[ni Era[ni Ata[ni (adj.) ;wleb

useless usefulness to write to write about to register to publish letter writing copy document address to understand to comprehend a person of deep insight/experienced intelligent stupid to help help to increase the increase great greatness to be great to save the Saviour the salvation bread hand defect/stain/spiritual blemish to blemish/spoil the body/spoil the spirit spotless/without defect to spoil/be spoiled/be defiled/pollute/become dirty/become defiled/corrupt

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At;wleb (adj.) Eragiazin Rasi Qen ou]ma] nem ourasi Cemni Cemnytc ]`svyri Er`svyri `emi Pi`emi ]acpi ,ymi rem`n,ymi Hanmys Pimys Hanmys `ncop Note: G = Greek, MG = Modern Greek.

undefiled/pure to sanctify to rejoice with pleasure/welcome to decide to determine miracle/surprise be surprised to know/to realise knowledge/science language Egypt Coptic/Egyptian many people crowd/multitude many times

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