This is a list of traditional Coptic place names. This list includes:
Places involved in the history of Egypt and the Coptic Christianity and the Coptic names given to them. Places whose names originate from the Coptic language. Places whose names were derived from the Coptic language by scholars.
Egypt
Cairo Governorate +Cities, towns, villages and neighbourhoodsEnglish nameCoptic nameTransliteration and pronunciationEtymologyArabic nameAncient Greek nameBohairicOther dialectsClassical BohairicLate BohairicCairoti-Kešrōmi: di-Kešrōmi: From القاهرةHelwanHalban, Halouan: , Halwan: possibly Semitic in the origin, compare and Old Testament place name Holon.حلوانAyn Shams (Heliopolis)Ōn Petphrē: Ōn Badabra: from عين شمسἩλιούπολιςTuraTrōa: Drōa: طرةΤρωηMinyat as-Sirgiti-Monakha m-Pisismelōn: di-Monaka em-Bisismelōn: the abode of sesame oilمنيه السيرجEl-HamraHalambreouat: Halambraouad: الحمراءAbbasiaŠats/p-Sobt m-p-Hoi: /Šats/eb-Sobt em-be-Hoi: /the moat/the wall of the moatالعباسيةAl-Azbakeyati-Antōnias: di-Andōnias: related to a personal name Anthonyأزبكيةal-AskarNistram: Nisdram: from العسكرEl-MaasaraŠahren: Šahran: related to المعصرةBulaq*Philake: *Bilake: from بولاقAl-Darb Al-Ahmareph-Mantōwti en-Nitekhnitēs:eb-Mandōwdi en-Nidaknidās:the artisans' gathering placeالدرب الأحمرCairo Citadelt-Khala: ed-Kala: from قلعة صلاح الدينal-Ghuriati-Rabē en-Rōmeos:di-Rawē en-Rōmeos:the Roman quarterالغوريةManshiyat Naserⲡⲙⲁⲛϫⲓⲛⲑⲱⲟⲩϯ ⲛ̀ⲛⲓⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥp-Mančinthōwti en-ni-Khristianos:eb-Mančindōwdi en-ni-Krisdianos:district of the Christiansمنشية ناصر
Giza Governorate English nameCoptic nameTransliteration and pronunciationEtymologyArabic nameAncient Greek nameBohairicOther dialectsClassical BohairicLate BohairicGiza, , Sahidic: ti-Persioi: ; ti-Persios: ; ti-Persiōti: di-Barsioi: ; di-Barsios: ; di-Barsiōdi: "the Persian (fortress)" most likely referring to a Sasanian stronghold found in the area in the early 7th century الجيزةAtfihSahidic: , Petpeh: Bedbah: from أطفيحἈφροδίτης πόλιςAusimBoušēm: Woušēm: from اوسيمΛητοῦς πόλιςAbu Sir*Sahidic: *Pousiri: *Bousiri: from ابو صيرΒουσιριςUmm Khnan, Moḥnon: Moḥnon: from ام خنانAbu an-NimrasPonmonros: Bonmonros: from and أبو النمرسἌνω μερίςTirsaTersō: Dersō: from ترساTamwaTammōw: Dammōw: settlement of waterطموةShubramant**Čebro Ement: *Čebro Emand: eastern hamletشبىرا منت
Beheira Governorate English nameCoptic nameTransliteration and pronunciationEtymologyArabic nameAncient Greek nameBohairicOther dialectsClassical BohairicLate BohairicDamanhur, Sahidic: p-Timenhōr: (Lymnē): eb-Dimenhōr: (Lymnē): from , the suffix , coming from (i.e. Lake Province – Beheira) is added sometimes to distinguish it from other toponyms of the same name. دمنهورἙρμοῦ πόλις ΜικράRosettaSahidic: ti-Rašit: di-Rašid: from رشيدΒολβιτίνηDesouk**Tesoukhi: *Desouki: from دسوقEl MahmoudiahPelhip: Belhib: المحموديةShubrakhit**ti-Čephro Ḥēt: *di-Čebro Ḥēd: northern hamletشبراخيتWadi NatrunŠihēt: Šihēt: measure of the heartوادي النطرونΣκήτις
Sharqia Governorate English nameCoptic nameTransliteration and pronunciationEtymologyArabic nameAncient Greek nameBohairicOther dialectsClassical BohairicLate BohairicBilbeis, Phelbēs: Phlebes: Belbēs: Blebes: Probably related to Bes ()بلبيس*ΒύβλοςSaft el-Hinnati-Arabia: di-Arabia: "the Arabia"صفط الحنةSan el-HagarϫⲁⲛⲏSahidic: ϫⲁⲁⲛⲉ (Čaane: ); Fayyumic: Čanē: Čanē: صان الحجرΤάνιςAbu Hammad**Panoup: *Banoub: The former name of the city is Banoub, "(place) of Anoub (personal name)"أبو حمادHurbaytPharbait: Barbait: From هربيطةΦάρβαιθοςBahtitPhahtit: Bahtit: بحطيطAl-AdliyyaPesērp: Bezarb: العدليةAsh-ShabanatŠbenti: Šbandi: الشباناتEl HusseiniyaBoutō: Woudō: الحسينيةΒουτωIbrash**Phrēš: *Braš: "mat, coverlet"إبراشAl-Tahira**Tahlē: *Tahlē: Based on the former hame of the town – TāhlāالطاهرةΤααληAl Qatawyah**Šēm en-Timi: *Šēm en-Dimi: The former name of the village is Shamandima, from Coptic "small town"القطاوية
Kafr el-Sheikh Governorate English nameCoptic nameTransliteration and pronunciationEtymologyArabic nameAncient Greek nameBohairicOther dialectsClassical BohairicLate BohairicKafr El Sheikh**Thmouinikōn: *Demouinikōn: Reconstructed based on the old Arabic name of the city (), from ⲑⲙⲟⲩⲓ (island) + ⲛⲓⲕⲱⲛ (personal name, although unattested in Coptic sources)كفر الشيخBurj al- Burullus/Tell al-Hadadint-Pahralios: de-Barhalios:From برج البرلسΠαραλέοςFuwwahBoua: Boua: فوةΠαυαMetoubes**Nitopos: *Nitobos: Supposedly from + مطوبسQallinKallin: Kallin: Supposedly from a personal name Kalleinos ()قلينDesouk**Tesoukhi: *Desouki: From دسوقShabasČapasen: Čabasen: شباسΚαβασαSakhaSḥōw: Sḥōw: سخاΞόιςShamshirah**Čephro p-Šēri: *Čebro eb-Šēri: شمشيرةSandyunp-Sention ente Niamrēy: eb-Sendion ende Niamrēy: "Sention of the bakers"سنديونQabritKoprēt: Kobrēt: قبريطΚοπριθεως κωμηMatbul**Patbōn: *Batbōn: متبولSidi Salem/Kom al-Khawaled, Pherwōini: , Plawsine: Berwōini: Blawsina: سيدي سالمΦραγωνις, ΦλαβωνιαςSidi GhazyPišarōt:Bišarot:The former name of the town is Shubrā Ankalusā (). The ancient city of Bashrud is thought to be in Sidi Ghazy (Kom el-Ahmar).سيدي غازيἘλεαρχίαAl-Haddadi/ NastarawaNišterōw:Ništarōw:From الحداحيΝιστερῶςAl-Hanafi al-Kubra/ AjnuPišiniēw:Bišiniēw:الحنفي الكبرى (اجنو)ἈγνοῦIzbat al-Kom al-Kabir/ DanatuPtenetō:Ebdenetō: From عزبة الكوم الكبيرΦθενετοςBaltimPineptimi: Binebtimi: بلطيمΠινεπτιμιNiqiza/Kom NuqaizahNikečōw:Nikečōw:نقيزةΝικετουDuqmira**Kōmē Tikhomērion: *Kōmē Dikomerion: Engsheden suggests that initial /r/ in the village's name given by George of Cyprus could be a corruption of /t/, thus being an early attestation of Duqmira. Derivation from the name of Richomeres, as suggested by Honigmann, seems doubtful.دقميرةΚώμη 'Ριχομήριον
Qalyubia Governorate English nameCoptic nameTransliteration and pronunciationEtymologyArabic nameAncient Greek nameBohairicOther dialectsClassical BohairicLate BohairicShubra El-KheimaSaprō Hbō:Sabrō Ehwō:A combination of "hamlet" () and "cover, tent" ().شبرا الخيمةMusturadti-Moni en-Sorat: di-Moni en-Sorat: مسطردQalyubKaliōpi:Kaliōbi:From .قليوبBenhaPanahō:Banahō:From .بنهاDigwati-Kebi:di-Kewi:دجويAtrib/Tell AtribAthrebi:Atrebi:From .أتريبἈθριβιςTukh**Tōkhi: *Tōkhi: From .طوخAl-Hissah**Čebro Paloli: *Čebro Baloli:A combination of "hamlet" () and "bunch of grapes" ().الحصةQaha**Kahi: *Kahi: "soil, land, province"قهاSaryaqusSiriakos:Siriakos:From , name of a governor of AtribسرياقوسNawaNawi: Nawi: نوى
Alexandria Governorate English nameCoptic nameTransliteration and pronunciationEtymologyArabic nameAncient Greek nameBohairicOther dialectsClassical BohairicLate BohairicAlexandria/Sahidic: ;
Fayyumic:
Rakoti:
Alexandria: Rakodi:
Alexandria:الإسكندريةἈλεξάνδρειαAbuqirep-Kanōpos:eb-Kanōbos:ابو قيرΚάνωποςAbu Mina*/*Apa Mēna: ti-Baki Zinōn Nouthi:*Aba Mēna: ti-Waki Zinōn Nouti:أبو ميناΖηνωνούπολις
Monufia Governorate English nameCoptic nameTransliteration and pronunciationEtymologyArabic nameAncient Greek nameBohairicOther dialectsClassical BohairicLate BohairicMenoufPanouf Rēs:Banouf Rēs:From منوفὈνουφιςShatanufSahidic:Šethnoufi:Šetnoufi:Either from or , referring to the town's location, where to branches of the Nile separateشطانوفAshmunČmoumi:Čmoumi:Possibly related to a word for "spring, source" ()أشمونSintiris**Sabtrēs:*Sabtrēs:"Southern wall"سنتريسGireysp-Tihot:eb-Dihot:جريسZawyat RazinSahidic: *p-Šati:eb-Šadi:"The saved, rescued one"زاويه رزينΝικιουςDamalig*ti-Meleg:*ti-MelegProbably shares name with Milig, which is located 25 km north-east, and the name of which is sometimes recorded as DamiligدمليجTitaTitē:Didē:تتاΤιτηSingirgSahidic: *
;Supposedly shares etymology with a town in Minya Governorateسنجرج*ΣενκύρκιςAlmayElmi:Almi:المايMustai**Mostai:*Mosdai:From مصطاىMilig, **ti-Malig:*ti-MaligReconstructed by Timm as , although the proper Bohairic form would be either or . is probably a corruption of it, although Timm believes that it could be a genuine Graeco-Coptic nameمليج*ἉλικίαAl-BatanunPathanon:Batanon:البتانونSarsina/Esh-Shohadap-Sarsini:eb-Sarsini:سرسناΚαληπατρίτα, ΚλεοπάτραιTalaTalanaw:Dalanaw:"new Taua"تلاΤαυα νέαHurayn*Hawrein:Hawrain:From هورينΑὐρεινις
Gharbia Governorate Tanta – ⲧⲁⲛⲧⲁⲑⲟ (Tantato) Zefta – ⲍⲉⲃⲉⲑⲉ (Zewete) Lake Burullus – ⲗⲓⲙⲛⲏ ⲛⲓⲕⲉϫⲱⲟⲩ (Limne Nikedjow) El–Mahalla El–Kubra – ϯϣⲁⲓⲣⲓ (Dishairi), "the residence" Difra – ϯⲫⲣⲉ (Tifre)
Damietta Governorate Damietta – ⲧⲁⲙⲓⲁϯ (Damiadi), "port"
Sinai Sinai – ⲥⲓⲛⲁ (Sina) Mount Sinai – ⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲥⲓⲛⲁ (Toou Sina) Arish – ϩⲣⲓⲛⲟⲕⲟⲣⲟⲩⲣⲁ (Hrinokorura) (Gr.) Farama – ⲡⲉⲣⲉⲙⲟⲩⲛ (Beremun), "house of Amun" Sheikh Zuweid – ⲃⲁⲓⲧⲩⲗⲟⲩⲁ (Waitulua) Mahammediya – ⲅⲉⲣⲁⲥ (Geras) (Gr.) El-Qeis – ⲕⲁⲥⲓⲟⲥ (Kasios) (Gr.) Red Sea – ⲫⲓⲟⲙ ⲛ̀ϩⲁϩ (Fiom Enhah)
Beni Suef Governorate
Fayyum Governorate Faiyum – ⲫⲓⲟⲙ (Phiom), "the sea, lake" Sanhur – ⲥⲩⲛϩⲱⲣ (Synhor), "the residence of Horus" Sinnuris – ⲯⲓⲛⲟⲩⲣⲉⲥ (Psinures) (Gr.) Ibshaway – ⲡⲓϣⲁⲉⲓ (Bishaei) Abu Girg – ⲡⲉⲕⲉⲣⲕⲏ (Bekerke), "temple, house of Horus" Tamiyah – ⲧⲁⲙⲁⲟⲩⲓⲥ (Tamauis) (Gr.) Hawarra – ϩⲟⲩⲱⲣ (Howor), "great house" Lahun – ⲗⲉϩⲱⲛⲉ (Lehone), "the mouth, door"
Minya Governorate Minya – ⲧⲙⲱⲛⲏ (Tmone) Mallawi – ⲙⲁⲛⲗⲁⲩ (Manlau), "place of textile"
Asyut Governorate Asyut – ⲥⲓⲱⲟⲩⲧ (Siowt), Kharga – ϩⲏⲃ (Hib) Abutig – ⲁⲡⲟⲩⲑⲏⲕ (Abutek), "storehouse" Abnub – ⲡⲁⲛⲟⲩⲃ (Banub), "house, temple of gold" Manfalut – ⲙⲁⲛⲃⲁⲗⲟⲧ (Manwalot), "place of leather clothing"
Sohag Governorate Akhmim – ⲭⲙⲓⲛ, ϣⲙⲓⲛ (Khmin, Shmin), "the abode of Min" Abydos – ⲉⲃⲱⲧ (Ebot) Girga – ϭⲉⲣϭⲉ, ⲧⲓⲛ (Cherche, Tin), "the Horus" Wannina – ⲁⲧⲣⲓⲡⲉ (Atribe), "palace, temple of Repyt"
Luxor Governorate Luxor – ⲛⲏ (Ne) Esne – ⲥⲛⲏ (Sne)
Qena Governorate Qena – ⲕⲱⲛⲏ (Kone) Dendera – ⲧⲉⲛⲧⲱⲣⲓ, ⲛⲓⲧⲉⲛⲧⲱⲣⲓ (Dendori, Nidendori), "the goddess"
Aswan Governorate Aswan – ⲥⲟⲩⲁⲛ (Suan), "place of trade" Elephantine – ⲓⲏⲃ (Ieb) Philae – ⲡⲓⲗⲁⲕ (Pilak) Edfu – ⲉⲧⲃⲟ (Etwo) Kom Ombo – ⲙⲃⲱ (Mbo) Qasr Ibrim – ⲡⲣⲓⲙ (Brim)
Outside of Egypt Jerusalem – ϩⲓⲉⲣⲟⲩⲥⲁⲗⲏⲙ (Hierusalim) Rome – ϩⲣⲱⲙⲏ (Hroma) Damascus – Ⲇⲁⲙⲁⲥⲕⲟⲥ (Damaskos) Gilan – ⲕⲓⲗⲁⲛ (Kilan) Hamadan – ⲁⲙⲁϩⲁⲑⲁⲛ (Amahatan) Shusha – ⲥⲟⲩⲥⲱⲛ (Souson) Khuzestan – ⲟⲍⲉⲟⲥ (Ozeos) Tigris – ϯⲅⲣⲓⲥ, ⲡⲛⲁϭ ⲛ̀ⲓⲉⲣⲟ (Tigris, Bnach Eniero)
Countries Israel – ⲡⲓⲥⲣⲁⲏⲗ (Pisrael) Greece – ϯⲉⲗⲗⲁⲥ (ti-Ellas) Cyprus – ⲕⲩⲡⲣⲟⲥ (Kupros) Ethiopia – ⲉⲑⲱϣ (Etosh) Libya – ϯⲗⲩⲃⲏ, ⲗⲏⲃⲓ (ti-Luwi, Liwi) Syria – ϯⲥⲩⲣⲓⲁ (ti-Suria) India – ϩⲉⲛⲧⲟⲩ (Hendou), ⲑⲉⲛⲧⲓⲕⲏ
References
Further reading Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia. Claremont Colleges Digital Library. Claremont Colleges. Amélineau, Emile. (1893) La géographie de l’Egypte à l'époque copte. Paris: Imprimerie nationale. Werner Vycichl (1983). Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue copte. Louvain: Peeters. Timm, Stefan (1992). Das christlich-koptische Ägypten in arabischer Zeit. Wiesbaden: Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag. Peust, Carsten (2010). Die Toponyme vorarabischen Ursprungs im modernen Ägypten. Göttingen. Peust, Carten (2010) Koptische Dialektologie anhand ägyptisch-arabischer Ortsnamen. Göttinger Miszellen 226. Engsheden, Åke (2021). Ancient Place-Names in the Governorate of Kafr el-Sheikh. Leuven: Peeters. Henricus Tattam, S.T.P.. Prophetae Majores in dialecto linguae Aegyptiacae Memphitica seu Coptica. — Oxford, 1852 A Coptic Palimpsest Containing Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Judith and Esther In The Sahidic Dialect, Edited By Sir Herbert Thompson. — Oxford, 1911.