Editing Egyptian language (section)

==Phonology==
{{Further|Transliteration of Ancient Egyptian}}
While the consonantal phonology of the Egyptian language may be reconstructed, the exact [[phonetics]] is unknown, and there are varying opinions on how to classify the individual phonemes. In addition, because Egyptian is recorded over a full 2,000 years, the Archaic and Late stages being separated by the amount of time that separates [[Old Latin]] from [[Italian language|Modern Italian]], significant phonetic changes must have occurred during that lengthy time frame.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lipiński |first=E. (Edward) |url=https://worldcat.org/oclc/783059625|title=Semitic languages : outline of a comparative grammar|date=2001|publisher=Peeters|isbn=90-429-0815-7|oclc=783059625}}</ref>

Phonologically, Egyptian contrasted labial, alveolar, palatal, velar, uvular, pharyngeal, and glottal consonants. Egyptian also contrasted voiceless and emphatic consonants, as with other Afroasiatic languages, but exactly how the emphatic consonants were realised is unknown. Early research had assumed that the opposition in stops was one of voicing, but it is now thought to be either one of [[tenuis consonant|tenuis]] and [[emphatic consonant]]s, as in many Semitic languages, or one of [[aspirated consonant|aspirated]] and [[ejective consonant]]s, as in many [[Cushitic languages]].{{NoteTag|See {{Harvcoltxt|Peust|1999}}, for a review of the history of thinking on the subject; his reconstructions of words are nonstandard.}}

Since vowels were not written until Coptic, reconstructions of the Egyptian vowel system are much more uncertain and rely mainly on evidence from Coptic and records of Egyptian words, especially proper nouns, in other languages/writing systems.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Eiland |first=Murray |date=2020 |others=Interview with Bill Manley |title=Champollion, Hieroglyphs, and Coptic Magical Papyri |url=https://www.academia.edu/89126750 |journal=Antiqvvs |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=17}}</ref>

The actual pronunciations reconstructed by such means are used only by a few specialists in the language. For all other purposes, the Egyptological pronunciation is used, but it often bears little resemblance to what is known of how Egyptian was pronounced.

===Old Egyptian===
====Consonants====
The following consonants are reconstructed for Archaic (before 2600 BC) and Old Egyptian (2686–2181 BC), with IPA equivalents in square brackets if they differ from the usual transcription scheme:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Early Egyptian consonants{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=33}}
|-
! colspan=2 |
! [[Labial consonant|Labial]]
! [[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! [[Postalveolar consonant|Postalveolar]]
! [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! [[Velar consonant|Velar]]
! [[Uvular consonant|Uvular]]
! [[Pharyngeal consonant|Pharyngeal]]
! [[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
! colspan=2 | [[Nasal stop|Nasal]]
| {{IPA link|m}}
| {{IPA link|n}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! rowspan=2 | [[Plosive]]
! <small>[[voiceless]]</small>
| {{IPA link|p}}
| {{IPA link|t}}
|
| ṯ {{IPAblink|c}}
| {{IPA link|k}}
| {{IPA link|q}}{{efn|name=unvoiced ejectives|Possibly unvoiced [[ejective consonant|ejectives]].}}
|
| {{IPA link|ʔ}}
|-
! <small>[[voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
| {{IPA link|b}}
| {{IPA link|d}}{{efn|name=unvoiced ejectives}}
|
| ḏ{{efn|name=unvoiced ejectives}} {{IPAblink|ɟ}}
| {{IPA link|ɡ}}{{efn|name=unvoiced ejectives}}
|
|
|
|-
! rowspan=2 | [[Fricative]]
! <small> [[voiceless]]</small>
| {{IPA link|f}}
| {{IPA link|s}}
| š {{IPAblink|ʃ}}
| ẖ {{IPAblink|ç}}
|
| ḫ {{IPAblink|χ}}
| ḥ {{IPAblink|ħ}}
| {{IPA link|h}}
|-
! <small>[[voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
|
| {{IPA link|z}}{{efn|name=unvoiced ejectives}}
|
|
|
| 
| ꜥ (ʿ) {{IPAblink|ʕ}}
|
|-
! colspan=2 | [[Approximant]]
| {{IPA link|w}}
| {{IPA link|l}}
|
| {{IPA link|j}}
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan=2 | [[Trill consonant|Trill]]
|
| {{IPA link|r}}
|
|
|
| ꜣ (ȝ) {{IPAblink|ʀ}}
|
|
|}
{{notelist}}

{{IPAslink|l}} has no independent representation in the hieroglyphic orthography, and it is frequently written as if it were {{IPAslink|n}} or {{IPAslink|r}}.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=33}} That is probably because the standard for written Egyptian is based on a dialect in which {{IPAslink|l}} had merged with other sonorants.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=31}} Also, the rare cases of {{IPAslink|ʔ}} occurring are not represented. The phoneme {{IPAslink|j}} is written as {{angbr IPA|j}} in the initial position ({{angbr IPA|jt}} = {{IPA|*/ˈjaːtVj/}} 'father') and immediately after a stressed vowel ({{angbr IPA|bjn}} = {{IPA|*/ˈbaːjin/}} 'bad') and as {{angbr IPA|jj}} word-medially immediately before a stressed vowel ({{angbr|ḫꜥjjk}} = {{IPA|*/χaʕˈjak/}} 'you will appear') and are unmarked word-finally ({{angbr IPA|jt}} = {{IPA|/ˈjaːtVj/}} 'father').{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=33}}

===Middle Egyptian===
In Middle Egyptian (2055–1650 BC), a number of consonantal shifts take place. By the beginning of the Middle Kingdom period, {{IPAslink|z}} and {{IPAslink|s}} had merged, and the graphemes {{angbr|s}} and {{angbr|z}} are used interchangeably.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=34}} In addition, {{IPAslink|j}} had become {{IPAslink|ʔ}} word-initially in an unstressed syllable ({{angbr IPA|jwn}} {{IPA|/jaˈwin/}} > {{IPA|*/ʔaˈwin/}} "colour") and after a stressed vowel ({{angbr|ḥjpw}} {{IPA|*/ˈħujpVw/}} > {{IPA|/ˈħeʔp(Vw)/}} '[the god] Apis').{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=35}}

===Late Egyptian===
In Late Egyptian (1069–700 BC), the phonemes ''d ḏ g'' gradually merge with their counterparts ''t ṯ k'' ({{angbr|dbn}} {{IPA|*/ˈdiːban/}} > Akkadian transcription {{Transliteration|akk|ti-ba-an}} 'dbn-weight'). Also, ''ṯ ḏ'' often become {{IPA|/t d/}}, but they are retained in many [[lexeme]]s; ''ꜣ'' becomes {{IPAslink|ʔ}}; and {{IPA|/t r j w/}} become {{IPAslink|ʔ}} at the end of a stressed syllable and eventually null word-finally: {{angbr|pḏ.t}} {{IPA|*/ˈpiːɟat/}} > Akkadian transcription {{Transliteration|akk|-pi-ta}} 'bow'.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=38}}

===Demotic===
====Phonology====
The most important source of information about Demotic phonology is Coptic. The consonant inventory of Demotic can be [[Linguistic reconstruction|reconstructed]] on the basis of evidence from the Coptic dialects.{{sfn|Allen|2020|p=[{{google books URL|09LQDwAAQBAJ|p=26}} 26]}} Demotic orthography is relatively [[Orthographic depth|opaque]]. The Demotic "alphabetical" signs are mostly inherited from the hieroglyphic script, and due to historical [[sound change]]s they do not always map neatly onto Demotic [[phoneme]]s. However, the Demotic script does feature certain orthographic innovations, such as the use of the sign {{Transliteration|egy|h̭}} for /{{IPA link|ç}}/,{{sfn|Allen|2020|p=[{{google books URL|09LQDwAAQBAJ|p=28}} 28]}} which allow it to represent sounds that were not present in earlier forms of Egyptian.

The Demotic consonants can be divided into two primary classes: [[obstruent]]s ([[Plosive|stops]], [[affricate]]s and [[fricative]]s) and [[sonorant]]s ([[approximant]]s, [[Nasal consonant|nasals]], and [[semivowel]]s).<ref>{{cite journal|last=Depuydt|first=Leo|date=1993|title=On Coptic Sounds|url=https://copticsounds.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/on-coptic-sounds.pdf|journal=Orientalia|publisher=Gregorian Biblical Press|volume=62|issue=4|pages=338–375}}</ref> [[Voice (phonetics)|Voice]] is not a contrastive feature; all obstruents are voiceless and all sonorants are voiced.{{sfn|Allen|2020|p=[{{google books URL|09LQDwAAQBAJ|p=76}} 76]}} Stops may be either [[Aspirated consonant|aspirated]] or [[Tenuis consonant|tenuis]] (unaspirated),{{sfn|Allen|2020|p=[{{google books URL|09LQDwAAQBAJ|p=74}} 74–75]}} although there is evidence that aspirates merged with their tenuis counterparts in certain environments.{{sfn|Peust|1999|p=85|loc=After the New Kingdom, confusion between both series of stops becomes very frequent in Egyptian writing. A phonetic merger of some kind is certainly the cause of this phenomenon.}}

The following table presents the consonants of Demotic Egyptian. The reconstructed value of a phoneme is given in [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] transcription, followed by a transliteration of the corresponding Demotic "alphabetical" sign(s) in angle brackets {{angbr| }}.

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center
|+ Demotic Egyptian consonants
|-
!colspan=2|
! [[Labial consonant|Labial]]
!colspan=2| [[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! [[Postalveolar consonant|Postalv.]]
! [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! [[Velar consonant|Velar]]
! [[Pharyngeal consonant|Pharyng.]]
! [[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
!colspan=2| [[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
| {{IPAslink|m}}
|colspan=2| {{IPAslink|n}}
|
|
|
|
|-
!rowspan=3| [[Obstruent]]
! <small>[[Aspirated consonant|aspirate]]</small>
| {{IPAslink|pʰ}} {{angbr|p}}
|colspan=2| {{IPAslink|tʰ}} {{angbr|t ṯ}}
| {{IPAslink|t͡ʃʰ}} {{angbr|ṯ}}
| {{IPAslink|cʰ}} {{angbr|k}}
| {{IPAslink|kʰ}} {{angbr|k}}
|
| 
|-
! <small>[[Tenuis consonant|tenuis]]</small>
|
|colspan=2| {{IPAslink|t}} {{angbr|d ḏ t ṯ ṱ}}
| {{IPAslink|t͡ʃ}} {{angbr|ḏ ṯ}}
| {{IPAslink|c}} {{angbr|g k q}}
| {{IPAslink|k}} {{angbr|q k g}}
|
|
|-
! <small>[[fricative]]</small>
| {{IPAslink|f}} {{angbr|f}}
|colspan=2| {{IPAslink|s}} {{angbr|s}}
| {{IPAslink|ʃ}} {{angbr|š}}
| {{IPAslink|ç}} {{angbr|h̭ ḫ}}
| {{IPAslink|x}} {{angbr|ẖ ḫ}}
| {{IPAslink|ħ}} {{angbr|ḥ}}
| {{IPAslink|h}} {{angbr|h}}
|-
!colspan=2| [[Approximant]]
| {{IPAslink|β}} {{angbr|b}}
| {{IPAslink|r}} {{angbr|r}}
| {{IPAslink|l}} {{angbr|l r}}
|
| {{IPAslink|j}} {{angbr|y ı͗}}
| {{IPAslink|w}} {{angbr|w}}
| {{IPAslink|ʕ}} {{angbr|ꜥ}}{{efn|/ʕ/ was lost near the end of the Ptolemaic period.{{sfn|Peust|1999|p=102|loc=In Roman Demotic {{angbr|ꜥ}} suddenly begins to be employed in a very inconsistent manner. It is often omitted or added without etymological justification. I take this as an indication that the phoneme /ʕ/ was lost from the spoken language.}}}}
|
|}
{{notelist}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Demotic–Coptic sound correspondences
|-
!rowspan=2| Demotic<br>spelling
!rowspan=2| Demotic<br>phoneme
!colspan=9| Coptic reflexes
|-
! [[Old Coptic]]{{efn|The term Old Coptic refers to any Coptic texts produced before the standardization of the Coptic alphabet and the emergence of the major literary dialects. These texts exhibit a variety of orthographic and dialectal features and notably make use of several letters of Demotic origin which are not found in the standard Coptic script. The minor dialects ''P'' and ''I'' are sometimes grouped under the Old Coptic umbrella, however, strictly speaking Dialect I is written with a modified version of the Sahidic alphabet which it shares with Akhmimic, rather than a genuine Old Coptic system.}}
! {{abbr|B|Bohairic}}
! {{abbr|F|Fayyumic}}
! {{abbr|M|Mesokemic}}
! {{abbr|S|Sahidic}}
! {{abbr|P|Dialect P (P.Bodmer VI)}}
! {{abbr|L|Lycopolitan}}
! {{abbr|I|Dialect I (Ascension of Isaiah)}}
! {{abbr|A|Akhmimic}}
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|m}}
| */{{IPA link|m}}/
| {{coptic|ⲙ}} /{{IPA link|m}}/
| {{coptic|ⲙ}} /{{IPA link|m}}/
| {{coptic|ⲙ}} /{{IPA link|m}}/
| {{coptic|ⲙ}} /{{IPA link|m}}/
| {{coptic|ⲙ}} /{{IPA link|m}}/
| {{coptic|ⲙ}} /{{IPA link|m}}/
| {{coptic|ⲙ}} /{{IPA link|m}}/
| {{coptic|ⲙ}} /{{IPA link|m}}/
| {{coptic|ⲙ}} /{{IPA link|m}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|n}}
| */{{IPA link|n}}/
| {{coptic|ⲛ}}, {{coptic|ⲻ}}, {{coptic|ⲳ}} /{{IPA link|n}}/
| {{coptic|ⲛ}} /{{IPA link|n}}/
| {{coptic|ⲛ}} /{{IPA link|n}}/
| {{coptic|ⲛ}} /{{IPA link|n}}/
| {{coptic|ⲛ}} /{{IPA link|n}}/
| {{coptic|ⲛ}}, {{coptic|ⲻ}}, {{coptic|ⲳ}} /{{IPA link|n}}/
| {{coptic|ⲛ}} /{{IPA link|n}}/
| {{coptic|ⲛ}} /{{IPA link|n}}/
| {{coptic|ⲛ}} /{{IPA link|n}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|p}}
| */{{IPA link|p}}{{IPA link|ʰ}}/
| {{coptic|ⲡ}} /{{IPA link|p}}/
| {{coptic|ⲫ}} /{{IPA link|p}}{{IPA link|ʰ}}/
| {{coptic|ⲡ}} /{{IPA link|p}}/
| {{coptic|ⲡ}} /{{IPA link|p}}/
| {{coptic|ⲡ}} /{{IPA link|p}}/
| {{coptic|ⲡ}} /{{IPA link|p}}/
| {{coptic|ⲡ}} /{{IPA link|p}}/
| {{coptic|ⲡ}} /{{IPA link|p}}/
| {{coptic|ⲡ}} /{{IPA link|p}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|t}}, {{Transliteration|egy|ṯ}}
| */{{IPA link|t}}{{IPA link|ʰ}}/
| {{coptic|ⲧ}} /{{IPA link|t}}/
| {{coptic|ⲑ}} /{{IPA link|t}}{{IPA link|ʰ}}/
| {{coptic|ⲧ}} /{{IPA link|t}}/
| {{coptic|ⲧ}} /{{IPA link|t}}/
| {{coptic|ⲧ}} /{{IPA link|t}}/
| {{coptic|ⲧ}} /{{IPA link|t}}/
| {{coptic|ⲧ}} /{{IPA link|t}}/
| {{coptic|ⲧ}} /{{IPA link|t}}/
| {{coptic|ⲧ}} /{{IPA link|t}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|ṯ}}
| */{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}{{IPA link|ʰ}}/
| {{coptic|ⳗ}}, {{coptic|ⳙ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϭ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}{{IPA link|ʰ}}/
| {{coptic|ϫ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϫ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϫ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϫ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϫ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϫ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϫ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|k}}
| */{{IPA link|c}}{{IPA link|ʰ}}/
| {{coptic|ϭ}} /{{IPA link|c}}/
| {{coptic|ϭ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}{{IPA link|ʰ}}/
| {{coptic|ϭ}} /{{IPA link|c}}/
| {{coptic|ϭ}} /{{IPA link|c}}/
| {{coptic|ϭ}} /{{IPA link|c}}/
| {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|c}}/
| {{coptic|ϭ}} /{{IPA link|c}}/
| {{coptic|ϭ}} /{{IPA link|c}}/
| {{coptic|ϭ}} /{{IPA link|c}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|k}}
| */{{IPA link|k}}{{IPA link|ʰ}}/
| {{coptic|ⲹ}}, {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|k}}/
| {{coptic|ⲭ}} /{{IPA link|k}}{{IPA link|ʰ}}/
| {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|k}}/
| {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|k}}/
| {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|k}}/
| {{coptic|ⲹ}} /{{IPA link|k}}/
| {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|k}}/
| {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|k}}/
| {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|k}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|p}}
| *[{{IPA link|p}}]{{efn|[p] is an [[allophone]] of /pʰ/ in Demotic.}}
| {{coptic|ⲡ}} /{{IPA link|p}}/
| {{coptic|ⲡ}} /{{IPA link|p}}/
| {{coptic|ⲡ}} /{{IPA link|p}}/
| {{coptic|ⲡ}} /{{IPA link|p}}/
| {{coptic|ⲡ}} /{{IPA link|p}}/
| {{coptic|ⲡ}} /{{IPA link|p}}/
| {{coptic|ⲡ}} /{{IPA link|p}}/
| {{coptic|ⲡ}} /{{IPA link|p}}/
| {{coptic|ⲡ}} /{{IPA link|p}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|d}}, {{Transliteration|egy|ḏ}}, {{Transliteration|egy|t}}, {{Transliteration|egy|ṯ}}, {{Transliteration|egy|ṱ}}
| */{{IPA link|t}}/
| {{coptic|ⲧ}} /{{IPA link|t}}/
| {{coptic|ⲧ}} /{{IPA link|t}}/
| {{coptic|ⲧ}} /{{IPA link|t}}/
| {{coptic|ⲧ}} /{{IPA link|t}}/
| {{coptic|ⲧ}} /{{IPA link|t}}/
| {{coptic|ⲧ}} /{{IPA link|t}}/
| {{coptic|ⲧ}} /{{IPA link|t}}/
| {{coptic|ⲧ}} /{{IPA link|t}}/
| {{coptic|ⲧ}} /{{IPA link|t}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|ḏ}}
| */{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ⳗ}}, {{coptic|ⳙ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϫ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϫ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϫ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϫ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϫ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϫ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϫ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϫ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|g}}, {{Transliteration|egy|k}}, {{Transliteration|egy|q}} 
| */{{IPA link|c}}/
| {{coptic|ⳛ}}, {{coptic|ϭ}}, {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|c}}/
| {{coptic|ϫ}} /{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϭ}} /{{IPA link|c}}/
| {{coptic|ϭ}} /{{IPA link|c}}/
| {{coptic|ϭ}} /{{IPA link|c}}/
| {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|c}}/
| {{coptic|ϭ}} /{{IPA link|c}}/
| {{coptic|ϭ}} /{{IPA link|c}}/
| {{coptic|ϭ}} /{{IPA link|c}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|q}}, {{Transliteration|egy|k}}, {{Transliteration|egy|g}}
| */{{IPA link|k}}/
| {{coptic|ⲹ}}, {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|k}}/
| {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|k}}/
| {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|k}}/
| {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|k}}/
| {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|k}}/
| {{coptic|ⲹ}} /{{IPA link|k}}/
| {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|k}}/
| {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|k}}/
| {{coptic|ⲕ}} /{{IPA link|k}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|f}}
| */{{IPA link|f}}/
| {{coptic|ϥ}} /{{IPA link|f}}/
| {{coptic|ϥ}} /{{IPA link|f}}/
| {{coptic|ϥ}} /{{IPA link|f}}/
| {{coptic|ϥ}} /{{IPA link|f}}/
| {{coptic|ϥ}} /{{IPA link|f}}/
| {{coptic|ϥ}} /{{IPA link|f}}/
| {{coptic|ϥ}} /{{IPA link|f}}/
| {{coptic|ϥ}} /{{IPA link|f}}/
| {{coptic|ϥ}} /{{IPA link|f}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|s}}
| */{{IPA link|s}}/
| {{coptic|ⲥ}} /{{IPA link|s}}/
| {{coptic|ⲥ}} /{{IPA link|s}}/
| {{coptic|ⲥ}} /{{IPA link|s}}/
| {{coptic|ⲥ}} /{{IPA link|s}}/
| {{coptic|ⲥ}} /{{IPA link|s}}/
| {{coptic|ⲥ}} /{{IPA link|s}}/
| {{coptic|ⲥ}} /{{IPA link|s}}/
| {{coptic|ⲥ}} /{{IPA link|s}}/
| {{coptic|ⲥ}} /{{IPA link|s}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|š}}
| */{{IPA link|ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϣ}}, {{coptic|ⳅ}}, {{coptic|ⳇ}} /{{IPA link|ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϣ}} /{{IPA link|ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϣ}} /{{IPA link|ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϣ}} /{{IPA link|ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϣ}} /{{IPA link|ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϣ}} /{{IPA link|ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϣ}} /{{IPA link|ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϣ}} /{{IPA link|ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϣ}} /{{IPA link|ʃ}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|h̭}}, {{Transliteration|egy|ḫ}}
| */{{IPA link|ç}}/
| {{coptic|ⳓ}}, {{coptic|ⳋ}} /{{IPA link|ç}}~{{IPA link|ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϣ}} /{{IPA link|ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϣ}} /{{IPA link|ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϣ}} /{{IPA link|ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ϣ}} /{{IPA link|ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ⳋ}} /{{IPA link|ç}}/
| {{coptic|ϣ}} /{{IPA link|ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ⳃ}}, {{coptic|ϣ}} /{{IPA link|ç}}~{{IPA link|ʃ}}/
| {{coptic|ⳉ}} /{{IPA link|x}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|ẖ}}, {{Transliteration|egy|ḫ}}
| */{{IPA link|x}}/
| {{coptic|ϧ}} /{{IPA link|x}}/
| {{coptic|ϧ}} /{{IPA link|x}}/
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϧ}} /{{IPA link|x}}/
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ⳉ}} /{{IPA link|x}}/
| {{coptic|ⳉ}} /{{IPA link|x}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|ḥ}}
| */{{IPA link|ħ}}/
| {{coptic|ⳕ}}, {{coptic|ϩ}}, {{coptic|ⳍ}} /{{IPA link|ħ}}~{{IPA link|h}}/
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|h}}
| */{{IPA link|h}}/
| {{coptic|ⳏ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
| {{coptic|ϩ}} /{{IPA link|h}}/ 
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|b}}
| */{{IPA link|β}}/
| {{coptic|ⲃ}} /{{IPA link|β}}/
| {{coptic|ⲃ}} /{{IPA link|β}}/
| {{coptic|ⲃ}} /{{IPA link|β}}/
| {{coptic|ⲃ}} /{{IPA link|β}}/
| {{coptic|ⲃ}} /{{IPA link|β}}/
| {{coptic|ⲃ}} /{{IPA link|β}}/
| {{coptic|ⲃ}} /{{IPA link|β}}/
| {{coptic|ⲃ}} /{{IPA link|β}}/
| {{coptic|ⲃ}} /{{IPA link|β}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|r}}
| */{{IPA link|r}}/
| {{coptic|ⲣ}} /{{IPA link|r}}/
| {{coptic|ⲣ}} /{{IPA link|r}}/
| {{coptic|ⲗ}} /{{IPA link|l}}/, {{coptic|ⲣ}} /{{IPA link|r}}/
| {{coptic|ⲣ}} /{{IPA link|r}}/
| {{coptic|ⲣ}} /{{IPA link|r}}/
| {{coptic|ⲣ}} /{{IPA link|r}}/
| {{coptic|ⲣ}} /{{IPA link|r}}/
| {{coptic|ⲣ}} /{{IPA link|r}}/
| {{coptic|ⲣ}} /{{IPA link|r}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|l, r}}
| */{{IPA link|l}}/
| {{coptic|ⲗ}} /{{IPA link|l}}/
| {{coptic|ⲗ}} /{{IPA link|l}}/
| {{coptic|ⲗ}} /{{IPA link|l}}/
| {{coptic|ⲗ}} /{{IPA link|l}}/
| {{coptic|ⲗ}} /{{IPA link|l}}/
| {{coptic|ⲗ}} /{{IPA link|l}}/
| {{coptic|ⲗ}} /{{IPA link|l}}/
| {{coptic|ⲗ}} /{{IPA link|l}}/
| {{coptic|ⲗ}} /{{IPA link|l}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|y, ı͗}}
| */{{IPA link|j}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲉ}}){{coptic|ⲓ}} /{{IPA link|j}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲉ}}){{coptic|ⲓ}} /{{IPA link|j}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲉ}}){{coptic|ⲓ}} /{{IPA link|j}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲉ}}){{coptic|ⲓ}} /{{IPA link|j}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲉ}}){{coptic|ⲓ}} /{{IPA link|j}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲉ}}){{coptic|ⲓ}} /{{IPA link|j}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲉ}}){{coptic|ⲓ}} /{{IPA link|j}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲉ}}){{coptic|ⲓ}} /{{IPA link|j}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲉ}}){{coptic|ⲓ}} /{{IPA link|j}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|w}}
| */{{IPA link|w}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲟ}}){{coptic|ⲩ}} /{{IPA link|w}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲟ}}){{coptic|ⲩ}} /{{IPA link|w}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲟ}}){{coptic|ⲩ}} /{{IPA link|w}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲟ}}){{coptic|ⲩ}} /{{IPA link|w}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲟ}}){{coptic|ⲩ}} /{{IPA link|w}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲟ}}){{coptic|ⲩ}} /{{IPA link|w}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲟ}}){{coptic|ⲩ}} /{{IPA link|w}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲟ}}){{coptic|ⲩ}} /{{IPA link|w}}/
| ({{coptic|ⲟ}}){{coptic|ⲩ}} /{{IPA link|w}}/
|-
| {{Transliteration|egy|ꜥ}}
| */{{IPA link|ʕ}}/
| {{coptic|ⲵ}}, ∅ /{{IPA link|ʔ}}~{{IPA link|∅}}/
| ∅
| ∅
| ∅
| ∅
| ∅
| ∅
| ∅
| ∅
|}
{{notelist}}

===Coptic===
More changes occur in the 1st millennium BC and the first centuries AD, leading to Coptic (1st or 3rd – c. 19th centuries AD). In Sahidic ''ẖ ḫ ḥ'' had merged into {{coptic|ϣ}} ''š'' (most often from ''ḫ'') and {{coptic|ϩ}} {{IPAslink|h}} (most often ''ẖ ḥ''). Bohairic and Akhmimic are more conservative and have a velar fricative {{IPAslink|x}} ({{coptic|ϧ}} in Bohairic, {{coptic|ⳉ}} in Akhmimic).{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=41}} Pharyngeal ''*ꜥ'' had merged into glottal {{IPAslink|ʔ}} after it had affected the quality of the surrounding vowels.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=46}} {{IPAslink|ʔ}} is not indicated orthographically unless it follows a stressed vowel; then, it is marked by doubling the vowel letter (except in Bohairic): Akhmimic {{coptic|ⳉⲟⲟⲡ}} {{IPA|/xoʔp/}}, Sahidic and Lycopolitan {{coptic|ϣⲟⲟⲡ}} ''šoʔp'', Bohairic {{coptic|ϣⲟⲡ}} ''šoʔp'' 'to be' < ''ḫpr.w'' *{{IPA|/ˈχapraw/}} 'has become'.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=41}}{{NoteTag|There is evidence of Bohairic having a phonemic glottal stop: {{Harvcoltxt|Loprieno|1995|p=44}}.}} The phoneme {{coptic|ⲃ}} {{IPAslink|b}} was probably pronounced as a fricative {{IPAblink|β}}, becoming {{coptic|ⲡ}} {{IPAslink|p}} after a stressed vowel in syllables that had been closed in earlier Egyptian (compare {{coptic|ⲛⲟⲩⲃ}} < {{IPA|*/ˈnaːbaw/}} 'gold' and {{coptic|ⲧⲁⲡ}} < *{{IPA|/dib/}} 'horn').{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=41}} The phonemes {{IPA|/d g z/}} occur only in [[Greek language|Greek]] loanwords, with rare exceptions triggered by a nearby {{IPA|/n/}}: {{coptic|ⲁⲛⲍⲏⲃⲉ/ⲁⲛⲥⲏⲃⲉ}} < ''ꜥ.t n.t sbꜣ.w'' 'school'.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=41}}

{{Contains special characters|Coptic}}
Earlier ''*d ḏ g q'' are preserved as ejective ''t' c' k' k{{'}}'' before vowels in Coptic. Although the same graphemes are used for the pulmonic stops ({{angbr|{{coptic|ⲧ ϫ ⲕ}}}}), the existence of the former may be inferred because the stops {{angbr|{{coptic|ⲡ ⲧ ϫ ⲕ}}}} {{IPA|/p t c k/}} are allophonically aspirated {{IPA|[pʰ tʰ cʰ kʰ]}} before stressed vowels and [[sonorant]] consonants.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=42}} In Bohairic, the allophones are written with the special graphemes {{angbr|{{coptic|ⲫ ⲑ ϭ ⲭ}}}}, but other dialects did not mark aspiration: Sahidic {{coptic|ⲡⲣⲏ}}, Bohairic {{coptic|ⲫⲣⲏ}} 'the sun'.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=42}}{{NoteTag|In other dialects, the graphemes are used only for clusters of a stop followed by {{IPAslink|h}} and were not used for aspirates: see {{Harvcoltxt|Loprieno|1995|p=248}}.}}

Thus, Bohairic does not mark aspiration for reflexes of older ''*d ḏ g q'': Sahidic and Bohairic {{coptic|ⲧⲁⲡ}} {{IPA|*/dib/}} 'horn'.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=42}} Also, the definite article {{coptic|ⲡ}} is unaspirated when the next word begins with a glottal stop: Bohairic {{coptic|ⲡ + ⲱⲡ > ⲡⲱⲡ}} 'the account'.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=43}}

The consonant system of Coptic is as follows:
{| class="wikitable Unicode" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Coptic consonants{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|pp=40–42}}
|-
! colspan=2 |
! [[Labial consonant|Labial]]
! [[Alveolar consonant|Dental]]
! [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! [[Velar consonant|Velar]]
! [[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
! colspan=2 | [[Nasal stop|Nasal]]
| {{coptic|ⲙ}}<br />{{IPA link|m}}
| {{coptic|ⲛ}}<br />{{IPA link|n}}
|
|
|
|-
! rowspan=3 | [[Plosive]]
! <small>[[voiceless]]</small>
| {{coptic|ⲡ (ⲫ)}}<br />{{IPA link|p}} ({{IPA link|pʰ}})
| {{coptic|ⲧ (ⲑ)}}<br />{{IPA link|t}} ({{IPA link|tʰ}})
| {{coptic|ϫ (ϭ)}}<br />{{IPA link|c}} ({{IPA link|cʰ}})
| {{coptic|ⲕ (ⲭ)}}<br />{{IPA link|k}} ({{IPA link|kʰ}})
| {{efn|Various orthographic representations; see above.}}<br />{{IPA link|ʔ}}
|-
! <small>[[ejective]]</small>
|
| {{coptic|ⲧ}}<br />{{IPA link|tʼ}}
| {{coptic|ϫ}}<br />{{IPA link|cʼ}}
| {{coptic|ⲕ}}<br />{{IPA link|kʼ}}
|
|-
! <small>[[voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
|
| {{coptic|ⲇ}}<br />{{IPA link|d}}
|
| {{coptic|ⲅ}}<br />{{IPA link|ɡ}}
|
|-
! rowspan=2 | [[Fricative]]
! <small> [[voiceless]]</small>
| {{coptic|ϥ}}<br />{{IPA link|f}}
| {{coptic|ⲥ}}<br />{{IPA link|s}}
| {{coptic|ϣ}}<br />{{IPA link|ʃ}}
| {{coptic|(ϧ, ⳉ)}}<br />({{IPA link|x}})
| {{coptic|ϩ}}<br />{{IPA link|h}}
|-
! <small>[[voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
| {{coptic|ⲃ}}<br />{{IPA link|β}}
| {{coptic|ⲍ}}<br />{{IPA link|z}}
|
|
|
|-
! colspan=2 | [[Approximant]]
| {{coptic|(ⲟ)ⲩ}}<br />{{IPA link|w}}
| {{coptic|ⲗ}}<br />{{IPA link|l}}
| {{coptic|(ⲉ)ⲓ}}<br />{{IPA link|j}}
|
|
|-
! colspan=2 | [[Trill consonant|Trill]]
|
| {{coptic|ⲣ}}<br />{{IPA link|r}}
|
|
|
|}
{{notelist}}

===Vowels===
Here is the vowel system reconstructed for earlier Egyptian:
{|class="wikitable"
|+Earlier Egyptian vowel system{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=35}}
!
! [[Front vowel|Front]]
! [[Back vowel|Back]]
|-
! [[Close vowel|Close]]
| align=center | {{IPA|i iː}}
| align=center | {{IPA|u uː}}
|-
! [[Open vowel|Open]]
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| {{IPA|a aː}}
|}
Vowels are always short in unstressed syllables ({{angbr|tpj}} = {{IPA|*/taˈpij/}} 'first') and long in open stressed syllables ({{angbr|rmṯ}} = {{IPA|*/ˈraːmac/}} 'man'), but they can be either short or long in closed stressed syllables ({{angbr|jnn}} = {{IPA|*/jaˈnan/}} 'we', {{angbr|mn}} = {{IPA|*/maːn/}} 'to stay').{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=36}}

In the Late [[New Kingdom of Egypt|New Kingdom]], after [[Ramses II]], around 1200 BC, {{IPA|*/ˈaː/}} changes to {{IPA|*/ˈoː/}} (like the [[Canaanite shift]]), {{angbr|ḥrw}} '(the god) Horus' {{IPA|*/ħaːra/}} > {{IPA|*/ħoːrə/}} (Akkadian transcription: {{Transliteration|akk|-ḫuru}}).{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=38}}{{sfn|Allen|2013}} {{IPA|*/uː/}}, therefore, changes to {{IPA|*/eː/}}: {{angbr|šnj}} 'tree' {{IPA|*/ʃuːn(?)j/}} > {{IPA|*/ʃeːnə/}} (Akkadian transcription: {{Transliteration|akk|-sini}}).{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=38}}

In the Early New Kingdom, short stressed {{IPA|*/ˈi/}} changes to {{IPA|*/ˈe/}}: {{angbr|mnj}} "[[Menes]]" {{IPA|*/maˈnij/}} > {{IPA|*/maˈneʔ/}} (Akkadian transcription: {{Transliteration|akk|ma-né-e}}).{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=38}} Later, probably 1000–800 BC, a short stressed {{IPA|*/ˈu/}} changes to {{IPA|*/ˈe/}}: {{angbr|ḏꜥn.t}} "[[Tanis]]" {{IPA|*/ˈɟuʕnat/}} was borrowed into Hebrew as *ṣuʕn but would become transcribed as {{angbr|ṣe-e'-nu/ṣa-a'-nu}} during the [[Neo-Assyrian Empire]].{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=39}}

Unstressed vowels, especially after a stress, become {{IPA|*/ə/}}: {{angbr|nfr}} 'good' {{IPA|*/ˈnaːfir/}} > {{IPA|*/ˈnaːfə/}} (Akkadian transcription {{Transliteration|akk|-na-a-pa}}).{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=39}} {{IPA|*/iː/}} changes to {{IPA|*/eː/}} next to {{IPA|/ʕ/}} and {{IPA|/j/}}: {{angbr|wꜥw}} 'soldier' {{IPA|*/wiːʕiw/}} > {{IPA|*/weːʕə/}} (earlier Akkadian transcription: {{Transliteration|akk|ú-i-ú}}, later: {{Transliteration|akk|ú-e-eḫ}}).{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=39}}

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Egyptian vowel system {{circa|1000 BC}}{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=39}}
!
! [[Front vowel|Front]]
! [[Central vowel|Central]]
! [[Back vowel|Back]]
|-
! [[Close vowel|Close]]
| {{IPA|iː}}
|
|
|-
! [[Mid vowel|Mid]]
| {{IPA|e eː}}
| {{IPA|ə}}
| {{IPA|oː}}
|-
! [[Open vowel|Open]]
| colspan="3"| {{IPA|a}}
|}

In Sahidic and Bohairic Coptic, Late Egyptian stressed {{IPA|*/ˈa/}} becomes {{IPA|*/ˈo/}} and {{IPA|*/ˈe/}} becomes {{IPA|/ˈa/}}, but are unchanged in the other dialects:
* {{angbr|sn}} {{IPA|*/san/}} 'brother'
*: Sahidic and Bohairic {{angbr|son}}
*: Akhmimic, Lycopolitan and Fayyumic {{angbr|san}}
* {{angbr|rn}} 'name' {{IPA|*/rin/}} > {{IPA|*/ren/}}
*: Sahidic and Bohairic {{angbr|ran}}
*: Akhmimic, Lycopolitan and Fayyumic {{angbr|ren}}{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=46}}

However, in the presence of guttural fricatives, Sahidic and Bohairic preserve {{IPA|*/ˈa/}}, and Fayyumic renders it as {{angbr|e}}:
* {{angbr|ḏbꜥ}} 'ten thousand' {{IPA|*/ˈbaʕ/}}
*: Sahidic, Akhmimic and Lycopolitan {{angbr|tba}}
*: Bohairic {{angbr|tʰba}}
*: Fayyumic {{angbr|tbe}}

In Akhmimic and Lycopolitan, {{IPA|*/ˈa/}} becomes {{IPA|/ˈo/}} before etymological {{IPA|/ʕ, ʔ/}}:
* {{angbr|jtrw}} 'river' {{IPA|*/ˈjatraw/}} > {{IPA|*/jaʔr(ə)/}}
*: Sahidic {{angbr|eioor(e)}}
*: Bohairic {{angbr|ior}}
*: Akhmimic {{angbr|ioore, iôôre}}
*: Fayyumic {{angbr|iaal, iaar}}

Similarly, the diphthongs {{IPA|*/ˈaj/}}, {{IPA|*/ˈaw/}}, which normally have reflexes {{IPA|/ˈoj/}}, {{IPA|/ˈow/}} in Sahidic and are preserved in other dialects, are in Bohairic {{angbr|ôi}} (in non-final position) and {{angbr|ôou}} respectively:
* "to me, to them"
*: Sahidic {{angbr|eroi, eroou}}
*: Akhmimic and Lycopolitan {{angbr|arai, arau}}
*: Fayyumic {{angbr|elai, elau}}
*: Bohairic {{angbr|eroi, erôou}}

Sahidic and Bohairic preserve {{IPA|*/ˈe/}} before {{IPA|/ʔ/}} (etymological or from lenited {{IPA|/t r j/}} or tonic-syllable coda {{IPA|/w/}}),: Sahidic and Bohairic {{angbr|ne}} {{IPA|/neʔ/}} 'to you (fem.)' < {{IPA|*/ˈnet/}} < {{IPA|*/ˈnic/}}. {{IPA|*/e/}} may also have different reflexes before [[sonorant]]s, near [[sibilant]]s and in diphthongs.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=47}}

Old {{IPA|*/aː/}} surfaces as {{IPA|/uː/}} after nasals and occasionally other consonants: {{angbr|nṯr}} 'god' {{IPA|*/ˈnaːcar/}} > {{IPA|/ˈnuːte/}} {{angbr|noute}}{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|pp=47–48}} {{IPA|/uː/}} has acquired phonemic status, as is evidenced by minimal pairs like 'to approach' {{angbr|hôn}} {{IPA|/hoːn/}} < {{IPA|*/ˈçaːnan/}} ẖnn vs. 'inside' {{angbr|houn}} {{IPA|/huːn/}} < {{IPA|*/ˈçaːnaw/}} ẖnw.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=48}} An etymological {{IPA|*/uː/}} > {{IPA|*/eː/}} often surfaces as {{IPA|/iː/}} next to {{IPA|/r/}} and after etymological pharyngeals: {{angbr|hir}} < {{IPA|*/χuːr/}} 'street' (Semitic loan).{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=48}}

Most Coptic dialects have two phonemic vowels in unstressed position. Unstressed vowels generally became {{IPA|/ə/}}, written as {{angbr|e}} or null ({{angbr|i}} in Bohairic and Fayyumic word-finally), but pretonic unstressed /a/ occurs as a reflex of earlier unstressed {{IPA|*/e/}} near an etymological pharyngeal, velar or sonorant ('to become many' {{angbr|ašai}} < ꜥšꜣ {{IPA|*/ʕiˈʃiʀ/}}) or an unstressed {{IPA|*/a/}}. Pretonic [i] is underlyingly {{IPA|/əj/}}: Sahidic 'ibis' {{angbr|hibôi}} < h(j)bj.w {{IPA|*/hijˈbaːj?w/}}.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=48}}

Thus, the following is the Sahidic vowel system c. AD 400:

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Sahidic vowel system {{circa|400 AD}}{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=46}}
!
! colspan="2" | Stressed
! Unstressed
|-
!
! [[Front vowel|Front]]
! [[Back vowel|Back]]
! [[Central vowel|Central]]
|-
! [[Close vowel|Close]]
| {{IPA|iː}}
| {{IPA|uː}}
|
|-
! [[Mid vowel|Mid]]
| {{IPA|e eː}}
| {{IPA|o oː}}
| {{IPA|ə}}
|-
! [[Open vowel|Open]]
| colspan="3"| {{IPA|a}}
|}

===Phonotactics===
Earlier Egyptian has the syllable structure CV(ː)(C) in which V is long in open stressed syllables and short elsewhere.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=36}} In addition, CVːC or CVCC can occur in word-final, stressed position.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=36}} However, CVːC occurs only in the infinitive of biconsonantal verbal roots, CVCC only in some plurals.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=36}}{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=39}}

In later Egyptian, stressed CVːC, CVCC, and CV become much more common because of the loss of final dentals and glides.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=39}}

===Stress===
Earlier Egyptian stresses one of the last two syllables. According to some scholars, that is a development from a stage in Proto-Egyptian in which the third-last syllable could be stressed, which was lost as open posttonic syllables lost their vowels: {{IPA|*/ˈχupiraw/}} > {{IPA|*/ˈχupraw/}} 'transformation'.{{sfn|Loprieno|1995|p=37}}

===Egyptological pronunciation===
As a convention, Egyptologists make use of an "Egyptological pronunciation" in English: the consonants are given fixed values, and vowels are inserted according to essentially arbitrary rules. Two of these consonants known as alef and ayin are generally pronounced as the vowel {{IPA|/ɑː/}}. Yodh is pronounced {{IPA|/iː/}}, ''w'' {{IPA|/uː/}}. Between other consonants, {{IPA|/ɛ/}} is then inserted. Thus, for example, the Egyptian name [[Ramesses (Egyptian name)|Ramesses]] is most accurately transliterated as {{Wikt-lang|egy|rꜥ-ms-sw}} ("[[Ra]] is the one who bore him") and pronounced as {{IPA|/rɑmɛssu/}}.

In [[transcription (linguistics)|transcription]], {{angbr|a}}, {{angbr|i}}, and {{angbr|u}} all represent consonants. For example, the name [[Tutankhamun]] (1341–1323 BC) was written in Egyptian as {{Wikt-lang|egy|twt-ꜥnḫ-jmn}} ("living image of [[Amun]]"). Experts have assigned generic sounds to these values as a matter of convenience, which is an artificial pronunciation and should not be mistaken for how Egyptian was ever pronounced at any time. So although {{Transliteration|egy|twt-ꜥnḫ-ı͗mn}} is pronounced {{IPAc-en|t|uː|t|ən|ˈ|k|ɑː|m|ə|n}} in modern Egyptological pronunciation, in his lifetime, it was likely to be pronounced something like *{{IPA|sem|təˈwaːtəʔ ˈʕaːnəχ ʔaˈmaːnəʔ|}},<ref>{{cite book|last=Fecht|first=Gerhard|title=Wortakzent und Silbenstruktur: Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der ägyptischen Sprache|publisher=J. J. Augustin, Glückstadt–Hamburg–New York|year=1960|section=§§ 112 A. 194, 254 A. 395}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Vergote|first=Jozef|title=Grammaire Copte|others=two vols|publisher=[[Peeters (publishing company)|Peters, Louvain]]|year=1973–1983}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Osing|first=J.|title=Die Nominalbildung des Ägyptischen|publisher=Deutsches archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Kairo|year=1976}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Schenkel|first=W.|title=Zur Rekonstruktion deverbalen Nominalbildung des Ägyptischen|publisher=Harrasowitz|location=Wiesbaden|year=1983|pages=212, 214, 247}}</ref>{{sfn|Vycichl|1983|pp=10, 224, 250}}{{sfn|Vycichl|1990|p=215}}{{Excessive citations inline|date=June 2024}} transliterable as {{Transliteration|egy|təwā́təʾ-ʿā́nəkh-ʾamā́nəʾ}}.