ⲛⲁⲛⲉ-, ⲛⲁⲛⲉ⸗ is an adjectivial verb (verb adjectif) that means 'is good'
- ⲛⲁⲛⲉ- is a construct form, the subject comes directly after it
- ⲛⲁⲛⲉ⸗: is a pronominal form
Together with ⲛⲁⲁ-ⲛⲁϣⲉ-ⲛⲉⲥⲉ- ⲡⲉϫⲉ-ⲉϩⲛⲉ- they are described by Mallon as verb adjectif. The ⲛⲁ group are also called the seven verboids [4] that begin with the letters ⲛⲁ or ⲛⲉ and express adjectival meaning;
- ⲛⲁⲁ = is great
- ⲛⲁⲛⲉ = is good
- ⲛⲉⲥⲉ = is beautiful
- ⲛⲉⲥⲃⲱ - is intelligent
- ⲛⲁϣⲉ = is many, much, plentiful
- ⲛⲁϩⲱϭ = is pleasant
- ⲛⲁϭⲱ = - is ugly
This is a description by Mallon (1907) [1] and Brankaer [2] denoting that they are verbs that describe something, and hence the name that comes after them is a subject. They have also been described as verboids and by Lambdin (1983) [3] as inflected predicate adjectives hence, a phrase like ⲛⲁⲛⲉ ⲡⲓϣϣⲏⲛ in Gen 3, is a whole phrase which means
'The tree is good', not the
'good tree'. Also, ⲛⲁⲛⲉⲥ is an impersonal that means
'It is good' not just
'good'.This is important because when someone tries to coin it as ⲛⲁⲛⲉ ⲧⲟⲟⲩⲓ it means good is the morning, rather than good morning. However, in any case this is not an attested greeting, and markers of time eg ⲧⲟⲟⲩⲓ, ⲣⲟⲩϩⲓ, ⲉϫⲱⲣϩ, ⲙⲉⲣⲓ have not been described with anything. They are mere markers of time in Coptic
References - Mallon, A. (1907). Grammaire copte : avec bibliographie, chrestomathie et vocabulaire. Beyrouth: Imprimerie catholique
- Förster H. Brankaer, Johanna: Coptic: A Learning Grammar (Sahidic) Subsidia et Instrumenta Linguarum Orientis 1. Review of Biblical Literature (Cumulative Annual Print Edition). 2011;(02).
- Lambdin, Thomas O. Introduction to Sahidic Coptic. Macon, Ga: Mercer University Press, 1983. Print.
- Bentley Layton, Coptic in 20 Lessons: Introduction to Sahidic Coptic with Exercises and Vocabularies. Paris, Dudley; Peeters, Leuven, 2006, pp. viii + 204, ISBN 9042918101.
