There are a few definite articles in Coptic (Meanwhile English has only got “the”) The choice of which article to use depends on the word’s gender and whether it is singular or plural.
It is useful to divide nouns into three groups: singular masculine, singular feminine and plural
The definite article for singular masculine nouns is ⲡⲓ – Examples:
+ ⲡⲓⲓⲱⲧ – the father
+ ⲡⲓⲣⲁⲛ – the name
+ ⲡⲓϫⲱⲙ – the book
+ ⲡⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ – the man
The definite article for singular feminie nouns is ϯ – Examples:
+ ϯⲙⲁⲩ – the mother
+ ϯⲁⲣⲭⲏ – the begining
+ ϯⲯⲩⲭⲏ – the spirit
+ ϯⲥ̀ϩⲓⲙⲓ – the woman
The definite article for plural nouns from both genders is ⲛⲓ
As discussed in previous lesson; in Coptic the spelling of plural words is often similar to their singular form, in this case we can tell if a word is singular or plural using the article attached to it – examples:
+ ⲡⲓⲣⲁⲛ – the name ⲛⲓⲣⲁⲛ – the names
+ ⲡⲓϫⲱⲙ – the book ⲛⲓϫⲱⲙ – the books
+ ϯⲯⲩⲭⲏ – the spirit ⲛⲓⲯⲩⲭⲏ – the spirits
+ ϯⲙⲁⲩ – the mother ⲛⲓⲙⲁⲩ – the mothers
Also as discussed before there are Coptic words that have different spelling in the plural form – examples:
+ ⲡⲓⲥⲟⲛ – the brother ⲛⲓⲥ̀ⲛⲏⲟⲩ – the brothers
+ ⲡⲓⲓⲱⲧ – the father
ⲛⲓⲓⲟϯ – the fathers
+ ϯⲥ̀ϩⲏⲙⲓ – the woman
ⲛⲓϩⲓⲟⲙⲓ – the women
+ ϯⲫⲉ – the heaven
ⲛⲓⲫⲏⲱⲟⲩⲓ̀ – the heavens
Lesson 2 test
In order to complete the test you need to answer All the questions. When you are done click the “check” button
