10 Ancient Egyptian Words That Are Still Alive
- Tabtab “طَبْطَبْ” – Coptic word that means fondle or patting.
- Washwish “وَشوِش” – Coptic word that means low voice or whisper.
- Tannesh “طَنّش” – From the Coptic word “Tansha” which means forget or ignore.
- Shibship “شِبشِب” – from the Coptic word “Sibsuep” which means foot size or slipper.
- Barrah “بَرّه” – From the ancient Egyptian word “Barr” which means outside or get out.
- Humm “هَمّ” – Ancient Egyptian word that means swallow or eat, usually used with kids.
- Mumm “ممّ” – Ancient Egyptian word that means food, usually used with the kids too.
- Embu “إمبو” – From ancient Egyptian word “Eb-Mo” which means “need-water” or thirsty.
- Mezaqtat “مِزقطط” – From ancient Egyptian word “Zaqtat” which means cheerful or upbeat.
- Halla “هالّا” – As in Egyptian proverb “Halla Halla from outside, and from inside nobody knows”, it means sweet or sweetness, and it’s the origin of the English word ...
Full Answer
Are there any words from Ancient Egyptian that are used today?
The ancient Egyptian language is still alive, and many of its words are still used in modern Egyptians colloquial Arabic. Having been originally evolved from ancient Egyptian or from the intermediate Egyptian Coptic language, we listed a few below. 1) Tabtab “طَبْطَبْ” – Coptic word that means fondle or patting.
What is the ancient Egyptian language?
Ancient Egyptian’s language is a breathtaking language. The ancient Egypt words and meanings, the symbols used, all indicate so precisely the sheer brilliance of the Egyptians. The hieroglyph is one of the oldest writings (Egypt Words and Meanings) developed around 4000 B.C.
What is the ancient Egyptian word for the Sun?
The ancient Egyptian word "shamsh (sun)" is used as it is today in Arabic with a slight change in pronunciation as "shams (sun)", says Maqqar. They also had names for waterways that are still used today in Egyptian Arabic and in Arabic itself, including "baar (sea)", developed in Arabic as "bahr".
Is the ancient Egyptian language still alive?
The ancient Egyptian language is still alive, and many of its words are still used in modern Egyptians colloquial Arabic. Having been originally evolved from ancient Egyptian or from the intermediate Egyptian Coptic language, we listed a few below.
What is the Egyptian word for beautiful?
Fittingly, it's also used commonly in spoken Arabic to call someone beautiful. Using the word 'amar قمر to say “beautiful” is very common in Egyptian Arabic, who tend to be very effusive in expressing beauty. Fun fact: You can also use 'amar arba'tashar قمر اربعتاشر', which translates to the moon of the 14th.
What is the Egyptian word for queen?
The ancient Egyptian language has no word for “Queen”. The title of King or Pharaoh was the same as a man or a woman. Queens were shown with a tightly curled false beard, a symbol of royal authority, as were Kings.
What is the Egyptian word for light?
They also used words to describe the weather that are still used today. The word fog, for example, was in ancient Egyptian "shab (changed)" and "ra (light)", which developed in Coptic to "shabra" and is now "shabura" in Egyptian Arabic.
What is the Egyptian word for star?
Seba is one of the most significant Egyptian symbols. It is the symbol for star, which connotes discipline or learning.
Who is the Egyptian goddess of beauty?
HathorHathor was one of the forty-two state gods and goddesses of Egypt, and one of the most popular and powerful. She was goddess of many things: love, beauty, music, dancing, fertility, and pleasure. She was the protector of women, though men also worshipped her. She had priests as well as priestesses in her temples.
Who were the 7 female pharaohs?
Powerful Female Pharaohs of Egyptof 13. Cleopatra VII (69–30 B.C.) ... of 13. Cleopatra I (204–176 B.C.) ... of 13. Tausret (Died 1189 B.C.) ... of 13. Nefertiti (1370–1330 B.C.) ... of 13. Hatshepsut (1507–1458 B.C.) ... of 13. Ahmose-Nefertari (1562–1495 B.C.) ... of 13. Ashotep (1560–1530 B.C.) ... of 13. Sobeknefru (Died 1802 B.C.)More items...•
How do you say love in Ancient Egypt?
Love as a noun is “hobb” while “Bahib” means I love in action....1. Habibi/ Habibti.EnglishTransliterationArabicMy beloved (female)Habibtiحبيبتى1 more row
What is the Egyptian word for fire?
Ancient Egyptian language had about 30 words meaning fire or flame but only four of them were commonly used in daily life: „khet”, „sedjet”, „neser” and „nesret”. Khet seems to be the regular type of fire and heat, „earthly and practical” like flame of the oil lamp or brazier.
What is the Egyptian word for blessed?
NGOZINGOZI: Egyptian name meaning "blessed." Compare with another form of Ngozi. 129.
What language is used to describe ancient Egypt?
The terms we use to describe the religion, history and artifacts of Ancient Egypt are a strange mishmash of words that have French, Greek, English, Arabic — and yes, sometimes even Egyptian — origins.
Why is Upper Egypt called Upper Egypt?
It’s called Upper Egypt because the Nile River flows northward, from Upper to Lower Egypt. Its capital was Thebes. uraeus: A rearing cobra in a threatening pose that represented divine authority, worn as a crown or head ornament by Ancient Egyptian divinities and rulers.
What is the name of the blue head that the Pharaohs wore?
It’s represented as a human with upraised arms — or just the arms raised at a 90-degree angle. khepresh (or Blue Crown): Often worn by pharaohs when going into war, the khepresh was a blue headpiece with a uraeus on the brow.
What is the name of the powdered quartz paste that ranges in color from turquoise to teal?
faience : A powdered quartz paste that ranges in color from turquoise to teal. Modeled and sometimes fired, it was commonly used for jewelry, pottery and sculptures. hedjet (or White Crown): The crown of Upper Egypt, it’s often irreverently (but accurately) described as looking like a bowling pin.
What is a boat that curves up at either end of the tomb?
Depicted as a bird with a human head, it could leave a person’s tomb to fly about. barque: These thin boats that curve up at either end were the transports of the gods, especially during festival processions. In temple sanctuaries, models of barques held statues of a deity.
What is the meaning of the sarcophagus?
sarcophagus: A large stone container that held a mummy's coffin. Its name comes from the Greek sarkophagos, meaning “flesh-eater.”. Sed: A festival of rejuvenation that renewed the powers of a pharaoh, it was usually — but not always — held in their 30th year of rule. senet: A game played in Ancient Egypt.
What is a pylon in Egypt?
pylon: A massive gateway leading into a temple. Some held rooms, like the one for the harem at Medinet Habu. Pyramid Texts: The earliest religious texts of Ancient Egypt. These spells, religious beliefs and myths were inscribed on the walls of Fifth and Sixth Dynasty pyramids (2465-2150 BCE).
What is the Egyptian word for "love"?
Egyptian words for love. Different cultures and countries have varying ways of saying I love you or generally expressing love. Egyptians are known for being passionate and loving. They can tell someone they love them without actually using the phrase; I love you.
When is the Egyptian language 2021?
Friday, March 26, 2021 at 4:23 PM by Salma Rashid. The Ancient Egyptian language can be described as multi-layered with several words and phrases. Over the years, the language has survived changes due to the rise and fall of the Egyptian dynasties. However, some famous Egyptian words are being used to date.
What does Ana Bahebak mean?
Ana Bahebak or Ana Bahebik - I love you. Egyptian words have played a significant role in preserving the culture of their people. The Egyptian's use these words on a day-to-day basis, hence the need to have a good understanding of them. READ ALSO: 100+ Best Swahili names for babies and meanings. Read also.
What is Egyptian Arabic?
Egyptian Arabic is defined by some informal words and expressions that are not found in Arabic in the wider region. According to historians Sameh Maqqar and Ahmed Amin, much of these informal words can be traced to the language and culture of Ancient Egypt. Not only Egyptian Arabic, but English and Greek also contain phrases from Ancient Egypt.
What is baby talk in Egypt?
Baby Talk. According to Maqqar, an Egyptian is given their share of the language used by their ancient ancestors from the cradle. Parents will speak more informally to children, so many of the words and expressions that are not in the formal language, are informal expressing and words from Ancient Egypt.
How did Maqqar discover the Egyptian language?
Maqqar has also discovered traces of the ancient Egyptian language in modern English as a result of communication with the Greeks, or adoption in Hebrew. Direct adoption can be found in words such as “desert”, which is derived from the ancient Egyptian word "dshrt (desert)." The same goes for the insect, the bee, derived from the word "beet," and the word “top,” which is an ancient Egyptian word with the same meaning and spelling. The word “net” is derived from the word "nt," which was the name of an ancient Egyptian goddess who blessed the equipment of fishermen.
What is the meaning of the word "han" in Egyptian slang?
The ancient Egyptians were romantic, and they expressed their feelings in words that are still traceable in slang today, like "han (to miss someone)", derived from the word "hn (to miss)", and "raq (to be gentle)", also taken as it is from the ancient Egyptians. The Arabic word "hawa (to fall in love)" is also derived from the ancient Egyptian word "hay (to fall)", Maqqar says.
What is the slang word for axe?
"Toria" is an Egyptian slang word for “axe,” a tool used in farming derived from the ancient Egyptian word "tor " (cane) and then developed into the Coptic word "tori".
What does "hamra" mean in Egyptian?
"Ehna han hamr’a (are you going to break your promise?)", Maqqar says, is an Egyptian slang expression which is said if a person feels that he has been deceived or tricked by someone . It is derived from the combination of the two hieroglyphic words "ham (to escape)" and "ra (mouth)", giving the idea of escaping from the mouth or from words, or, in other words, breaking a promise.
What is the meaning of the word "efesh"?
Maqqar notes in his book that words like "efesh (a person or thing with a bad appearance )", which is an Egyptian slang word derived from the ancient Egyptian word "ebshay (beetle)" as it was believed by Egyptian ancestors that a beetle ate the bodies of the dead, and stole their valuable essence.
What is the meaning of the sceptre in Egypt?
The ‘Was Sceptre’ was one of the most important Egyptian Symbols Was scepter was the symbol of power in ancient Egyptian culture also represented the dominion of gods and According to what the ancient Egyptians believe it also ensured the continuance of a king’s prosperity, The ‘Was Sceptre’ has a straight shaft, a crooked handle in the shape of an animal head and a forked base The crooked top of the staff mirrors the strange animal shape of Set’s own head.
What is the white crown of Egypt?
Hedjet the White Crown was one of the two crowns of Egypt representing the kingdom of Upper Egypt. It was combined with the Red Crown of Lower Egypt, Deshret to form the Pschent, Double Crown of Egypt when the country was unified.
What does the Ankh symbol mean?
The ankh is the most well-known symbol to come out of ancient Egypt the general meaning of the symbol In its hieroglyphic system of writing the ankh represents the concept of eternal life, The ankh or the key of life The Ankh frequently appears in Egyptian tomb paintings and other art, It is known as “the key of the Nile ” as the union between Osiris and Isis The ankh was associated with the cult of Isis was also the Ank depicted as a “cross with a handle” that represented eternal life. [ Read a full article about Ankh symbol ]
Why was the necklace of Horus used?
Horus’s eye was used as a magic spell for the first time when Horus hired her to restore life to his father Osiris, and then spread widely and became very popular in ancient Egypt.
What is the Egyptian sistrum?
26- Egyptian Sistrum. The sistrum was an ancient Egyptian instrument used in rituals to worship the goddesses Hathor, Isis, and Bastet. This instrument had a similar shape to the Ankh symbol and consisted of a handle and a series of metal pieces that produced a characteristic sound when shaken.
What is the symbol of the Red Crown of Egypt?
Deshret, also known as the Red Crown of Egypt, is the symbol that represents Lower Egypt, the lands of the goddess Wadjet. It is also used as the symbol of Kemet, the fertile lands within the territory of Seth.
What is the symbol of Maat?
17-Feather Of Maat. Maat’s feather is one of the most common Egyptian symbols used in hieroglyphics. The goddess Maat represented justice in Egyptian culture and the Ma’at feather can be seen in the context of “ensuring justice” in ancient inscriptions.
What did the Egyptians use to reduce glare?
Elaborate sarcophagi depict faces with heavy eye-liner – but make-up for the ancient Egyptians was functional as well as aesthetic (Credit: Two Temple Place/Macclesfield Museum) In addition, the heavy application of kohl around the eyes would have helped to reduce glare from the sun.
What did the Egyptians use to screen out the sun?
When it comes to ancient Egypt, I don’t know if ‘beauty’ is the right word to use.”. These cosmetic pots contained kohl, which the ancient Egyptians applied like eye-liner, perhaps to screen out the sun (Credit: Two Temple Place/Ipswich Museum)
What did Cleopatra look like?
In her coinage, Tyldesley says, “Cleopatra had a big nose, a protruding chin, and wrinkles – not what most people would call beautiful.
Where is the bust of Nefertiti?
Meanwhile the discovery, in 1912, of the famous painted bust of Nefertiti, now in Berlin’s Egyptian Museum, turned a little-known wife of the pharaoh Akhenaten into a pin-up of the ancient world.
What is the meaning of the name Elpida?
ελπίδα (el-pee-da) / hope. Elpida comes from the ancient Greek word ἐλπίς ( elpis) – the personification and spirit of hope in Greek mythology, often depicted as a young woman carrying flowers or a cornucopia. Today, Elpida is a popular name for women.
Where did the word "irida" come from?
The Modern Greek word irida comes from Iris, the personification of the rainbow and messenger of the gods. According to legend, she had beautiful wings and a coat of many colours, which would create rainbows as she travelled, carrying messages from the gods of Mount Olympus to Earth. Her name later gave the meaning to the word ‘rainbow’ in ancient Greek, from which the English term ‘iridescent’ derives.
What does Ygeia mean?
Ygeia is connected to Hygieia or Hygeia, the goddess of good health, cleanliness and sanitation; the term ‘hygiene’ is derived from it. Before it became a colloquial greeting, the Modern Greek phrase ‘ Geia sou or Geia sas ’ – which means ‘your health’ – was used to wish someone well.
What is the highest form of love?
In ancient Greek, there are many different words for love. Agapi is considered to be the highest form of love – the love two partners have for one another, the love that unites parents and their children or even the love humans have for God and vice versa. The Modern Greek term έρωτας ( erotas) usually means intimate love, which has a romantic or sexual nature, whereas φιλία ( filia) refers to affection and friendship.
What does Charmolipi mean?
χαρμολύπη (char-mo-lee-pee) / joyful mourning, sweet sorrow. Charmolipi is a compound word composed of the Greek terms for joy and sorrow, or sadness. It’s difficult to translate, but it conveys the idea of bittersweetness and having mixed feelings about something.
What is the meaning of the word "aeon"?
This word comes from the ancient Greek term aion, meaning ‘epoch’, and gave the English language ‘aeon’, an indefinite but long period of time or describes a major division of geologic time. In astronomy and less formal contexts, an aeon refers to a time span of one billion years.
How long has Greek been spoken?
Greek has been spoken for more than three and a half millennia, making it the oldest of any Indo-European language – hence its moniker ‘the mother of western languages’. Discover some of the most beautiful words in Modern Greek, and explore their history and influence on languages around the world.
What is the meaning of the poem Arete?
In the Homeric poems, Arete is frequently associated with bravery, but more often with effectiveness. The person of Arete is of the highest effectiveness; they use all their faculties—strength, bravery, and wit—to achieve real results.
What was the Greek doxa used for?
Used by the Greek rhetoricians as a tool for the formation of argument by using common opinions, the doxa was often manipulated by sophists to persuade the people, leading to Plato’s condemnation of Athenian democracy. It is used in direct contrast to Episteme and Techne. 12.
What is Ataraxia in Greek?
Ataraxia literally translates as “unperturbedness”, but is generally considered as “imperturbability”, “equanimity”, or “tranquillity”. It was first used by Pyrrho and subsequently Epicurus and the Stoics for a lucid state of robust equanimity characterized by ongoing freedom from distress and worry.
What does Arete mean?
2. Arete (Greek: ἀρετή) Arete in its basic sense, means “excellence of any kind”. The term may also mean “moral virtue”. In its earliest appearance in Greek, this notion of excellence was ultimately bound up with the notion of the fulfillment of purpose or function: the act of living up to one’s full potential.
What is the best translation of "kleos"?
Thomas McEvilley has proposed that the best translation is “mindfulness”. 4. Kleos (Greek: κλέος) Kleos is often translated to “renown”, or “glory”. It is related to the word “to hear” and carries the implied meaning of “what others hear about you”. A Greek hero earns kleos through accomplishing great deeds.
Why is it so hard to figure out which version of the word the author intended?
It can be difficult to figure out which version of the word the author intended because we just don’t think like ancient Greeks. The huge differences in time and culture can make it tricky to figure out what they really meant.
Basic Egyptian Words and Phrases
Beautiful Egyptian Words
- Ancient Egyptian terms range from names of places, objects, and occurrences. Here are some cool Egyptian words and phrases accompanied by their English translations. 1. Aywa - Yes 2. La’a - No 3. Shukran - Thank you 4. Ana esifa - I’m sorry 5. Ana mabtkalmsh araby - I don’t speak arabic 6. Ana msh fahem - I don’t understand 7. Ahwa - Egyptian coffe...
Coptic-Derived Ancient Egyptian Terms
- Here are some of these words. 1. Aragouz - The vocalist or the man of words 2. Em Bou - Baby talk for water 3. Oppa - Baby talk meaning to carry a child 4. Mebalem - A dull face with no expression 5. Bekh - peek-a-boo child game 6. Kersh - A big belly 7. Balbous - Naked 8. Shwaya - A little bit 9. Shekara - A big sack 1. Mout - Death or the loss of life 2. Dabous - A pin derived or to p…
Egyptian Words For Love
- Different cultures and countries have varying ways of saying I love you or generally expressing love. Egyptians are known for being passionate and loving. They can tell someone they love them without actually using the phrase; I love you. Here is a list of ancient Egyptian wordsfor love they use. 1. Habibi or Habibti - My Love 2. Hayati, ya hayati - My Life 3. Rohi - My soulmate 4. Albi - M…