Lesson 3: Possessive Articles

Possessive Articles

When assigning a possessive article to a noun, several things are taken into account:

• The perspective, gender, and number of the subject (i.e. the possessor)
  
• The gender and number of the object (i.e. the possessed)

Masculine Object	Feminine Object	Plural Object	English	Person	Number
ⲡⲁ-	ⲧⲁ-	ⲛⲁ-	My	1st	Singular
ⲡⲉⲛ-	ⲧⲉⲛ-	ⲛⲉⲛ-	Our	1st	Plural
ⲡⲉⲕ-	ⲧⲉⲕ-	ⲛⲉⲕ-	Your (m.)	2nd	Singular
ⲡⲉ-	ⲧⲉ-	ⲛⲉ-	Your (f.)	2nd	Singular
ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛ-	ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛ-	ⲛⲉⲧⲉⲛ-	Your (pl.)	2nd	Plural
ⲡⲉϥ-	ⲧⲉϥ-	ⲛⲉϥ-	His	3rd	Singular
ⲡⲉⲥ-	ⲧⲉⲥ-	ⲛⲉⲥ-	Her	3rd	Singular
ⲡⲟⲩ-	ⲧⲟⲩ-	ⲛⲟⲩ-	Their	3rd	Plural

The first letter of the possessive article is based on the gender and number of the object and are identical to the first letter of the definite article:

• ⲡ for a masculine object
• ⲧ for a feminine object
• ⲛ for a plural object

The rest of the article is based on the perspective, gender and number of the subject:

• -ⲁ for 1st Person Singular (i.e. My)
• -ⲉⲛ for 1st Person Plural (i.e. Our)
• -ⲉⲕ for 2nd Person Masculine (i.e. the masculine Your)
• -ⲉ for 2nd Person Feminine (i.e. the feminine Your)
• -ⲉⲧⲉⲛ for 2nd Person Plural (i.e. the plural Your)
• -ⲉϥ for 3rd Person Masculine (i.e. His)
• -ⲉⲥ for 3rd Person Feminine (i.e. Her)
• -ⲟⲩ for 3rd Person Plural (i.e. Their)

We will continue to see both of these patterns (i.e. ⲡ for masculine, ⲧ for feminine, ⲛ for plural; and ⲁ for 1st Person Singular, ⲉⲕ for 2nd Person Masculine, ⲉ for 2nd Person Feminine, etc.) throughout the Coptic language.

Examples

ⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ	my father	ⲧⲁⲙⲁⲩ	my mother	ⲛⲁⲓⲟϯ	my fathers
ⲡⲉⲕⲓⲱⲧ	your (m.) father	ⲧⲉⲕⲙⲁⲩ	your (m.) mother	ⲛⲉⲕⲓⲟϯ	your (m.) fathers
ⲡⲉⲓⲱⲧ	your (f.) father	ⲧⲉⲙⲁⲩ	your (f.) mother	ⲛⲉⲓⲟϯ	your (f.) fathers
ⲡⲉϥⲓⲱⲧ	his father	ⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲩ	his mother	ⲛⲉϥⲓⲟϯ	his fathers
ⲡⲉⲥⲓⲱⲧ	her father	ⲧⲉⲥⲙⲁⲩ	her mother	ⲛⲉⲥⲓⲟϯ	her fathers
ⲡⲉⲛⲓⲱⲧ	our father	ⲧⲉⲛⲙⲁⲩ	our mother	ⲛⲉⲛⲓⲟϯ	our fathers
ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛⲓⲱⲧ	your (pl.) father	ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛⲙⲁⲩ	your (pl.) mother	ⲛⲉⲧⲉⲛⲓⲟϯ	your (pl.) fathers
ⲡⲟⲩⲓⲱⲧ	their father	ⲧⲟⲩⲙⲁⲩ	their mother	ⲛⲟⲩⲓⲟϯ	their fathers

Application

Application 1: 

This is an excerpt from the eighth part of the Sunday Theotokia. The possessive articles are underlined below, as well as the definite and in definite articles from last week, and an explanation is provided for each.

ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲛⲉⲥⲉⲩⲭⲏ: ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛⲉⲥ̀ⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃⲓⲁ: ̀ⲁⲟⲩⲱⲛ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲡϭⲟⲓⲥ: ̀ⲙ̀ⲫⲣⲟ ̀ⲛⲧⲉ ϯⲉⲕ̀ⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ.

Through her prayers: and intercessions: O Lord open unto us: the gates of the Church.

1. ⲛⲉⲥⲉⲩⲭⲏ - the 3rd person feminine article is used here with a plural definite article. So the translation is "her prayers." Prayers is plural because of the ⲛ- in ⲛⲉⲥ and the possessive pronoun is "her" because of the -ⲉⲥ
   
2. ⲛⲉⲥ̀ⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃⲓⲁ - the 3rd person feminine article is used here with a plural definite article. So the translation is "her intercessions." Intercessions is plural because of the ⲛ- in ⲛⲉⲥ and the possessive pronoun is "her" because of the -ⲉⲥ
   
3. ⲡϭⲟⲓⲥ - straightforward singular masculine weak definite article (non-ⲃⲓⲗⲙⲛⲟⲣ).
   
4. ̀ⲫⲣⲟ - the noun ⲣⲟ means "mouth" but can also mean gate (i.e. the gate of the church is the mouth of the church). It is interesting here that the weak article is used, as if to say the Gates of the Church are unique or well known.
   
5. ϯⲉⲕ̀ⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ - straightforward singular feminine strong definite article.

Application 2: 

This is an excerpt from the Second Canticle. The possessive articles are underlined below, and an explanation for each follows.

ⲁϥϯ ̀ⲙⲡⲟⲩⲕⲁϩⲓ ⲉⲩ̀ⲕⲗⲏⲣⲟⲛⲟⲙⲓⲁ ⲁⲗⲗⲏⲗⲟⲩⲓⲁ: ϫⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲛⲁⲓ ϣⲟⲡ ϣⲁ ̀ⲉⲛⲉϩ.	And gave their land as a heritage: Alleluia, His mercy endures forever.
ⲉⲩ̀ⲕⲗⲏⲣⲟⲛⲟⲙⲓ̀ⲁ ̀ⲙⲡⲉϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲡⲓⲥⲣⲁⲏⲗ ⲁⲗⲗⲏⲗⲟⲩⲓⲁ: ϫⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲛⲁⲓ ϣⲟⲡ ϣⲁ ̀ⲉⲛⲉϩ.	A heritage to Israel His servant: Alleluia, His mercy endures forever.
̀ⲛ̀ϩⲣⲏⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲉⲛⲑⲉⲃⲓⲟ ⲁϥⲉⲣⲡⲉⲛⲙⲉⲩ̀ⲓ ̀ⲛϫⲉ ⲡϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲁⲗⲗⲏⲗⲟⲩⲓⲁ: ϫⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲛⲁⲓ ϣⲟⲡ ϣⲁ ̀ⲉⲛⲉϩ.	The Lord who remembered us in our lowly state: Alleluia, His mercy endures forever.

1. ⲡⲟⲩⲕⲁϩⲓ - the 3rd person plural article is used here with a masculine definite article. So the translation is "their land." Land is singular because of the ⲡ- in ⲡⲟⲩ and the possessive pronoun is "their" because of the -ⲟⲩ. 
   
2. ⲡⲉϥⲛⲁⲓ - the 3rd person masculine article is used here with a masculine definite article. So the translation is "his mercy." Mercy is singular because of the ⲡ- in ⲡⲉϥ and the possessive pronoun is "his" because of the -ⲉϥ. 
   
3. ⲡⲉϥⲃⲱⲕ - the 3rd person masculine article is used here with a masculine definite article. So the translation is "his servant." Servant is singular because of the ⲡ- in ⲡⲉϥ and the possessive pronoun is "his" because of the -ⲉϥ. 
   
4. ⲡⲉϥⲛⲁⲓ - See above.
   
5. ⲡⲉⲛⲑⲉⲃⲓⲟ - the 1st person plural article is used here with a masculine definite article. So the translation is "our humility." Humility is singular because of the ⲡ- in ⲡⲉⲛ and the possessive pronoun is "our" because of the -ⲉⲛ. The common English translation is "our lowly state."
   
6. ⲁϥⲉⲣⲡⲉⲛⲙⲉⲩ̀ⲓ - the usage of ⲡⲉⲛ here is not a possessive article, although the ⲡⲉⲛ does refer to the 1st person plural "us." The word is translated as "he remembered us." We can translate the entire third verse above as:
   In our humility, He remembered us; namely, the Lord. Alleluia. "His mercy endures for ever." 

Application 3: 

This is an excerpt from the Liturgy of St Gregory. The possessive articles are underlined below, and an explanation for each follows.

ⲛⲁⲕϫⲱ ̀ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ ̀ⲛⲛⲉⲕⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ̀ⲛⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ. Ϫⲉ ⲧⲁϩⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ϯϯ ̀ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲱⲧⲉⲛ: ⲧⲁϩⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ̀ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ϯⲭⲱ ̀ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲉⲙⲱⲧⲉⲛ. Ⲑⲁⲓ ⲟⲛ ϯⲛⲟⲩ ̀ⲁⲣⲓ̀ϩⲙⲟⲧ ̀ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲡⲉⲛⲛⲏⲃ.

You said to Your holy disciples and apostles, "My peace I give to you; My peace I leave with you." The same also, now grant to us, O our Master.

1. ⲛⲉⲕⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ - the 2nd person masculine article is used here with a plural definite article. So the translation is "your (m.) disciples." Disciples is plural because of the ⲛ- in ⲛⲉⲕ and the possessive pronoun is "your (m.)" because of the -ⲉⲕ. 
   
2. ⲧⲁϩⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ - the 1st person singular article is used here with a feminine definite article. So the translation is "my peace." Peace is singular because of the ⲧ- in ⲧⲁ and the possessive pronoun is "my" because of the -ⲁ. 
   
3. ⲧⲁϩⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ - See above.
   
4. ⲡⲉⲛⲛⲏⲃ - the 1st person plural article is used here with a masculine definite article. So the translation is "our master." Master is singular because of the ⲡ- in ⲡⲉⲛ and the possessive pronoun is "our" because of the -ⲉⲛ.

Application 4: 

This is an excerpt from the Doxology of St Rebekah. The possessive articles are underlined below, and an explanation for each follows.

ⲁⲩϣⲁⲧ ⲛⲓ̀ⲁⲫⲏⲟⲩ ̀ⲛⲛⲓϣⲏⲣⲓ: ϧⲉⲛ ̀ⲡⲁⲙⲏⲣ ̀ⲛⲧⲟⲩⲙⲁⲩ ̀ⲓⲧⲁ ⲧⲉⲥ̀ⲁⲫⲉ: ⲛⲓⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲕⲉⲧ ⲟⲩⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛⲱⲟⲩ: ⲁⲩⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ ̀ⲛϫⲉ ⲛⲟⲩ̀ϣⲫⲏⲣⲓ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ.

They cut the heads of the children: in the embrace of their mother and then her head: the faithful built a church for them: they revealed their wonders to them.

1. ⲛⲓ̀ⲁⲫⲏⲟⲩ - the heads (plural definite article; irregular plural form of ̀ⲁⲫⲉ meaning "head")
2. ⲛⲓϣⲏⲣⲓ - the children (plural definite article)
3. ̀ⲡⲁⲙⲏⲣ - the embrace (singular weak article with ⲁⲙⲏⲣ meaning "arm" or "embrace")
4. ⲧⲟⲩⲙⲁⲩ - their mother (singular feminine possessive third person plural article)
5. ⲧⲉⲥ̀ⲁⲫⲉ - her head (singular feminine possessive third person singular article)
6. ⲛⲓⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ - the faithful (plural definite article)
7. ⲟⲩⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ - a church (singular indefinite article)
   
8. ⲛⲟⲩ̀ϣⲫⲏⲣⲓ - their wonders (plural possessive third person plural article; irregular plural form of ̀ϣⲫⲏⲣ meaning "wonder")

Biblical Examples

ϯ̀ⲧⲣⲁⲡⲉⲍⲁ ̀ⲛⲧⲉ ⲛⲟⲩϭⲓⲥⲉⲩ	the table of their masters (Mt 15:27)
ⲛⲓⲙⲉⲧⲟⲩⲣⲱⲟⲩ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ̀ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲟⲩⲱⲟⲩ	all the kingdoms of the world and their glory (Mt 4:8)
̀ⲛⲑⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲥⲟⲛ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲧⲁⲥⲱⲛⲓ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲧⲁⲙⲁⲩ	he is my brother and my sister and my mother (Mt 12:50)
ⲛⲓⲙ ⲧⲉ ⲧⲁⲙⲁⲩ ⲓⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲁ̀ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ	who is my mother or who are my brothers? (Mt 12:48)

Exercises

Exercise 1: Translate to Coptic

Translate the following into Coptic:

1. My father and your (f.) father
2. My mother and your (m.) mother
3. Their eyes and ears
4. My brothers and sisters
5. His nose and his tongue
6. My body and my blood
7. Your (pl.) king and queen
8. His brother and her sister
9. Our mouth
10. Our mouths
11. The king and my brother

Exercise 2: Translate to English

1. ⲛⲉⲛⲓⲟϯ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛⲉⲛ̀ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ
2. ⲡⲓⲟⲩⲣⲟ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲧⲉϥⲟⲩⲣⲱ
3. ⲛⲓⲟⲩⲣⲱⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛⲟⲩⲟⲩⲣⲱⲟⲩ
4. ⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲉⲥⲟⲛ
5. ⲡⲁ̀ⲁⲫⲉ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛⲉϥⲃⲁⲗ
6. ⲡⲁⲣⲁⲛ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲁⲛ
7. ⲡⲉⲛⲛⲏⲃ ⲡⲉⲛⲥⲱⲧⲏⲣ
8. ⲛⲉⲛⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛⲉⲛⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛⲉⲛ̀ⲡⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ

Exercise 3: Words of Scripture

Find the reference in the Coptic Bible App and see how it matches up with the translation:

1. ⲡⲁⲥⲱⲙⲁ (Luke 22:9)
2. ⲡⲉϥ̀ⲥⲛⲟϥ (Acts 20:28)
3. ⲡⲉⲛⲓⲱⲧ (James 2:28)
4. ⲡⲉⲛⲥⲱⲧⲏⲣ (2 Peter 3:2)
5. ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛ̀ⲁⲫⲉ (Acts 18:6)
6. ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛⲛⲁϩϯ (1 Peter 1:7)
7. ⲡⲉⲛⲁϩϯ (Luke 7:50)
8. ⲧⲉϫⲓϫ (Acts 4:28)

Resources

• Page 44 of the Sameh Younan PDF

• Lesson 4 of Moawad Daoud

• Page 132 of Nabil Matar