Welcome to Lesson 16 of the Latinum Institute Coptic Course. Today's word is ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ (ntof), "he". In Lesson 15 you learned ⲉⲓⲣⲉ (eire), "to do, to make", and you have already met the letter ϥ in many of its forms: ⲁϥⲁⲁϥ "he did it", ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ "he said". This lesson gathers them together. Like the rest of the course, it uses Sahidic Coptic, the literary dialect of Upper Egypt.
What does ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ mean in Coptic?
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ is the independent pronoun of the third person masculine singular: "he", and also "it" when the thing referred to is a masculine noun (Lesson 10). It stands on its own as a full word. But in Coptic, "he" is far more often a single letter, ϥ (f), fastened to a verb prefix, a preposition or a noun. Learning to see that small ϥ is the real work of this lesson.
How does Coptic say "he" differently from English?
English has one word, "he", and puts it in front of the verb. Coptic has three kinds of "he":
- the independent pronoun ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ, used for emphasis or contrast: "he is the one", "but he…" - the prefix ϥ- and the prefixes built on it (ⲁϥ-, ϥⲛⲁ-, ⲛ̄ϥ- … ⲁⲛ), which carry the subject of a verb: ϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ "he hears", ⲁϥⲉⲓ "he came" - the suffix -ϥ, attached to prepositions and verbs as an object: ⲛⲁϥ "to him", ⲉⲣⲟϥ "at him", ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ "him"
And "his" is the possessive article ⲡⲉϥ- (before a masculine noun), ⲧⲉϥ- (before a feminine noun), ⲛⲉϥ- (before a plural): ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ "his father", ⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲁⲩ "his mother", ⲛⲉϥⲃⲁⲗ "his eyes".
There is also a "he" that has no ϥ at all. In a sentence of the type "he is a teacher", Coptic says ⲟⲩⲥⲁϩ ⲡⲉ, "a teacher (he) is". The little word ⲡⲉ both joins the sentence together and stands for "he".
Where does the word come from?
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ continues Egyptian ntf, "he", which is built on the same suffix -f that Coptic still writes as ϥ. The Bohairic dialect, the language of the Coptic liturgy, writes it ⲛ̄ⲑⲟϥ (nthof); Akhmimic and Fayyumic write ⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥ (ntaf).
Script and romanization in this lesson
Line b of each example romanizes the Coptic letter by letter, as in Lesson 15: ⲏ = ē, ⲱ = ō, ϣ = š, ϫ = j, ϭ = č, ϩ = h, ϥ = f, ϯ = ti, ⲑ = th, ⲫ = ph, ⲟⲩ = ou. A stroke over a consonant (ⲙ̄, ⲛ̄, ⲣ̄, ϥ̄) marks it as a syllable by itself. The romanization writes the consonant plainly, and the pronunciation in parentheses shows the short vowel you say with it ("em", "en", "ef"). The pronunciation respellings are a guide for English readers. Sahidic pronunciation is a scholarly reconstruction, not a living tradition.
Key Takeaways
- ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ is "he" (and "it" for masculine nouns), used for emphasis and contrast - Most of the time "he" is the letter ϥ: as a subject prefix (ϥ-, ⲁϥ-, ϥⲛⲁ-), as an object suffix (ⲛⲁϥ, ⲉⲣⲟϥ, ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ), and inside "his" (ⲡⲉϥ-, ⲧⲉϥ-, ⲛⲉϥ-) - In "he is a …" sentences, ⲡⲉ stands for "he": ⲟⲩⲥⲁϩ ⲡⲉ "he is a teacher" - When a noun is the subject, the ϥ of the prefix disappears: ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲛⲁⲉⲓ "his father will come" - ⲡⲉϥ- "his" agrees with the thing owned, not with the owner: ⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲁⲩ "his mother"
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Examples 16.1–16.10 are constructed by the Latinum Institute from verified Sahidic forms and patterns. Examples 16.11–16.15 are quoted from the Sahidic New Testament (Horner's edition). Word division and supralinear strokes are normalized to this course's usage, and the edition's diaeresis (ⲓ̈) is omitted; the spelling is otherwise Horner's, so John 1:8 has ⲡⲟⲩⲟⲓⲛ for the usual ⲡⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ "the light". ⲓ̄ⲥ̄ in 16.14 is the sacred abbreviation of ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲩⲥ, "Jesus", and is read as the full name.
16.1a ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ he ⲡⲉ it-is
16.1b ntof (en-TOF) he pe (peh) is.M
16.2a ϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ he-listens
16.2b fsōtm (ef-SOH-tem) PRES.he-hear
16.3a ⲁϥⲉⲓ he-came ⲉⲡⲏⲓ to-the-house
16.3b afei (af-EE) PERF-he-come epēi (e-PAY-ee) to-the.M-house
16.4a ⲟⲩⲥⲁϩ a-teacher ⲡⲉ he-is
16.4b ousah (oo-SAH) a-teacher pe (peh) is.M
16.5a ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ his-father ⲛⲁⲉⲓ will-come ⲛ̄ⲣⲁⲥⲧⲉ tomorrow
16.5b pefeiōt (pef-ee-OHT) his.M-father naei (na-EE) FUT-come nraste (en-RAS-te) tomorrow
16.6a ⲁⲓⲛⲁⲩ I-saw ⲉⲣⲟϥ at-him ϩⲛ̄ in ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ the-church
16.6b ainau (ai-NOW) PERF.I-see erof (e-ROF) to-him hn (hen) in tekklēsia (tek-KLAY-see-a) the.F-church
16.7a ⲛ̄ϥⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ he-not-knows ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲓ me ⲁⲛ not
16.7b nfsooun (en-ef-SOHN) NEG-he-know mmoi (em-MOY) OBJ-me an (an) NEG
16.8a ⲁⲓϯ I-gave ⲛⲁϥ to-him ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ his-book ⲙ̄ⲡⲟⲟⲩ today
16.8b aiti (ai-TEE) PERF.I-give naf (naf) to-him mpefjōōme (em-pef-JOH-me) OBJ-his.M-book mpoou (em-POH-oo) today
16.9a ⲛⲉϥϣⲗⲏⲗ he-was-praying ⲡⲉ it-was ϩⲛ̄ in ⲧⲉϥⲣⲓ his-cell
16.9b nefšlēl (nef-SHLAYL) IMPF-he-pray pe (peh) IMPF.PTCL hn (hen) in tefri (tef-REE) his.F-cell
16.10a ⲁⲛⲟⲕ I ϯⲛⲁⲃⲱⲕ I-will-go ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ he ⲇⲉ but ϥⲛⲁϭⲱ he-will-stay
16.10b anok (a-NOK) I tinabōk (tee-na-BOHK) I-FUT-go ntof (en-TOF) he de (deh) but fnačō (ef-na-CHOH) he-FUT-remain
16.11a ⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲉ he-came-to-be ⲛ̄ϭⲓ namely ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ a-man ⲉⲁⲩⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩϥ they-having-sent-him ⲉⲃⲟⲗ out ϩⲓⲧⲙ̄ through ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ God ⲉⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ his-name-being ⲡⲉ is ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ John
16.11b afšōpe (af-SHOH-pe) PERF-he-become nči (en-CHEE) SUBJ ourōme (oo-ROH-me) a-man eautnnoouf (e-aw-ten-NOHF) CIRC-PERF-they-send-him ebol (e-BOL) out hitm (hee-TEM) through pnoute (p-NOO-te) the.M-God epefran (e-pef-RAN) CIRC-his.M-name pe (peh) is.M iōhannēs (ee-oh-HAN-nays) John
16.12a ⲛⲉⲡⲉⲧⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ that-one-was ⲁⲛ not ⲡⲉ is ⲡⲟⲩⲟⲓⲛ the-light ⲁⲗⲗⲁ but ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ so-that ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ he ⲉϥⲉⲣ̄ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲣⲉ he-might-do-witness ⲉⲧⲃⲉ concerning ⲡⲟⲩⲟⲓⲛ the-light
16.12b nepetmmau (ne-pet-em-MOW) IMPF-the.M-REL-there an (an) NEG pe (peh) is.M pouoin (poo-OYN) the.M-light alla (AL-la) but jekas (je-KAS) so-that ntof (en-TOF) he efermntre (ef-er-men-TRE) FUT.III-he-do-witness etbe (et-BE) concerning pouoin (poo-OYN) the.M-light
16.13a ⲛ̄ⲁϣ in-what ⲇⲉ but ⲛ̄ϩⲉ manner ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ now ϥⲛⲁⲩ he-sees ⲉⲃⲟⲗ out ⲛ̄ⲧⲛ̄ⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ we-not-know ⲁⲛ not
16.13b naš (en-ASH) in-what de (deh) but nhe (en-HEH) manner tenou (te-NOO) now fnau (ef-NOW) PRES.he-see ebol (e-BOL) out ntnsooun (en-ten-SOHN) NEG-we-know an (an) NEG
16.14a ⲡⲉϫⲉ said ⲓ̄ⲥ̄ Jesus ⲛⲁϥ to-him ϫⲉ that ⲁⲕⲛⲁⲩ you-have-seen ⲉⲣⲟϥ him ⲁⲩⲱ and ⲡⲉⲧϣⲁϫⲉ the-one-who-speaks ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲕ with-you ⲡⲉⲧⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ that-one ⲡⲉ is
16.14b peje (pe-JE) said is (ee-ay-SOOS) Jesus naf (naf) to-him je (je) that aknau (ak-NOW) PERF-you.M-see erof (e-ROF) to-him auō (a-WOH) and petšaje (pet-SHA-je) the.M-REL-speak nmmak (nem-MAK) with-you.M petmmau (pet-em-MOW) the.M-REL-there pe (peh) is.M
16.15a ⲁϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛϥ̄ he-raised-himself ⲛ̄ϥϩⲙ̄ he-not-in ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ this-place ⲁⲛ not
16.15b aftōounf (af-TOH-oon-ef) PERF-he-raise-him nfhm (en-ef-HEM) NEG-he-in peima (pee-MA) this.M-place an (an) NEG
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16.1 ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲡⲉ. (ntof pe) "It is he."
16.2 ϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄. (fsōtm) "He is listening."
16.3 ⲁϥⲉⲓ ⲉⲡⲏⲓ. (afei epēi) "He came home."
16.4 ⲟⲩⲥⲁϩ ⲡⲉ. (ousah pe) "He is a teacher."
16.5 ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲛⲁⲉⲓ ⲛ̄ⲣⲁⲥⲧⲉ. (pefeiōt naei nraste) "His father will come tomorrow."
16.6 ⲁⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ. (ainau erof hn tekklēsia) "I saw him in the church."
16.7 ⲛ̄ϥⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲓ ⲁⲛ. (nfsooun mmoi an) "He does not know me."
16.8 ⲁⲓϯ ⲛⲁϥ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲙ̄ⲡⲟⲟⲩ. (aiti naf mpefjōōme mpoou) "I gave him his book today."
16.9 ⲛⲉϥϣⲗⲏⲗ ⲡⲉ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉϥⲣⲓ. (nefšlēl pe hn tefri) "He was praying in his cell."
16.10 ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ϯⲛⲁⲃⲱⲕ, ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲇⲉ ϥⲛⲁϭⲱ. (anok tinabōk, ntof de fnačō) "I shall go, but he will stay."
16.11 ⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲁⲩⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩϥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲙ̄ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ, ⲉⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ. (afšōpe nči ourōme eautnnoouf ebol hitm pnoute, epefran pe iōhannēs) "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." (John 1:6)
16.12 ⲛⲉⲡⲉⲧⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲟⲩⲟⲓⲛ, ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲉϥⲉⲣ̄ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲣⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲟⲩⲟⲓⲛ. (nepetmmau an pe pouoin, alla jekas ntof efermntre etbe pouoin) "He was not the light, but (he came) so that he might bear witness to the light." (John 1:8)
16.13 ⲛ̄ⲁϣ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̄ϩⲉ ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ, ⲛ̄ⲧⲛ̄ⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲛ. (naš de nhe tenou fnau ebol, ntnsooun an) "But how he now sees, we do not know." (John 9:21)
16.14 ⲡⲉϫⲉ ⲓ̄ⲥ̄ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲕⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ, ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉⲧϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲕ ⲡⲉⲧⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ ⲡⲉ. (peje is naf je aknau erof, auō petšaje nmmak petmmau pe) "Jesus said to him, 'You have seen him, and the one who is speaking with you is he.'" (John 9:37)
16.15 ⲁϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛϥ̄, ⲛ̄ϥϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ ⲁⲛ. (aftōounf, nfhm peima an) "He has risen; he is not here." (Mark 16:6)
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16.1 ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲡⲉ.
16.2 ϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄.
16.3 ⲁϥⲉⲓ ⲉⲡⲏⲓ.
16.4 ⲟⲩⲥⲁϩ ⲡⲉ.
16.5 ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲛⲁⲉⲓ ⲛ̄ⲣⲁⲥⲧⲉ.
16.6 ⲁⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ.
16.7 ⲛ̄ϥⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲓ ⲁⲛ.
16.8 ⲁⲓϯ ⲛⲁϥ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲙ̄ⲡⲟⲟⲩ.
16.9 ⲛⲉϥϣⲗⲏⲗ ⲡⲉ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉϥⲣⲓ.
16.10 ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ϯⲛⲁⲃⲱⲕ, ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲇⲉ ϥⲛⲁϭⲱ.
16.11 ⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲁⲩⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩϥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲙ̄ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ, ⲉⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ.
16.12 ⲛⲉⲡⲉⲧⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲟⲩⲟⲓⲛ, ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲉϥⲉⲣ̄ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲣⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲟⲩⲟⲓⲛ.
16.13 ⲛ̄ⲁϣ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̄ϩⲉ ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ, ⲛ̄ⲧⲛ̄ⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲛ.
16.14 ⲡⲉϫⲉ ⲓ̄ⲥ̄ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲕⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ, ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉⲧϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲕ ⲡⲉⲧⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ ⲡⲉ.
16.15 ⲁϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛϥ̄, ⲛ̄ϥϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ ⲁⲛ.
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These are the grammar rules for ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ (ntof), "he", and the other forms of "he".
1. The independent pronoun
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ belongs to the set of independent personal pronouns:
- ⲁⲛⲟⲕ (anok) "I"; ⲁⲛⲟⲛ (anon) "we" - ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲕ (ntok) "you (m.)"; ⲛ̄ⲧⲟ (nto) "you (f.)"; ⲛ̄ⲧⲱⲧⲛ̄ (ntōtn) "you (pl.)" - ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ (ntof) "he, it (m.)"; ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲥ (ntos) "she, it (f.)"; ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲩ (ntoou) "they"
A verb never needs ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ: the prefix already says "he". ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ is added for weight. It is used:
- as the predicate of "it is he": ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲡⲉ (16.1) - in contrast, often with ⲇⲉ "but": ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲇⲉ ϥⲛⲁϭⲱ "but he will stay" (16.10) - as the stressed subject of a purpose or future clause: ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲉϥⲉⲣ̄ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲣⲉ "so that he might bear witness" (16.12) - in the cleft sentence "it is he who…": ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲧⲟⲩϫⲟ "for it is he who will save" (Section F) - with ϩⲱⲱϥ "also, for his part": ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ϩⲱⲱϥ "he too" (15.9 and 16.26)
2. "He" as subject: the prefixes
In every tense, "he" is written with ϥ in the verb prefix. With the verb ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ "hear":
- Present: ϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ (fsōtm) "he hears" - Negative present: ⲛ̄ϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲁⲛ (nfsōtm an) "he does not hear" - Perfect: ⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ (afsōtm) "he heard" - Negative perfect: ⲙ̄ⲡϥ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ (mpfsōtm) "he did not hear" - Future: ϥⲛⲁⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ (fnasōtm) "he will hear" - Imperfect: ⲛⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲡⲉ (nefsōtm pe) "he was hearing" - Circumstantial: ⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ (efsōtm) "while he hears, he hearing" - Aorist (habitual): ϣⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ (šafsōtm) "he hears (as a rule)" - Future III (in purpose clauses): ⲉϥⲉⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ (efesōtm) "that he may hear" - Relative perfect: ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ (entafsōtm) "who heard"
The present needs no verb "to be" with a place or a state either: ⲛ̄ϥϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ ⲁⲛ "he is not in this place" (16.15), ⲛⲉϥϣⲗⲏⲗ ⲡⲉ "he was praying" (16.9).
Take care with the verb ⲛⲁⲩ "see". ϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ (16.13) is the present, "he sees": ϥ- + ⲛⲁⲩ. It is not the future prefix ϥⲛⲁ-, which would give ϥⲛⲁⲛⲁⲩ "he will see".
3. When the subject is a noun
When a noun is the subject, it takes the place of ϥ. The present has no prefix at all, and the other tenses keep only their vowel or consonant:
- ϥⲛⲁⲉⲓ "he will come" but ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲛⲁⲉⲓ "his father will come" (16.5) - ⲁϥⲉⲓ "he came" but ⲁⲩⲥⲟⲛ ⲉⲓ "a brother came" (Lesson 15, 15.18)
The noun can also be put after the verb with ⲛ̄ϭⲓ "namely". Then the verb keeps its ϥ, and the noun explains it: ⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ "he came to be, namely a man" = "there was a man" (16.11).
4. "Him": the suffix -ϥ
After a preposition or a verb in its presuffixal form, "him" is the suffix -ϥ. After a consonant it is written with a stroke, ϥ̄:
- ⲛⲁϥ (naf) "to him, for him" (16.8, 16.14) - ⲉⲣⲟϥ (erof) "to him, at him": ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ "see him" (16.6, 16.14) - ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ (mmof) "him" (direct object, Lesson 15) - ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁϥ (nmmaf) "with him" - ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧϥ̄ (nhētf) "in him, in it" - ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̄ (ntootf) "from him" (16.24) - ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̄ (hitootf) "through him" (John 1:7) - ⲉϫⲱϥ (ejōf) "upon him, for him" (in prayer) - on verbs: ⲁⲁϥ "do it" (Lesson 15), ⲉⲁⲩⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩϥ "having sent him" (16.11), ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛϥ̄ "raise him(self)" (16.15)
In ⲁϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛϥ̄ (16.15) "he" appears twice in one word: ⲁϥ- is the subject and -ϥ̄ the object. "He raised himself" is the Coptic way of saying "he has risen".
5. "His": the possessive article
- ⲡⲉϥ- before a masculine noun: ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ "his father", ⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ "his name" - ⲧⲉϥ- before a feminine noun: ⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲁⲩ "his mother", ⲧⲉϥⲣⲓ "his cell" - ⲛⲉϥ- before a plural: ⲛⲉϥⲃⲁⲗ "his eyes"
The first letter (ⲡ, ⲧ, ⲛ) agrees with the thing owned; the ϥ tells you the owner is "he".
6. "He is a …": ⲡⲉ
The independent pronoun is not needed in a sentence that says what someone is. The copula ⲡⲉ is enough, and it agrees with "he": ⲟⲩⲥⲁϩ ⲡⲉ "he is a teacher" (16.4). For "she" it would be ⲧⲉ, for "they" ⲛⲉ. Coptic also uses ⲡⲉⲧⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ, literally "the one who is there", "that man", where English says "he": ⲡⲉⲧϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲕ ⲡⲉⲧⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ ⲡⲉ "the one speaking with you is he" (16.14).
Common Mistakes
- Putting ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ in front of every verb as English puts "he". ϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ already means "he hears"; ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ adds emphasis - Keeping ϥ when a noun is the subject. Write ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲛⲁⲉⲓ, not *ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ ϥⲛⲁⲉⲓ, unless the noun is placed after the verb with ⲛ̄ϭⲓ - Choosing ⲡⲉϥ- or ⲧⲉϥ- by the owner. "His mother" is ⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲁⲩ, because ⲙⲁⲁⲩ is feminine - Reading ⲛ̄ϥ- as always negative. ⲛ̄ϥⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ … ⲁⲛ is "he does not know" (16.7), but ⲛ̄ϥ- without ⲁⲛ, after another verb, is the conjunctive "and he…" - Mixing up ⲛⲁϥ "to him" with ⲛⲁⲓ "to me" (Lesson 15) and ⲛⲁⲩ "to them" or "see"
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Frequency. The letter ϥ is probably the commonest grammatical sign in Coptic narrative. The Gospels and the lives of the saints are told about a "he", and almost every line carries ⲁϥ-, ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ, ⲛⲁϥ or ⲡⲉϥ-. A reader who can pick out the ϥ can follow who is doing what before knowing every word.
A letter borrowed from Demotic. ϥ is one of the letters that Coptic took from Demotic, the native Egyptian script, because Greek had no letter for the sound /f/. The sign that writes "he" in Coptic thus goes back, through Demotic, to the horned-viper hieroglyph that wrote the same suffix -f in the time of the pharaohs.
Who is "he"? In the Gospel of John, "he" becomes a question. In chapter 9 the neighbours of the man born blind argue: ϩⲉⲛⲕⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲛⲉⲩϫⲱ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ, "some were saying, 'This is he'" (John 9:9). His parents answer that they do not know how he now sees (16.13), and at the end Jesus tells him that the one speaking with him "is he" (16.14). The pronoun carries the drama of recognition.
Dialects. Sahidic ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ is Bohairic ⲛ̄ⲑⲟϥ, the form heard in the Coptic Orthodox liturgy today. The prefixes and suffixes (ⲁϥ-, ⲡⲉϥ-, ⲛⲁϥ) are the same in both dialects, which is one reason a reader of Sahidic can follow a Bohairic text.
Idioms
- ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲡⲉ "it is he", the answer to "who is it?" - ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲇⲉ "but he", the usual way a story turns from one character to another - ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ϩⲱⲱϥ "he too, he for his part" - ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲁϥ "he said to him", the commonest line in Coptic narrative
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The Gospel of Matthew 1:21, the angel's words to Joseph, in the Sahidic version. Text from G. W. Horner, The Coptic Version of the New Testament in the Southern Dialect, otherwise called Sahidic and Thebaic (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1911–1924), as given in the STEP Bible digital edition (CopSahHorner). Word division and supralinear strokes are normalized to this course's usage. The name Jesus is written as a sacred abbreviation, ⲓ̄ⲥ̄, for ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲩⲥ.
The verse was chosen because it shows every kind of "he" in one sentence: the possessive ⲡⲉϥ- twice, and the independent ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ in its most typical use, the emphatic "it is he who…".
16.F1a ⲥⲛⲁϫⲡⲟ she-will-bear ⲇⲉ and ⲛ̄ⲟⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ a-son ⲛ̄ⲅ̄ⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ and-you-will-call ⲉⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ to-his-name ϫⲉ namely ⲓ̄ⲥ̄ Jesus ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ he ⲅⲁⲣ for ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲧⲟⲩϫⲟ the-one-who-will-save ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥⲗⲁⲟⲥ his-people ⲉⲃⲟⲗ out ϩⲛ̄ from ⲛⲉⲩⲛⲟⲃⲉ their-sins
16.F1b snajpo (sna-JPO) she-FUT-bear de (deh) and noušēre (en-oo-SHAY-re) OBJ-a-son ngmoute (eng-MOO-te) CONJ-you.M-call epefran (e-pef-RAN) to-his.M-name je (je) namely is (ee-ay-SOOS) Jesus ntof (en-TOF) he gar (gar) for petnatoujo (pet-na-too-JO) the.M-REL-FUT-save mpeflaos (em-pef-LA-os) OBJ-his.M-people ebol (e-BOL) out hn (hen) in neunobe (new-NO-be) their.PL-sins
ⲥⲛⲁϫⲡⲟ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̄ⲟⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ, ⲛ̄ⲅ̄ⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ϫⲉ ⲓ̄ⲥ̄. ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲧⲟⲩϫⲟ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥⲗⲁⲟⲥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲩⲛⲟⲃⲉ.
"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who will save his people from their sins."
ⲥⲛⲁϫⲡⲟ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̄ⲟⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ, ⲛ̄ⲅ̄ⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ϫⲉ ⲓ̄ⲥ̄. ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲧⲟⲩϫⲟ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥⲗⲁⲟⲥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲩⲛⲟⲃⲉ.
ⲥⲛⲁϫⲡⲟ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̄ⲟⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ: "she will bear a son". ⲥⲛⲁ- is the future with the feminine subject ⲥ "she", the partner of ϥⲛⲁ- "he will". ϫⲡⲟ is "bear, give birth to", and its indefinite object takes ⲛ̄-.
ⲛ̄ⲅ̄ⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ϫⲉ ⲓ̄ⲥ̄: "and you shall call his name Jesus". ⲛ̄ⲅ̄- is the conjunctive, second person masculine: it continues the future of the first clause, "and you (will)…". ⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉ- is "call", and ϫⲉ introduces the name. The ϥ of ⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ, "his name", refers to the son just mentioned.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲧⲟⲩϫⲟ: "for it is he who will save". This is a cleft sentence: ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ stands first and is defined by ⲡⲉⲧ- "the one who", with the future ⲛⲁ- and the verb ⲧⲟⲩϫⲟ "save". Here ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ cannot be replaced by a prefix. The verse explains the name, and the pronoun picks out the person: he, and no other. The Greek ⲅⲁⲣ "for" is kept as a loanword, in second position as in Greek.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥⲗⲁⲟⲥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲩⲛⲟⲃⲉ: "his people from their sins". ⲙ̄- marks the definite object, as it may in any tense. ⲡⲉϥ- returns once more, so "he" runs through the whole verse: ⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ, ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ, ⲡⲉϥⲗⲁⲟⲥ. The verse then changes to ⲛⲉⲩ- "their", because ⲗⲁⲟⲥ "people" is thought of as many persons. ⲛⲟⲃⲉ "sin" is the noun you met in the compound ⲣ̄ⲛⲟⲃⲉ "to sin" (Lesson 15).
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A short dialogue composed by the Latinum Institute for this lesson. It is not a quotation from any ancient text. Two women, Maria and Sophia, talk at the well about a stranger who has come to the town. Every line uses "he" in one of its forms.
16.16a Maria: ⲛⲓⲙ who ⲡⲉ is ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ the-man ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲉⲓ who-came ⲉⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ to-the-town ⲙ̄ⲡⲟⲟⲩ today
16.16b Maria: nim (neem) who pe (peh) is.M prōme (p-ROH-me) the.M-man entafei (en-taf-EE) REL.PERF-he-come etpolis (et-PO-lees) to-the.F-town mpoou (em-POH-oo) today
16.17a Sophia: ⲟⲩⲥⲁⲉⲓⲛ a-physician ⲡⲉ he-is
16.17b Sophia: ousaein (oo-sa-EEN) a-physician pe (peh) is.M
16.18a Maria: ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ he ⲟⲩⲉⲃⲟⲗ one-from ⲧⲱⲛ where ⲡⲉ is
16.18b Maria: ntof (en-TOF) he ouebol (oo-e-BOL) INDEF-from tōn (tohn) where pe (peh) is.M
16.19a Sophia: ⲟⲩⲉⲃⲟⲗ one-from ϩⲛ̄ in ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ Shmoun ⲡⲉ he-is
16.19b Sophia: ouebol (oo-e-BOL) INDEF-from hn (hen) in šmoun (SHMOON) Shmoun pe (peh) is.M
16.20a Maria: ⲁⲣⲉⲛⲁⲩ you-saw ⲉⲣⲟϥ him
16.20b Maria: arenau (a-re-NOW) PERF.you.F-see erof (e-ROF) to-him
16.21a Sophia: ⲁⲓⲛⲁⲩ I-saw ⲉⲣⲟϥ him ⲉϥϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ he-sitting ϩⲁⲧⲙ̄ beside ⲡⲣⲟ the-door ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ of-the-church
16.21b Sophia: ainau (ai-NOW) PERF.I-see erof (e-ROF) to-him efhmoos (ef-HMOHS) CIRC-he-sit.STAT hatm (ha-TEM) beside pro (p-RO) the.M-door ntekklēsia (en-tek-KLAY-see-a) of-the.F-church
16.22a Maria: ⲟⲩ what ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲁⲁϥ the-which-he-did-it
16.22b Maria: ou (oo) what pentafaaf (pen-taf-AAF) the.M-REL.PERF-he-do-it.M
16.23a Sophia: ⲁϥⲧⲁⲗϭⲟ he-healed ⲙ̄ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ the-son ⲙ̄ⲡⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ of-the-priest
16.23b Sophia: aftalčo (af-tal-CHO) PERF-he-heal mpšēre (em-p-SHAY-re) OBJ-the.M-son mppresbuteros (em-p-pres-BOO-te-ros) of-the.M-priest
16.24a Maria: ⲁϥϫⲓ he-took ⲛ̄ϩⲁⲧ silver ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̄ from-him
16.24b Maria: afji (af-JEE) PERF-he-take nhat (en-HAT) OBJ-silver ntootf (en-TOHT-ef) from-him
16.25a Sophia: ⲙ̄ⲡϥ̄ϫⲓ he-did-not-take ⲗⲁⲁⲩ anything
16.25b Sophia: mpfji (em-pef-JEE) NEG.PERF-he-take laau (LAH-oo) anything
16.26a Sophia: ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ he ϩⲱⲱϥ for-his-part ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ he-said ϫⲉ that ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ God ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲁⲗϭⲟϥ the-one-who-healed-him
16.26b Sophia: ntof (en-TOF) he hōōf (HOHF) also-he pejaf (pe-JAF) said-he je (je) that pnoute (p-NOO-te) the.M-God pentaftalčof (pen-taf-tal-CHOF) the.M-REL.PERF-he-heal-him
16.27a Maria: ϥⲛⲁϭⲱ he-will-stay ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲛ with-us
16.27b Maria: fnačō (ef-na-CHOH) he-FUT-remain nmman (nem-MAN) with-us
16.28a Sophia: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲛ no ϥⲛⲁⲃⲱⲕ he-will-go ⲛ̄ⲣⲁⲥⲧⲉ tomorrow
16.28b Sophia: mmon (em-MON) no fnabōk (ef-na-BOHK) he-FUT-go nraste (en-RAS-te) tomorrow
16.29a Maria: ⲙⲁⲣⲛ̄ⲃⲱⲕ let-us-go ⲛ̄ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲁⲩ and-we-see ⲉⲣⲟϥ him ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ now
16.29b Maria: marnbōk (mar-en-BOHK) JUSS-we-go ntnnau (en-ten-NOW) CONJ-we-see erof (e-ROF) to-him tenou (te-NOO) now
16.30a Sophia: ⲙⲁⲣⲛ̄ⲃⲱⲕ let-us-go ⲁⲩⲱ and ϥⲛⲁϣⲗⲏⲗ he-will-pray ⲉϫⲱⲛ for-us
16.30b Sophia: marnbōk (mar-en-BOHK) JUSS-we-go auō (a-WOH) and fnašlēl (ef-na-SHLAYL) he-FUT-pray ejōn (e-JOHN) upon-us
16.16 ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ: ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲉⲓ ⲉⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲙ̄ⲡⲟⲟⲩ; (nim pe prōme entafei etpolis mpoou) Maria: "Who is the man who came to the town today?"
16.17 ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ: ⲟⲩⲥⲁⲉⲓⲛ ⲡⲉ. (ousaein pe) Sophia: "He is a physician."
16.18 ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ: ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲟⲩⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲧⲱⲛ ⲡⲉ; (ntof ouebol tōn pe) Maria: "And he, where is he from?"
16.19 ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ: ⲟⲩⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄ ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲡⲉ. (ouebol hn šmoun pe) Sophia: "He is from Shmoun."
16.20 ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ: ⲁⲣⲉⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ; (arenau erof) Maria: "Have you seen him?"
16.21 ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ: ⲁⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉϥϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ϩⲁⲧⲙ̄ ⲡⲣⲟ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ. (ainau erof efhmoos hatm pro ntekklēsia) Sophia: "I saw him sitting by the door of the church."
16.22 ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ: ⲟⲩ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲁⲁϥ; (ou pentafaaf) Maria: "What has he done?"
16.23 ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ: ⲁϥⲧⲁⲗϭⲟ ⲙ̄ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙ̄ⲡⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ. (aftalčo mpšēre mppresbuteros) Sophia: "He healed the priest's son."
16.24 ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ: ⲁϥϫⲓ ⲛ̄ϩⲁⲧ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̄; (afji nhat ntootf) Maria: "Did he take money from him?"
16.25 ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ: ⲙ̄ⲡϥ̄ϫⲓ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ. (mpfji laau) Sophia: "He took nothing."
16.26 ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ: ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ϩⲱⲱϥ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲁⲗϭⲟϥ. (ntof hōōf pejaf je pnoute pentaftalčof) Sophia: "He himself said, 'It is God who healed him.'"
16.27 ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ: ϥⲛⲁϭⲱ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲛ; (fnačō nmman) Maria: "Will he stay with us?"
16.28 ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲛ, ϥⲛⲁⲃⲱⲕ ⲛ̄ⲣⲁⲥⲧⲉ. (mmon, fnabōk nraste) Sophia: "No, he will leave tomorrow."
16.29 ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ: ⲙⲁⲣⲛ̄ⲃⲱⲕ ⲛ̄ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ. (marnbōk ntnnau erof tenou) Maria: "Let us go and see him now."
16.30 ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ: ⲙⲁⲣⲛ̄ⲃⲱⲕ, ⲁⲩⲱ ϥⲛⲁϣⲗⲏⲗ ⲉϫⲱⲛ. (marnbōk, auō fnašlēl ejōn) Sophia: "Let us go, and he will pray for us."
16.16 ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ: ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲉⲓ ⲉⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲙ̄ⲡⲟⲟⲩ;
16.17 ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ: ⲟⲩⲥⲁⲉⲓⲛ ⲡⲉ.
16.18 ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ: ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲟⲩⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲧⲱⲛ ⲡⲉ;
16.19 ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ: ⲟⲩⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄ ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲡⲉ.
16.20 ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ: ⲁⲣⲉⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ;
16.21 ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ: ⲁⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉϥϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ϩⲁⲧⲙ̄ ⲡⲣⲟ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ.
16.22 ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ: ⲟⲩ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲁⲁϥ;
16.23 ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ: ⲁϥⲧⲁⲗϭⲟ ⲙ̄ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙ̄ⲡⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ.
16.24 ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ: ⲁϥϫⲓ ⲛ̄ϩⲁⲧ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̄;
16.25 ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ: ⲙ̄ⲡϥ̄ϫⲓ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ.
16.26 ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ: ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ϩⲱⲱϥ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲁⲗϭⲟϥ.
16.27 ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ: ϥⲛⲁϭⲱ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲛ;
16.28 ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲛ, ϥⲛⲁⲃⲱⲕ ⲛ̄ⲣⲁⲥⲧⲉ.
16.29 ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ: ⲙⲁⲣⲛ̄ⲃⲱⲕ ⲛ̄ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ.
16.30 ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ: ⲙⲁⲣⲛ̄ⲃⲱⲕ, ⲁⲩⲱ ϥⲛⲁϣⲗⲏⲗ ⲉϫⲱⲛ.
The dialogue uses every kind of "he":
- Independent ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ: as a topic, "and he…" (16.18), and with ϩⲱⲱϥ, "he himself, for his part" (16.26) - ⲡⲉ for "he is": ⲟⲩⲥⲁⲉⲓⲛ ⲡⲉ (16.17), ⲟⲩⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄ ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲡⲉ (16.19) - Subject prefixes: perfect ⲁϥ- (16.23, 16.24), negative perfect ⲙ̄ⲡϥ̄- (16.25), future ϥⲛⲁ- (16.27, 16.28, 16.30), circumstantial ⲉϥ- (16.21), relative ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥ- and ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥ- (16.16, 16.22, 16.26) - Object suffix: ⲉⲣⲟϥ (16.20, 16.21, 16.29), ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̄ (16.24), ⲧⲁⲗϭⲟϥ (16.26)
Two "he"s in one sentence. In 16.24, ⲁϥ- is the physician and the -ϥ̄ of ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̄ is the priest. In 16.26, the ϥ of ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥ- is God and the -ϥ of ⲧⲁⲗϭⲟϥ is the boy. Coptic does not mark which "he" is which; the story does.
"Where are you from?" The pattern ⲟⲩⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄ … ⲡⲉ, "he is one from …", is the Sahidic way of giving someone's origin. John 3:31 uses it: ⲟⲩⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲕⲁϩ ⲡⲉ, "he is from the earth". The question puts ⲧⲱⲛ "where?" in place of the town (16.18), as Pilate does when he asks Jesus ⲛ̄ⲧⲕ̄ⲟⲩⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲧⲱⲛ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲕ, "where are you from?" (John 19:9). For "you" Coptic uses the bound pronoun ⲛ̄ⲧⲕ̄-; for "he" there is no bound pronoun, and ⲡⲉ at the end does the work.
Questions and verbs of the dialogue. A yes-or-no question is marked only by the voice and the question mark ; (16.20, 16.24, 16.27). The question mark ; is Greek in origin and looks like an English semicolon. ⲙⲁⲣⲛ̄- is "let us" (16.29, 16.30), and ⲛ̄ⲧⲛ̄- after it is the conjunctive "and we". Note the feminine perfect ⲁⲣⲉ- in ⲁⲣⲉⲛⲁⲩ (16.20): Maria is speaking to a woman.
Vocabulary. ⲥⲁⲉⲓⲛ "physician", ⲧⲁⲗϭⲟ "heal", ϩⲁⲧ "silver, money", ⲗⲁⲁⲩ "anything" (with a negative, "nothing"), ϭⲱ "stay", ⲃⲱⲕ "go", ⲣⲟ "door", ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ "Shmoun" (Hermopolis, a city of Middle Egypt).
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The pronunciation of Sahidic is reconstructed from spelling, from Greek loanwords and from comparison with the other dialects. The respellings in this lesson are approximations for English readers.
- ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ is /ənˈtof/ (en-TOF). The stroke over ⲛ̄ shows a syllable with a short, unwritten vowel, and the stress falls on ⲧⲟϥ - ϥ is /f/, as in "fat". Standing before a consonant, as in ϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ or ϥⲛⲁ-, it is said with a short vowel: /əf/ (ef-SOH-tem, ef-na-) - ⲁϥ- is /af/ (af), unstressed: ⲁϥⲉⲓ /afˈiː/ (af-EE) - ⲡⲉϥ- is /pef/ (pef): ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ /pefiˈoːt/ (pef-ee-OHT) - ⲉⲣⲟϥ /eˈrof/ (e-ROF) and ⲛⲁϥ /naf/ (naf) carry the stress on their last syllable - ⲡⲉ is a short, unstressed /pe/ (peh), leaning on the word before it - ϭ in ϭⲱ and ⲧⲁⲗϭⲟ is a palatal stop, between /kʲ/ and /tʃ/ (here "ch") - ⲟⲩ is /u/ (oo) as a vowel and /w/ as a consonant: ⲁⲩⲱ /aˈwoː/ (a-WOH)
Stress. Coptic stresses the syllable with the full vowel, usually near the end of the word. The "he" prefixes (ϥ-, ⲁϥ-, ϥⲛⲁ-, ⲙ̄ⲡϥ̄-) are never stressed: the stress falls on the verb, as in ⲁϥⲧⲁⲗϭⲟ (af-tal-CHO) and ϥⲛⲁⲃⲱⲕ (ef-na-BOHK).
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