Coptic for All - Lesson1-01

Level 1: Lesson 1

The Coptic alphabet: Vowels

Intro

Alpha Ⲁ ⲁ

Ei Ⲉ ⲉ

Eta Ⲏ ⲏ

Yota Ⲓ ⲓ

Omicron Ⲟ ⲟ

Ypsilon Ⲩ ⲩ

Omega Ⲱ ⲱ

Jinkim ( ̀ )

Exercises

Test

Intro

Alpha Ⲁ ⲁ

Ei Ⲉ ⲉ

Eta Ⲏ ⲏ

Yota Ⲓ ⲓ

Omicron Ⲟ ⲟ

Ypsilon Ⲩ ⲩ

Omega Ⲱ ⲱ

Jinkim ( ̀ )

Exercises

Test

Intro

The Coptic Alphabet has 32 letters. These are 24 letters of the Greek alphabet (plus ⲋ which is used as number 6). The last 7 letters are from the Demotic handwriting (ancient Egyptian script)

In this course we will group the letters according to their pronunciation. We will learn their alphabetical order in the last lesson in level 1.

Alpha Ⲁ ⲁ

The letter Alpha: Ⲁ ⲁ

is pronounced same as English letter a in the word "father"

Examples (Alpha is marked with an underline):

Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ

Ⲁⲛⲧⲱⲛⲓⲟⲥ

ⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ

Ⲁⲗⲗⲏⲗⲟⲩⲓⲁ

ⲁⲛⲟⲕ

Ei Ⲉ ⲉ

The letter Ei: Ⲉ ⲉ

is pronounced same as English letter e in the word "great"

Examples (Ei is marked with an underline):

ⲉⲙⲓ

ⲡⲉ

ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ

ϧⲉⲛ

ϫⲉ

Eta Ⲏ ⲏ

The letter Eta: Ⲏ ⲏ

is pronounced same as English letters ee in the word "teen"

Examples (Eta is marked with an underline):

ⲣⲏ

Ⲏⲣⲱⲇⲏⲥ

ϫⲏⲕ

ϣⲏⲡ

ⲏⲣⲡ

Yota Ⲓ ⲓ

The letter Yota: Ⲓ ⲓ

is pronounced same as English letter i in the word "sing"

Examples (Yota is marked with an underline):

ⲡⲓⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ

ⲛⲓⲙ

ⲙⲓⲥⲓ

Ⲓⲥⲁⲁⲕ

Ⲫ̀ⲓⲱⲧ

Omicron Ⲟ ⲟ

The letter Omicron: Ⲟ ⲟ

is pronounced same as English letter o in the word "on"

Examples (Omicron is marked with an underline):

ϯϫⲟⲙ

ⲟⲣⲑⲟⲇⲟⲝⲟⲥ

ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲁⲩⲣⲟⲥ

ⲁⲛⲟⲕ

ⲙⲟϣⲓ

Ypsilon Ⲩ ⲩ

The letter Ypsilon: Ⲩ ⲩ

is pronounced same as English letters ee in the word "teen". It can also be coupled with another vowel to form one sound. We will explain this point in detail in another lesson.

Examples (Ypsilon is marked with an underline):

ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲟⲥ

ϩⲩⲙⲛⲟⲥ

ⲯⲩⲭⲏ

ⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁ

ⲩⲓⲟⲥ

Omega Ⲱ ⲱ

The letter Omega: Ⲱ ⲱ

is pronounced same as English letter o in the word "boat"

Examples (Omega is marked with an underline):

ⲡ̀ⲱⲛϧ

ⲧⲁⲥⲱⲛⲓ

ⲁϥⲥⲱϯ

ⲧⲉⲛⲱϣ

ⲫ̀ⲓⲱⲧ

Jinkim ( ̀ )

The Jinkim: ̀ is not actually a letter but a diacretic (small vowel that is written on top of other letters) and is pronounced as a small “e” sound before the letter it is on top of

Examples (The letters with jinkim are marked with an underline):

Ⲫ̀ⲛⲟⲩϯ

ⲭ̀ⲟⲩⲁⲃ

ⲡ̀ⲕⲁϩⲓ

ⲑ̀ⲙⲁⲩ

Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ

Exercises

Test

Lesson 1 test

In order to complete the test you need to answer All the questions. When you are done you will see "finish" button in the end

Please share your thoughts and questions with us

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Level 1

+ Learn the Coptic Alphabet

+ Read simple words and examples from the liturgy

+ Practice reading the Lord's prayer:

Ⲡⲉⲛⲓⲱⲧ ⲉⲧϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓⲫⲏⲟⲩⲓ

Level 2

+ Indefinite and definite articles

+ Present tense

+ Past tense

+ Possessive adjectives

+ Adjectives & association

+ Structure of Coptic sentence

Level 3

+ Demonstrative pronouns

+ Negation of the past tense

+ Future tense

+ 2^nd Past tense

+ Possessive pronouns

+ Studying the First Canticle

Level 4

+ Imperative

+ Verb relation to object 2^nd and 3^rd degrees

+ Past continuous

+ Study the Lord’s prayer:

Ⲡⲉⲛⲓⲱⲧ ⲉⲧϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓⲫⲏⲟⲩⲓ

Level 5

Advanced level, the curriculum will be tailored to the participants’ needs