The little word pw was once a demonstrative, “this” (compare This and That). In Middle Egyptian it is mainly used to make sentences of the type “it is X” or “A is B”. It completes the nominal sentences of The Nominal Sentence.
Key idea
| Egyptian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| nṯr pw | It is a god. |
| zꜣ=j pw | It is my son. / He is my son. |
| pr nsw pw | It is the house of the king. |
| nbt pr pw | She is the lady of the house. |
| ḥm-nṯr pw | He is a priest. |
Where pw goes
pw follows the whole first noun phrase, however long: pr nsw pw “it is the house of the king”, with pw after the direct genitive, not inside it. English translates pw with “it is”, “he is”, “she is” or “this is”, as the context requires: pw itself does not change for gender or number.
There is also a longer pattern, A pw B, used in definitions and explanations, with pw standing between the two parts. You will meet it in reading texts; the short pattern of this lesson is the place to start.
Why it works
Common mistake
Sentences with pw are common in explanations and answers. A text may ask a question and answer with a pw-sentence: “who is he? jt=j pw”, “he is my father”. Religious texts use them to identify gods and objects, telling the reader what something is. Whenever a noun phrase is followed by pw and nothing else, translate “it is…” and let the context choose “he”, “she” or “this”.
Worked example: Translate
- sš “scribe”, then pw.
Answer: “He is a scribe.” (or “It is a scribe.”)
Worked example: Write it
- The noun phrase: pr nsw.
- pw after the whole phrase.
Answer: pr nsw pw