Editing Coptic language (section)

=== Nouns ===
All Coptic nouns carry [[grammatical gender]], either masculine or feminine, usually marked through a definite article as in the [[Romance languages]], the difference is that Coptic articles are prefixes. Masculine nouns are marked with the article {{IPA|/pə, peː/}} and feminine nouns with the article {{IPA|/tə, teː/}}{{sfn|Lambdin|1983|p=2}} in the Sahidic dialect and {{IPA|/pi, əp/}} and {{IPA|/ti, ət/}} in the Bohairic dialect.

: Bohairic: {{Coptic|ⲡⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ}} {{IPA|/pəˈɾomə/}} – 'the man' / {{Coptic|ϯϫⲓϫ}} {{IPA|/təˈt͡ʃit͡ʃ/}} – 'the hand'
: Sahidic: {{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲣⲱⲙⲉ}} {{IPA|/pəˈɾomə/}} – 'the man' / {{Coptic|ⲧⲉϫⲓϫ}} {{IPA|/təˈt͡ʃit͡ʃ/}} – 'the hand'

The definite and indefinite articles also indicate [[Grammatical number|number]]; however, only definite articles mark gender. Coptic has a number of [[broken plural]]s, a vestige of Older Egyptian, but in the majority of cases, the article marks number. Generally, nouns [[inflection|inflected]] for plurality end in {{IPA|/wə/}}, but there are some irregularities. The dual was another feature of earlier Egyptian that survives in Coptic in only few words, such as {{Coptic|ⲥⲛⲁⲩ}} (''snau'') 'two'.

Words of Greek origin keep their original grammatical gender, except for neuter nouns, which become masculine in Coptic.

[[Possession (linguistics)|Possession]] of definite nouns is expressed with a series of [[Possessive determiner|possessive articles]] which are prefixed to the noun. These articles agree with the [[Grammatical person|person]], [[Grammatical number|number]], and [[Grammatical gender|gender]] of the possessor and the number and gender of the possessed noun. The forms of the possessive article vary according to dialect.

<div style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top; margin-right: 1em;">
{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style=text-align:center
|+Coptic possessive articles
!colspan=2|{{small|Person/Number/Gender}}
!colspan=6|Dialect
|-
!{{small|Possessor}}
!{{small|Possessed}}
!{{small|Bohairic}}
!{{small|Fayyumic}}
!{{small|Oxyrhynchite}}
!{{small|Sahidic}}
!{{small|Lycopolitan}}
!{{small|Akhmimic}}
|-
!rowspan=3|{{gcl|1SG}}
!{{gcl|M}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲡⲁ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|F}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲧⲁ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|PL}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲛⲁ}}-
|-
!rowspan=3|{{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
!{{gcl|M}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲕ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|F}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲕ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|PL}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲕ}}-
|-
!rowspan=3|{{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
!{{gcl|M}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉ}}-
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲟⲩ}}-
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|F}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉ}}-
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲟⲩ}}-
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|PL}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉ}}-
|{{Coptic|ⲛⲟⲩ}}-
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉ}}-
|-
!rowspan=3|{{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
!{{gcl|M}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉϥ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|F}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉϥ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|PL}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉϥ}}-
|-
!rowspan=3|{{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
!{{gcl|M}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲥ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|F}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲥ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|PL}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲥ}}-
|-
!rowspan=3|{{gcl|1PL}}
!{{gcl|M}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲛ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|F}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲛ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|PL}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲛ}}-
|-
!rowspan=3|{{gcl|2PL}}
!{{gcl|M}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛ}}-
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̄}}-
|-
!{{gcl|F}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛ}}-
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄}}-
|-
!{{gcl|PL}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲧⲉⲛ}}-
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲧⲛ̄}}-
|-
!rowspan=3|{{gcl|3PL}}
!{{gcl|M}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲟⲩ}}-
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲩ}}-
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲟⲩ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|F}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲟⲩ}}-
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲩ}}-
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲟⲩ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|PL}}
|{{Coptic|ⲛⲟⲩ}}-
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲩ}}-
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲟⲩ}}-
|}
</div>
<div style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top; margin-right: 1em;">
{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style=text-align:center
|+Examples
!rowspan=2|Translation
!colspan=6|Dialect
|-
!{{small|Bohairic}}
!{{small|Fayyumic}}
!{{small|Oxyrhynchite}}
!{{small|Sahidic}}
!{{small|Lycopolitan}}
!{{small|Akhmimic}}
|-
|"my brother"
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲁ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲁ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲁ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲁ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|-
|"my sister"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲁ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲁ-ⲥⲟⲛⲉ}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲧⲁ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|-
|"my siblings"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲁ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲛⲁ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|SG}}.{{gcl|M}}) brother"
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲕ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲕ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲕ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲕ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|SG}}.{{gcl|M}}) sister"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲕ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲕ-ⲥⲟⲛⲉ}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲕ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|SG}}.{{gcl|M}}) siblings"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲕ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲕ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|SG}}.{{gcl|F}}) brother"
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲟⲩ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|SG}}.{{gcl|F}}) sister"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉ-ⲥⲟⲛⲉ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲟⲩ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|SG}}.{{gcl|F}}) siblings"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲛⲟⲩ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|-
|"his brother"
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉϥ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉϥ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉϥ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉϥ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|-
|"his sister"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉϥ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉϥ-ⲥⲟⲛⲉ}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉϥ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|-
|"his siblings"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉϥ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉϥ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|-
|"her brother"
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲥ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲥ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲥ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲥ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|-
|"her sister"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲥ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲥ-ⲥⲟⲛⲉ}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲥ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|-
|"her siblings"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲥ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲥ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|-
|"our brother"
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲛ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲛ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲛ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲛ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|-
|"our sister"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲛ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲛ-ⲥⲟⲛⲉ}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲛ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|-
|"our siblings"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲛ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲛ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|PL}}) brother" 
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̄-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̄-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̄-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|PL}}) sister"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄-ⲥⲟⲛⲉ}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|PL}}) siblings"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲧⲉⲛ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲧⲛ̄-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|-
|"their brother"
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲟⲩ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲩ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲩ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲟⲩ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|-
|"their sister"
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲟⲩ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲩ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲩ-ⲥⲟⲛⲉ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲩ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲟⲩ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|-
|"their siblings"
|{{Coptic|ⲛⲟⲩ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲩ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲩ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲟⲩ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|}
</div>