How this Lexicon Differs from Other Editions

• Common affixes (e.g. "mmo-" and "-k-") and suffixes (e.g. "-F")
• Common idiomatic forms (e.g. "nka nim" and "oua oua").
• Common loanwords from Greek (including proper names).
• Comparitive notes with roots, related words, spelling variants, etc.
• Verbal prefix forms for the various tenses.

Note on Abbreviations

In the English translation, most nouns are preceded by: m. (masculine), f. (feminine) or p. (plural), and v. precedes some verb forms (i.e. imperatives, possessives, and verbal tense prefixes). The letter s means singular. The numbers 1, 2, and 3 represent person.

Note on Frequency for Common Words

English definitions with two asterisks (**) represent common words that appear over 75 times in Sahidica. Definitions followed by a single asterisk (*) occur over 25 times.

Important Note on Alphabetization

Traditionally, each Coptic word is alphabetized in lexicons (e.g. Crum, Smith) first by consonants then by vowels. The word "Coptic" for example would be alphabetized as if it were spelled Cptcoi.

Thus, the following words: Captain, Cetacean, Circle, Coptic, Cuddle; would appear in a lexicon: Cuddle, Coptic, Captain, Circle, Cetacean.

Unlike other lexicons, and like the Glossary section in Thomas Lambdin's Introduction to Sahidic Coptic, this lexicon breaks with that tradition.

This lexicon alphabetizes words in the manner of standard Greek to English lexicons and English dictionaries.

The reason for this change is to make it easier for students of Greek to use the lexicon. Thus avoiding further difficulty in learning the Sahidic dialect of the Coptic language.

The Order of Alphabetization in this Lexicon.

The following graph shows the order of alphabetization in this lexicon.

It is important to note the positions of "ei" ("i") and of "ou" ("u").

For each letter in the graph: Key is the transliteration key used in Sahidica; Name is based on Plumley; Value is the standard transliteration; and Pronunciation is similar to Lambdin.

Suggested Reading

For more information on the verbal prefixes which appear in this lexicon, see Lambdin (1983) pages 371 and 372; and for a larger list of Greek "loanwords" see Lambdin (1983) pages 359 to 363.

Sources and Acknowledgements

The primary sources for words in this lexicon include the vocabularies of three Coptic Grammars, two Coptic Lexicons, and one word list. These are listed below.

• Introduction to Sahidic Coptic, Lambdin, Thomas O.
• Introductory Coptic Grammar, Plumley, J M.
• An Elementary Coptic Grammar of the Sahidic Dialect, Walters, C.
• Coptic Dictionary, Crum, W. E.
• A Concise Coptic-English Lexicon, Smith, Richard.
• List of Words Occurring Frequently in the Coptic NT, Metzger, B. M.

Special thanks to Michael Heiser, Academic Editor for Logos Research Systems.

• Click on the letter to go to the first entry for it.
• Click on ei for Greek words beginning with i such as ihsous (Jesus).
• Click on ou for words beginning with u.

a	b	g	d	e	z	h	q	ei	k
l	m	n	x	o	p	r	s	t	ou
f	c	y	w	S	F	H	J	C	T

a

Sahidic	Compare	English
a-	na-	about (approximation) *
aa=	eire	to do, make
abraHam	abraam	Gk: Abraham
abw	-	f. net
agaqos	agaqon	Gk: good
agaph	-	Gk: love (n.f)
aggelos	-	Gk: angel, messenger
agora	-	Gk: market
agrippas	-	Gk: Agrippa
aeik	Jiaeik	m. consecration
ai-	-	v. perfect-1 s.1
ak-	-	v. perfect-1 s.2.m
akaqartos	-	Gk: unclean
al	-	deaf
alau	aleu, alhu	white
ale	-	to go up, climb *
alla	-	Gk: but
almpe	-	m. hail stone
alom	-	m. bosom
alw	elw	m. snare, trap
amaHte	-	m. might, power
amaHte	-	to seize, grasp, control **
amhtn	amou	v. come!
amnte	-	m. Hades
amou	-	come! *
an	-	not **
an-	anon	we
an-	-	collective noun prefix
an-	-	great one of (noun prefix)
an-	-	v. perfect-1.p.1
anau	-	v. look!, see!
anauS	-	p. oaths
anaS	-	m. oath
ang-	-	I
andreas	-	Gk: Andrew
ani-	-	v. bring!
anine	aneine, ani eine	Bring!
anok	-	I **
anon	-	we
antiocia	-	Gk: Antioch
anticristos	-	Gk: antichrist
anourSe	-	m. watchman, guard
apas	-	old
ape	aphue	f. head, authority *
apht	-	p. cups
apistos	-	Gk: faithless
apostolos	-	Gk: apostle, one sent forth
apot	-	m. cup
are-	-	v. perfect-1 s.2.f
arhb	-	m. deposit, token
arhu	-	perhaps, if
arhJ	-	m. end, limit
ari-	-	do!
arike	-	m. blame, fault
arire	-	v. do! Make!
arooue	arwou	p. thistles
aroS	-	to become cold
arci	-	Gk: begin
arciereus	-	Gk: high priest
as	aas	old
as-	-	v. perfect-1 s.3.f
aspe	-	f. speech, dialect, language *
asou	-	f. price
atetn-	-	v. perfect-1 p.2
atHht	aqht, Hht	ignorant, foolish, senseless
aouwn	-	v. open!
au-	-	v. perfect-1 p.3
auw	-	and **
auwn	-	Open!
auw on	-	yet, moreover
aS	-	what? who? *
aSai	-	to become many, multiply
aSaHom	-	m. sigh, groan
aSkak	Skak	to cry out *
aSkak ebol	Skak	cry out
aS nHe	-	how? *
aF	-	m. meat
aF-	-	v. perfect-1 s.3.m
aFei	-	he came, he went
aFouwSb	-	he answered
aHe	eHe	yes
aHerat=	-	to stand **
aHro=	aHrw=	interrogative (why, what, etc.) *
aJi-	-	v. speak! say!
aJn	-	without *

b

Sahidic	Compare	English
baampe	bampe	m. goat
bal	-	m. eye **
baptisma	-	Gk: baptism
baptisths	-	Gk: baptize
barnabas	-	Gk: Barnabas
beke	-	m. reward, wage *
bhb	-	m. hole, den
bir	-	m. basket
blbile	-	f. grain, seed, kernel
blle	-	blind *
blJe	-	f. pottery, earthen vessel
bnne	-	f. palm, date
bol	ebol	outside **
brre	-	new, young *
bwqleem	-	Gk: Bethlehem
bwk	bak-, bhk=	to go **
bwl	bel-, bol=	to loosen, undo, explain **
bw neloole	eloole	f. grapevine
bwwn	-	bad, evil

g

Sahidic	Compare	English
galilaia	-	Gk: Galilee
gar	-	Gk: for
genea	-	Gk: generation
geHenna	geenna	Gk: Gehenna
grammateus	-	Gk: scribe
grafh	-	Gk: scripture, writing

d

Sahidic	Compare	English
daimwnion	-	Gk: demon
daueid	-	Gk: David
de	-	Gk: but
diabolos	-	Gk: devil
diaqhkh	-	Gk: covenant
diakonos	-	Gk: minister, servant, deacon
dikaios	-	Gk: righteous
dikaiosunh	-	Gk: justice
dwron	-	Gk: gift

e

Sahidic	Compare	English
e-	ero=	to, toward, for, from **
ebihn	-	miserable
ebol	-	out, away **
ebol e	-	out to, away to
ebol ten	-	from what place? X
ebol Hi	-	away from on
ebol Hitn	-	away from, through, by means of
ebol Hn	-	out of, away from
ebol Je	-	because
eqh	-	forward
eqh e	-	ahead to
eqnos	-	Gk: nations,
ek-	-	v. present-2 (circum) s.2.m
ekibe	-	f. breast
ekklhsia	-	Gk: congregation
ekna-	-	v. future.2 s.2.m
elisabet	-	Gk: Elizabeth
eloole	-	m. grape *
emate	-	very much, exceedingly *
en-	-	v. present-2 (circum) p.1
en-	-	v. present-2 (circum) s.3.m
ene-	-	(before question) if *
eneH	-	m. eternity, age, forever **
enna-	-	v. future.2 p.1
enna-	-	v. future.2 s.3.m
entai-	-	v. perfect-1-rel s.2.m
entak-	-	v. perfect-1-rel s.1
entan-	-	v. perfect-1-rel s.3.f
entare-	-	v. perfect-1-rel p.3
entas-	-	v. perfect-1-rel s.3.m
entatetn-	-	v. perfect-1-rel p.1
entau-	-	v. perfect-1-rel p.2
entaF-	-	v. perfect-1-rel s.2.f
entolh	-	Gk: commandment, command
enJw	-	saying
exousia	-	Gk: authority
eoou	-	m. honor, glory **
ep-	-	v. present-2 (circum) s.2.f
epaHou	-	back
epaHou e	-	back to
epesht	-	down
epesht eJn	-	down onto
epesht s	-	down to, down into
epeHouo	Houo	greatly, very **
episkopos	-	Gk: overseer
epistolh	-	Gk: epistle, letter
epitima	-	Gk: rebuke
epSwi	-	upward
erat=	-	to, toward (people) *
erena-	-	v. future.2 s.2.f
erhmos	-	Gk: wilderness, desert
erht	-	m. promise,
erht	-	to promise, vow *
erhu	-erhu	p. one another **
ero	e-	to you (f)
ero=	e-	to, for **
eroi	e-	to me
erok	e-	to you (m)
eron	e-	to us
eros	e-	to her
eroou	e-	to them
eroF	e-	to him
erpe	rpe, rphue	m. temple
erwte	-	m. milk
erwtn	e-	to you (p)
es-	-	v. present-2 (circum) s.3.f
esht	-	m. ground **
esna-	-	v. future.2 s.3.f
esoou	-	p. sheep *
et	-	who is, (with def.art) the one who is
etbe-	etbhht=	because of, about, concerning, **
etbe pai	-	therefore
etbethutn	-	because of you (p)
etbe ou	-	why?
etbe Je	-	because
etbhht	-	because of me **
etbhhte	-	because of you (f)
etbhhtk	-	because of you (m)
etbhhtn	-	because of us
etbhhts	-	because of her
etbhhtou	-	because of them
etbhhtF	-	because of him
ete	et, ete pai pe	(converts to relative clause)
ete-	-	v. present-1-rel s.2.f
ete pai pe	-	namely
etetn-	-	v. present-2 (circum) p.2
etetn-	-	v. present-1-rel p.2
etetna-	-	v. future.2 p.2
eti	-	Gk: yet
etk-	-	v. present-1-rel s.2.m
et mmau	-	that (demonstrative)
etn	-	to, toward
etn-	-	v. present-1-rel p.1
etoot=	-	to *
etpe	-	upward
ets-	-	v. present-1-rel s.3.f
etou-	-	v. present-1-rel p.3
etouaab	-	m. holy
e twn	-	to what place?
etF-	-	v. present-1-rel 1 s.3.m
e ou	-	For what reason? Why?
eu-	-	v. present-2 (circum) p.3
euaggelion	-	Gk: good news, gospel
euna-	-	v. future.2 p.3
euJw	-	sayings
eSwpw	Swpe	if **
eSJe	-	if, then, indeed **
eHrai	Hrai	up, down **
eHrai e	-	up to, down to
eHrai eJn	-	up onto, down upon
eHoue-	Houo	more than, rather than *
eHoun	-	in
eHoun e	-	to, into **
eJn	eJn-, eJw=	onto, on, upon **
eT-	-	v. present-1-rel s.1

z

Sahidic	Compare	English
zacarias	-	Gk: Zechariah

h

Sahidic	Compare	English
h	-	Gk: or
hi	hei	m. house **
hrp	-	m. wine *
hsaias	-	Gk: Isaiah

q

Sahidic	Compare	English
qalassa	-	Gk: sea
qbbio	-	to be humble, humiliate *
qe	-	f. manner, way
qlipsis	-	Gk: tribulation
qmHal	tHmHal	f. slave, servant
qronos	-	Gk: throne
qusia	-	Gk: sacrifice, offering

ei

Sahidic	Compare	English
iakwbos	-	Gk: Jacob, James
ierhmias	-	Gk: Jeremiah
ierosoluma	ierousalhm	Gk: Jerusalem
ierousalhm	ierosoluma	Gk: Jerusalem
ihsous	is	Gk: Jesus
iordanhs	iordannhs	Gk: Jordan
israhl	-	Gk: Israel
israhliths	-	Gk: Israelite
ioudai	-	Gk: Judea
ioudas	-	Gk: Judah, Judas, Jude
iwshf	-	Gk: Joseph
iwHannhs	iwannhs	Gk: John
ei	-	to come, go **
ei-	-	v. present-2 (circum) s.1
eia	eiat=	eye *
eibe	obe+	to thirst
eidwlon	-	Gk: idol
eie	eeie, ei	then **
eiero	-	m. river
eime	-	to understand, know **
eime Je	-	to know that
eina-	-	v. future.2 s.1
eine	-	to bring **
eine	-	to resemble, be like *
eiote	-	p. parents
eire	r-, aa=, o+	to do, make **
eirhnh	Trhnh	Gk: peace
eis	-	to behold **
eis Hhhte	-	behold
eite	-	Gk: either
eiw	eia-, eiaa=	to wash
eiw	-	m. ass, donkey
eiwrm	-	to gaze, stare
eiwrH	-	to see, perceive
eiwt	-	m. father **
eiwte	-	p. fathers (parents) **

k

Sahidic	Compare	English
k-	-	v. present-1 s.2.m
kaqartos	kaqarton	Gk: clean
kake	-	m. darkness *
kalws	-	Gk: well
kame	-	black
kamh	-	black
karpos	-	Gk: fruit, fruitage
karw=	-	to be silent
kas	-	m. bone
kata	-	Gk: according to
kataqe	katws	Gk: just as
kafarnaoum	-	Gk: Capernaum
kaH	-	m. earth, ground **
ke-	-	other, different **
keoua	ke-	another one
khme	kame	m. Egypt (the black land)
kim	keim	to move, shake, motion *
klom	-	m. crown, wreath
kloole	-	f. cloud
kna-	-	v. future.1 s.2.m
knte	-	m. fig
koinwnos	-	Gk: sharer
kosmos	-	Gk: world (humanity)
kooue	ke-	others
krmrm	-	to murmur, complain
kro	kpwou	m. shore *
kroF	-	m. deceit, cunning, subtlety
kto	kte-	to turn, return, surround *
koui	-	small **
koun=	-	m. bosom, lap
kw	-	to put, place **
kwk	kek-	to peel, strip
kwk aHhu	kwk eHhu	to strip naked
kwlue	-	to hinder
kwns	kons, kens, koons=	to slay, pierce
kwt	ket-, kot=	to build up, edify *
kwte	-	m. circuit, surrounding area, around about
kwte	-	to go around, wander **
kwws	kooc=	to prepare for burial
kwH	-	to be jealous, be zealous
kwHt	-	m. fire *

l

Sahidic	Compare	English
laau	-	anyone, anything (neg. no one, nothing) **
lo	-	to cease, stop *
loJleJ	-	m. sickness, disease
loukas	-	Gk: Luke

m

Sahidic	Compare	English
ma	m peima	m. place **
maau	-	f. mother **
maaJe	-	m. ear *
magdalhnh	-	Gk: Magdalene
maein	-	m. sign, wonder **
maqhths	-	Gk: disciples
maqqaios	-	Gk: Matthew, Mathias
makedonia	-	Gk: Macedonia
ma neloole	eloole	m. vineyard
ma nHwtp	Hwtp	m. west (toward sunset)
marqa	-	Gk: Martha
maria	marian, mariam	Gk: Mary
markos	-	Gk: Mark
mate	mmate, emate	only *
matoi	-	m. soldier *
mau	mmau	there (demonstrative) **
mauaa=	manaat=	alone **
maH	-	m. nest
me	mere-, merit=	to love **
me	-	true
me	-	f. truth **
meeue	-	m. thought, mind **
meeue	-	to think, believe **
men	-	indeed
men	-	Gk: indeed, on the one hand
merate	-	beloved
merit	-	beloved *
meros	-	m. part
messias	-	Gk: messiah, Christ
metanoia	-	Gk: repentance
meSak	-	perhaps
meHsnau	snau	second *
meHSomnt	Somnt	third *
mh	-	that, truly
mhhSe	-	m. crowd, multitude **
mhne	mmhne	every day, daily
mhpote	-	Gk: lest, so that not
mht	-	ten
mhte	mht	ten
mhte	-	f. middle *
mine	-	f. kind, sort *
mise	-	to give birth
miSe	-	m. battle, fight, struggle
miSe	-	to attack, fight, struggle
mmate	emate	very much, exceedingly *
mmau	et mmau	there (demonstrative) **
mmin	mmo=	own, self *
mmn-	mn-	to there is not
mmoi	-	in me
mmon	-	no *
mmon	-	in us
mmos	-	says it (follows jw)
mmos Je	Jw, Joos	quote follows
mmoou	-	in them
mmoF	-	in him
mmwtn	-	in you
mn-	mmn-	there is not
mn-	nmma=	with, in company of, (and) **
mn-	-	not a (noun subject)
mnnsa	-	after (temporal) **
mnnsws	-	after (temporal)
mnt	mht	ten
mnte-	mnta=	to have not **
mntmntre	mntre	f. witness, testimony *
mntre	-	m. witness **
mntreFrpaHre	paHre	f. sorcery, druggery
mntrmmao	rmmao	f. wealth, riches *
mntrmHe	rmHe	f. freedom
mntrro	rro, ero	f. kingdom, reign **
mntsnau	mnt snau	m. twelve (lit. ten two) **
moeit	-	m. road, path, way
mokmek	-	to ponder, meditate, consider *
mooSe	-	to walk
moste	-	to hate *
moou	moueiooue	m. water **
mpe-	-	v. perfect-1-neg s.2.f
mpek-	-	v. perfect-1-neg s.2.m
mpemto	m.pe.mto	in the presence
mpen-	-	v. perfect-1-neg p.1
mpes-	-	v. perfect-1-neg s.3.f
mpetn-	-	v. perfect-1-neg p.2
mpeF-	-	v. perfect-1-neg s.3.m
m peima	-	here, (lit. in this place)
mpi-	-	v. perfect-1-neg s.1
mpkwte	-	around, in the area
mpoou	poou	today *
mpr=	-	v. do not!
mpou-	-	v. perfect-1-neg p.3
mpoue	oue	far off, at a distance
mpSa	-	to be worthy, deserve *
mrre	mour	f. chain, fetter, bond
mto	pemto	m. presence, in front of **
mton	-	m. rest, ease, repose *
mton	-	to be at ease, rest *
mou	moout	m. death, dead **
mou	-moout+	to die **
moueiooue	moou	p. waters
moukH	-	to oppress, afflict *
mour	mer-, mor=	to bind, tie, gird **
moute	-	to call, summon, speak **
mouSe	-	to walk, travel **
mouH	meH-, maH=	to fill, be filled, complete **
mouH	-	to burn, glow
musthrion	-	Gk: secret, mystery
mwushs	-	Gk: Moses
mHaau	mHaou	m. tomb, cave *

n

Sahidic	Compare	English
n	na=	to, for
n	-	of (definite)
n-	mmo=	of **
n-	ne	the (group)
n-	-	with, by
na	-	pity, mercy *
na	-	to go
na	-	to pity, have mercy on *
na-	-	my (n.p)
na=	nta-, ng-, nte-, a	conjugative, base conjunctive **
naa-	-	to be great
nazareq	nazaret	Gk: Nazareth
naqanahl	-	Gk: Nathaniel
nai	nei-	this (n.p)
naiat=	-	blessed *
naiau=	naa-	to be blessed
nak	-	to you (m.s.)
name	-	truly
n a an	-	negates sentence
nan	-	to us
nanou-	-	to be good
nanouc an	-	it is not good **
nau	-	m. time, hour *
nau	-	to see, look at **
nauht auht	-	by group, companies
naSe-	naSw=	to be many, numerous **
naF	-	to him
naHrn	Ho	before, in the presence of **
ne	-	they are (copular pronoun) **
nek-	-	your (p)
nek-	-	v. imperfect s.2.m
nen-	-	our (n.p)
nen-	-	v. imperfect p.1
nere-	-	v. imperfect s.2.f
nes-	-	her (n.p)
nes-	-	v. imperfect s.3.f
nese	nesw=	to be beautiful
net	n.et	those who, those things which
netetn-	-	v. imperfect p.2
netmoout	-	the dead
netn-	-	your (p)
neu-	-	v. imperfect p.3
neue-	-	their (n.p)
neun	ne oun	to there was
neF-	-	his (n.p)
neF-	-	v. imperfect s.3.m
neFr-	-	to be good, useful, advantageous
neJ-	nouJe	to throw, cast
nei-	nai	this (n.p)
nei-	-	v. imperfect s.1
nh	-	those *
nhsteue	-	Gk: fast (go without food)
nhtn	-	to you
nhu	ei	to be coming, about to come (qualitative) **
nqe	n qe n	in like manner, as **
n qe n	n qe n ni-	like (comparison)
n qh Je	-	as though, as if
nikodhmos	-	Gk: Nicodemus
nim	-	each, every, all **
nim	-	who? **
niFe	-	to blow, breathe
nka	-	m. thing, property *
nka nim	-	everything
nkesop	-	again
nkotk	-