Here is a
pronunciation guide for some
common words from the
ancient language spoken in
Egypt. This list came from the inside box cover of a very cool collection of
games that
teach you all about
ancient Egypt while you
play,
In the Land of Egypt published by
Aristoplay, a
purveyor of
educational games.
the
defintions were extrapolated from playing the games. See, it
does work.
Ammit -- AM it
The
creature-god to whom
Anubis feeds the
souls of the
wicked.
amulet -- AM u let
Good luck
charm, wear one to gain
favor with the gods.
Amun -- AM mun
King of the Gods (but not the Supreme God like
Osiris), wears a Crown of two plumes. Sometimes refered to as
Amun-Ra.
ankh -- AHnk
Charm to keep in the
afterlife to ward off
evil.
Anubis -- a NOOB is
Jackal headed
God of Judgement. Weigher of
souls. Hope you were good in your lifetime.
ba -- BAH
The part of the
soul that leaves the
mummy.
cartouche -- car TOOSH
Ornament shaped like an oval with a straight edge meeting one end. Inside the cartouche were the
hieroglyphics that spell the name of the
king or
queen.
Cleopatra -- KLEE oh PAT rah
Egyptian Queen. Had an affair with a
Roman.
Giza -- GEE za
Nile city in
Egypt where most of the remaining
pyramids still stand.
Hathor -- HATH er
Wears the head or horns of a cow, is the
Goddess of love, sky, and joy.
Hieroglyphics -- HIRE oh GLIF iks
Pictorial writing system used in ancient Egypt.
Horus -- HOR us
The
God of the Sun, also the son of
Isis and
Osiris. He wears the head of a falcon.
Imhotep -- im HO tep
Eyptian
doctor,
pyramid builder and
astronomer.
Khufu -- KOO foo
Egyptian King. His pyramid is 48 stories tall and still stands at
Giza.
ibis -- EYE bis
Sacred bird.
Isis -- EYE sis
Fertility Goddess, wife to Osiris. Wears a headress of cow horns with a
moon between them.
ka -- KAH
The part of the soul that remains in the
tomb with the
mummy.
Ma'at -- MAH at
Goddess of
Law and Order. Her scales were used by
Anubis to weigh the
soul of the
deceased.
obelisk -- AHB uh lisk
Think:
Washington Momument: a structure with four sheer, tall sides with a
square pyramid on top.
Prayers or messages usually adorn the sides of the obelisk.
Orion -- Oh RYE on
Constellation honoring The
Great Hunter.
Osiris -- oh SIRE is
Wears the crown of
upper Egypt, is the King of
Eternity, the head God. Also the husband of
Isis.
pharoah -- FARE oh
King or Queen in Egypt, they are considered a living God/Goddess.
Ra -- RAH
The
SUN GOD (not to be confused with Horus, who is the God of the Sun). Ra
created the Earth.
scarab -- SCARE ab
Good luck beetle.
Selket -- SEL ket
Wears a scorpion on her head, is the patroness of
magicians and the guardian of the dead, also the protector of life.
Sphinx -- SFINKS
Half man/half lion. A statue of the great Sphinx stands at
Giza.
Thebes -- THEEBES
City in ancient Egypt.
Thoth -- TOTE
Wears the head of a baboon or ibis bird. Thoth is the
God of Wisdom and gets credit for inventing the
arts,
sciences and
hieroglyphic writing.
Zoser -- SOE ser
King of Egypt. Zoser's pyramid has four 'steps'.