# Coptic Pronominal Suffixes

Source: https://coptic-lore-forge.lovable.app/wiki/coptic-pronominal-suffixes — Coptic Orthodox Wiki (updated 2026-10-02)

Coptic suffix-pronouns have forms that vary with grammatical environment. The Sahidic evidence describes several such variants, while dialect H illustrates the development of a secondary pronominal suffix.[^1][^2][^5]

## Sahidic forms

The Sahidic grammatical description identifies several suffix-pronouns with alternative forms, or allomorphs, associated with different grammatical environments.[^1][^2]

- **First-person singular:** The suffix-pronoun `-i-` has the allomorphs `-a-`, illustrated by `nn-a-` and `tr-a`, and `-t`. The latter occurs as the object of infinitives following a consonant or `/X/`, and with prepositions in similar environments.[^1]
- **Second-person singular feminine:** The forms are `-Ø-` and `-re` after conjugation bases, and `-Ø-`, `-e-`, and `-te` as objects of infinitives.[^2]
- **Second-person plural:** The suffix-pronoun has the allomorphs `-tn-` and `-tetn-`.[^2]
- **Third-person plural:** The suffix-pronoun is nonsyllabic after `nne-`, `tre-`, and the possessive article `pe-`.[^3]

## Special objective forms

Sahidic also has a special objective pronoun paradigm characterized by the third-person plural forms `-ce` and `-cou`. This paradigm occurs mostly after another pronoun, including as the pronominal object of the possession verboid `ountaf`.[^4]

## Secondary suffix formation in dialect H

In dialect H, the loss of the initial consonant of the “accusative” preposition in its pronominal form is described as producing a form apparently understood, to some extent, as a secondary pronominal suffix.[^5]

The examples given are `par/bnouh/ma@`, “my Savior,” and `saknouh/ma@`, “you will save me,” alongside `aknahm/t`, “you have saved me.” These examples belong to a discussion of morphosyntactic features observed in manuscript M 636, hand a.[^5]

## Sources
[^1]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 8, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 432)
[^2]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 8, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 432)
[^3]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 8, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 432)
[^4]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 8, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 432)
[^5]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 8, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 153)