Participles behave like adjectives (Active Participles), so they agree with the noun they describe, and like adjectives they can also stand alone as nouns.
Key idea
Why it works
| Noun | Participle | Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| z man (m.) | sḏm | z sḏm ḫrw | the man who hears the voice |
| zꜣt daughter (f.) | sḏmt | zꜣt sḏmt ḫrw | the daughter who hears the voice |
| nṯrw gods (pl.) | sḏmw | nṯrw sḏmw ḫrw | the gods who hear the voice |
| none | ḏdw | ḏdw mꜣꜥt | those who speak the truth |
| none | ḏdt | ḏdt mꜣꜥt | she who speaks the truth |
Worked example: Make it agree
- nṯrt is feminine.
- The participle takes -t: rḫt.
- Then the object rn.
Answer: nṯrt rḫt rn
Worked example: Alone, as a noun
- No noun stands before ḏdw, so it is a noun itself.
- The -w makes it plural: "those who speak".
Answer: "Those who speak the truth."
The feminine form alone often means "that which, what", a neuter: ḏdt "what is said", jrt "what is done" (with a passive sense). Egyptian has no separate neuter, and the feminine fills that role, as it does in ḫt nbt "everything".
Worked example: A feminine participle
- zꜣt is feminine, so the participle takes -t: ḏdt.
- The object mꜣꜥt follows.
Answer: zꜣt ḏdt mꜣꜥt
In writing, the endings are not always shown, especially the -w of the plural, which may be replaced by the three plural strokes or left out. Transliterations usually restore the ending that grammar requires, so when you write a phrase in transliteration, add the ending even if the hieroglyphs skip it.
Common mistake