Verb Classes

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Notes

Names of the verb classes

Egyptian verb classes are traditionally labeled using abbreviations of Latin phrases describing the number and nature of their radicals.

  • The class suffix -gem (“geminatae”) indicates that the verb root is geminated, before it even makes a geminated stem (if it can). Note that the prefix does not indicate the total number of radicals in the root, but which one is geminated: 2ae-gem. (“secundae geminatae”, second-geminate) means that the root has a first radical “A” and a second radical “B”, which is geminated, so the root is of the pattern “ABB”. Similarly, a 3ae-gem. would have the pattern “ABCC”.
  • The class suffix -inf (“infirmae”) indicates that the final radical of the root is weak (“infirm”). Here, the prefix does indicate the total number of radicals, because it identifies which one is weak: a 3ae-inf. has three radicals, either in the pattern “ABj” or “ABw“.
  • If the verb is not geminate or infirm, then the class has the suffix -lit, preceded by the number of radicals; thus, 2-lit. means a verb with pattern “AB”, 3-lit. means “ABC”, and so on for 4-lit. and 5-lit.
  • The prefix caus. means that the verb is a causative of another verb, and the rest of the name indicates what the source verb is. For example, caus. 3ae-gem. is the causative of a third-geminate, so it has the pattern “sABCC”.

It is worth remembering that in the “-gem” classes, the root has geminated consonants; the question is, which of those verbs form a “geminated” stem that is even further geminated from that.

Summary of verb classes

ClassPatternNotesCan form geminated stem?Example
2-lit.
(biliteral)		ABIf the second radical is j, the verb is sometimes considered to be in a separate class “2ae-inf.”, but except for gemination, those usually behave much like other 2-lit.Yes
(except for 2ae-inf. verbs)		ḏd “say”
2ae-gem.
(second geminate)		ABBThe base stem may be written “AB” or “ABB” depending on the (unknown) vowels; the geminated stem will only be written “ABB”.Yestmm “close”
3-lit.
(triliteral)		ABCRarely end in j or w; most three-radical verbs ending in those are 3ae-inf. below.Yes
(unless 3rd is weak)		sḏm “hear”
3ae-inf.
(third weak)		ABj,
ABw		A few three-radical verbs ending in j or w behave like other three-radical verbs and are classed as 3-lit.Yes
(with some exceptions)		šnj “encircle”
3ae-gem.
(third geminated)		ABCCThese have geminated roots, but they do not form geminated stems.Nošpss “be noble, ennoble”
4-lit.
(quadriliteral)		ABCD,
ABAB,
or AjAj		Those with pattern “AjAj” are usually written “AAj“.1Nohbhb “knead”
4ae-inf.
(fourth weak)		ABCjMost of these cannot geminate, but those that can also behave slightly differently in other ways too; it’s almost like two different classes.A few yes;
most no		wdfj “be late, delay”
5-lit.
(quinquiliteral)		ABCBC,
ABjBj		All of these are reduplicated from three-radical verbs. They mostly convey a more intense or prolonged version of the three-radical verb: nhm “yell”, nhmhm “yell very forcefully”.Noꜣḫfḫf “blaze, be fiery” (of the eyes)
caus. 2-lit.sABCausatives of biliterals.Nosḏd “cause to be said, recount”
caus. 2ae-gem.sABBCausatives of second geminates. Like those, their final radical may or may not appear in a given instance, depending on the unknown vowels.Nosgnn “cause to be soft, soften”
caus. 3-lit.sABCCausatives of triliterals.Nosmnḫ “cause to be effective”
caus. 3ae-inf.sABj,
sABw		Causatives of third weaks. A few yes;
most no		sḏwj “slander”
caus. 4-lit.sABABCausatives of quadriliterals. Only “ABAB” 4-lit. form causatives; none of “ABCD” do.Nosmnmn “cause to quake”
caus. 4ae-inf.sABCjCausatives of fourth weaks. Nosmꜣwj “renew”
caus. 5-lit.sABCBCCausatives of quinquiliterals.Nosnšmšm “sharpen”
  1. No Egyptian verb is actually of the pattern “AA” or “AAj“, so if you see one written “AAj“, it is actually a 4-lit. “AjAj” with the first j omitted.

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