Learn Coptic from your first letters to your first conversation

These short lessons teach you to read Coptic and to say everyday things in it: your name, your family, the parts of the body, numbers, and a first greeting. Every Coptic word is written with its reading in English letters above it, and you learn the letters in small groups, only ever reading words made of letters you already know. Each lesson ends with a quick practice that remembers what you got wrong and brings it back at the right time. Your progress stays in your own browser; there is nothing to sign up for.

Start with lesson 1

Unit 1: Read your first words

Learn the letters through everyday words: names, family, the body, things at home. Every word uses only letters you have already met.

1. 1-1 Meet Mina and Mary Read seven letters and six short words, and say who is who. Ⲁⲁ Ⲉⲉ Ⲏⲏ Ⲓⲓ Ⲙⲙ Ⲛⲛ Ⲣⲣ
2. 1-2 My family Read five more letters and the words for father, brother, sister, I and we. Ⲟⲟ Ⲱⲱ Ⲧⲧ Ⲥⲥ Ⲕⲕ
3. 1-3 Who is it? Read three more letters and the two-letter sound ⲟⲩ, and ask "Who is your father?". Ⲡⲡ Ⲩⲩ Ⲗⲗ ⲞⲨⲟⲩ
4. 1-4 What is your name? Read four more letters, ask "What is your name?" and answer. Ϣϣ Ϥϥ Ⲃⲃ Ϩϩ
5. 1-5 At home and at school Read four more letters and the names of a book, a pen, a table and a cup. Ϫϫ Ϭϭ Ⲍⲍ Ⲫⲫ
6. 1-6 Today and tomorrow Read the little mark above a letter, four more letters, and the words for today, tomorrow and yesterday. Ⲑⲑ Ⲇⲇ Ϯϯ Ϧϧ
7. 1-7 Greek letters and a first conversation Read the last four letters, and read a short conversation on your own. Ⲅⲅ Ⲝⲝ Ⲭⲭ Ⲯⲯ

Unit 2: How Coptic words work

Learn how small pieces change a word: the, a, this, my, of. Then count, name parts of the body, and greet someone.

1. 2-1 The, a and some Use the three words for the, and ⲟⲩ and ϩⲁⲛ for a and some.
2. 2-2 This and these Say this book, this table and these pens.
3. 2-3 My, your, his and her Say my, your, his, her, our and their before father and sister.
4. 2-4 Of: the book of my father Join two nouns with ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ, ⲛ̀ or ⲙ̀ to mean of.
5. 2-5 The body Say the eye, the hand, the heart and more, and say his eyes and her hands.
6. 2-6 Counting to ten Say one to ten, read the Coptic numerals, count things with ⲛ̀ (masculine and feminine), and say first, second and third. Ⲋⲋ
7. 2-7 Peace to you, thank you, please Ask how someone is, answer, say thank you and please, and ask who someone is.
8. 2-8 Good morning, yes, no and where Greet someone by the time of day and ask how they are, say yes and no, say here and outside, ask where someone is and why, and say he is not here or that you do not know.
9. 2-9 A visit Welcome a guest, ask someone to come in, say thank you and you're welcome, say thank God, and say goodbye.

Already know some Coptic? The letters page lists every sound each letter takes, and Learn the Hymns teaches a hymn line by line with its recording. The books the lessons were written from are listed, with links, on the sources page.