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Glite Dictionary
Coptic language

Coptic language

9.9
A language used in Coptic church services in Egypt and Ethiopia, written with Greek letters
  • noun
  • /ˈkɒptɪk ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/
translation icon : idioma copto
  • The Coptic language is still used during religious ceremonies in some Egyptian churches.

Examples

  • She is taking a course on the Coptic language and its ancient scripts.

  • Many scholars study the Coptic language for its historical significance.

  • Linguists study the Coptic language to better understand the history of Christianity in Egypt.

  • The Coptic language is rich in history.

  • Linguists study the Coptic language to better understand the history of Christianity in Egypt.

  • The Coptic language is still used during religious ceremonies in some Egyptian churches.

  • She is taking a course on the Coptic language and its ancient scripts.

Synonyms

Coptic
vsCoptic language
2 9.9

The language used in church services in Egypt and Ethiopia

is identical in meaning but given without the qualifier about primary use

Surface Forms

Coptic language singular
Coptic languages plural

Morphology

Coptic + language

The phrase 'Coptic language' is compositional: 'Coptic' specifies the community/heritage and 'language' names a system of speech, so the meaning 'the language of the Coptic community' follows directly from the parts. This adjective+noun naming pattern is cross-linguistically common and would be clear to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Coptic language comes from a word that once meant 'Egyptian' and later named the 'Christian' people of Egypt. Early Egyptian Christians used Greek letters to write their own speech for church, so the word Coptic came to mean this special language used in services.