What are the pronunciation rules for all 32 Coptic letters?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-08
In the Coptic language, specifically the Bohairic dialect used in the Church today, the pronunciation follows the "Modern" or "Reformed" system established during the time of Pope Kyrillos IV.
Here are the 32 letters of the Coptic alphabet (including the numeral ⲋ) and their pronunciation rules:
1. Ⲁ (Alpha)
- Always pronounced as "A" (like in "Father").
2. Ⲃ (Bita)
- Pronounced as "V" if followed by a vowel (ⲁ, ⲉ, ⲏ, ⲓ, ⲟ, ⲱ, ⲩ).
- Pronounced as "B" if followed by a consonant or at the end of a word.
3. Ⲅ (Gamma)
- Pronounced as "G" (hard G) if followed by an "e" or "i" sound (ⲉ, ⲏ, ⲓ, ⲩ).
- Pronounced as "N" if followed by another ⲅ, ⲕ, ⲭ, or ⲝ (nasal sound).
- Pronounced as "Gh" (like the French 'r' or Arabic 'غ') in all other cases.
4. Ⲇ (Delta)
- Pronounced as "Th" (like "The").
- Pronounced as "D" in proper nouns (names of people or places).
5. Ⲉ (Ei)
- Always pronounced as a short "E" (like "Pen").
6. Ⲋ (Soo)
- This is not a letter used in words; it represents the number 6.
7. Ⲑ (Zita)
- Always pronounced as "Z".
8. Ⲏ (Ita)
- Always pronounced as a long "EE" (like "Meet").
9. Ⲑ (Thita)
- Pronounced as "Th" (like "Think").
- Pronounced as "T" if preceded by ⲥ or ϣ.
10. Ⲓ (Iota)
- Pronounced as "I" or "EE". It acts as a short "i" sound or a "y" sound if followed by another vowel.
11. Ⲕ (Kappa)
- Always pronounced as "K".
12. Ⲗ (Lola)
- Always pronounced as "L".
13. Ⲙ (Mei)
- Always pronounced as "M".
14. Ⲛ (Nei)
- Always pronounced as "N".
15. ⲝ (Exi)
- Always pronounced as "KS" (like the 'x' in "Box").
16. Ⲟ (O)
- Always pronounced as a short "O" (like "Not").
17. Ⲡ (Pi)
- Always pronounced as "P".
18. Ⲣ (Ro)
- Always pronounced as "R".
19. Ⲥ (Sima)
- Always pronounced as "S".
20. Ⲧ (Tav)
- Always pronounced as "T".
- Pronounced as "D" in Greek loanwords after ⲛ.
21. Ⲩ (Ypsilon)
- Pronounced as "V" if preceded by ⲁ or ⲉ.
- Pronounced as "OO" (like "Moon") if preceded by ⲟ.
- Pronounced as "EE" in all other cases.
22. Ⲝ (Phi)
- Always pronounced as "F".
23. Ⲭ (Chi)
- Pronounced as "K" in native Coptic words.
- In Greek loanwords:
- Pronounced as "Sh" (like "Ship") if followed by an "e" or "i" sound (ⲉ, ⲏ, ⲓ, ⲩ).
- Pronounced as "Kh" (like the Arabic 'خ') in all other cases.
24. Ⲯ (Psi)
- Always pronounced as "PS" (like "Lips").
25. Ⲱ (Oou)
- Always pronounced as a long "O" (like "Boat").
26. Ϣ (Shai)
- Always pronounced as "Sh".
27. Ϥ (Fai)
- Always pronounced as "F".
28. Ϧ (Khai)
- Always pronounced as "Kh" (like the Arabic 'خ').
29. Ϩ (Hori)
- Always pronounced as "H".
30. Ϫ (Janjia)
- Pronounced as "J" (soft G) if followed by an "e" or "i" sound (ⲉ, ⲏ, ⲓ, ⲩ).
- Pronounced as "G" (hard G) in all other cases.
31. Ϭ (Tshima)
- Always pronounced as "Tsh" or "Ch" (like "Church").
32. Ϯ (Ti)
- Always pronounced as the syllable "Ti" (like "Tea").
The Djinkim (◌̀)
While not a letter, this mark is essential:
- If placed over a vowel, the vowel is pronounced independently.
- If placed over a consonant, a short "e" sound is added before the letter (e.g., ⲛ̀ is pronounced "en").