ⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ

Coptic

Alternative forms

The Nile river

• ⲓⲁⲣⲟ (iaro) — Bohairic
• ⲓⲉⲣⲟ (iero) — Sahidic, Akhmimic
• ⲓⲉⲣⲁ (iera) — Fayyumic

Etymology

From Demotic yr-ꜥꜣ (“river, Nile”), from Egyptian jtrw ꜥꜣ (“Nile”, literally “great river”), from jtrw (“river”) + ꜥꜣ (“great”). By surface analysis, ⲓⲟⲣ (ior, “canal”) +‎ ⲟ (o, “great”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /jəˈɾoʔ/

Noun

ⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ • (eiero) m (plural ⲉⲓⲉⲣⲱⲟⲩ (eierōou))

1. (Sahidic) river

Proper noun

ⲡⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ • (peiero) m

1. (Sahidic) the Nile river

References

• Crum, Walter E. (1939) A Coptic Dictionary‎^[1], Oxford: Clarendon Press, →ISBN, page 82
• Černý, Jaroslav (1976) Coptic Etymological Dictionary, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN