ϣϫⲟⲙ

Coptic

Etymology

From ϣ- (š-) +‎ ϫⲟⲙ (čom).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Old Bohairic) /ˌʔəʃˈt͡ʃʼom/

Verb

ϣϫⲟⲙ • (ščom)

1. (Bohairic) to be able to, can.

Usage notes

• Ϣϫⲟⲙ cannot be conjugated, and the verb that follows is always an infinitive (̀ⲉ-):
  • ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ϣ̀ϫⲟⲙ ⲉ̀ⲥⲁϫⲓ ⲛ̀ϯⲁⲥⲡⲓ ⲛ̀ⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲭⲏⲙⲓ.

    anok š̀čom èsači ǹtiaspi ǹremǹkhēmi.

    I can speak the Egyptian language.

• To negate ϣϫⲟⲙ, we use ⲙⲙⲟⲛ:
  • ⲛ̀ⲑⲟⲕ ⲙ̀ⲙⲟⲛ ϣ̀ϫⲟⲙ ⲉ̀ⲱϣ ⲛ̀ϯⲙⲉⲧϩⲉⲃⲣⲉⲟⲥ.

    ǹthok m̀mon š̀čom èōš ǹtimethebreos.

    You cannot read Hebrew.