Entertainment
How Ancient Egyptians Sounded
What did ancient Egyptians sound like? Professor of Egyptology and Archaeology Laurel Bestock explains how we know. Still haven’t subscribed to WIRED on YouTube? ►► Listen to the Get WIRED podcast ►► Want more WIRED? Get the magazine ►► Follow WIRED: Instagram ►► Twitter ►► Facebook ►► Tik Tok ►► Also, check out the free…
@pcm8409
March 14, 2024 at 12:16 pm
Glad to know the mummy is close haha
@brandon9888
March 14, 2024 at 12:17 pm
Why don’t you list who the speaker is?
@Andrea-xs4ny
March 14, 2024 at 12:40 pm
Dr. Laurel Bestock (it’s in the description)
@davidlape3325
March 14, 2024 at 12:30 pm
🎶Talk like an Egyptian🎶⚰️🏺😂
@gabe4247
March 14, 2024 at 12:57 pm
This is literally a lie. We cannot phonetically reconstruct Ancient Egyptian because they did not write their vowel sounds in their phonetic written language. Coptic is probably close, but it’s essentially an educated guess. We have no way of knowing what vowel sounds they used.
@ObsessiveGeek
March 14, 2024 at 2:44 pm
She didn’t claim to know exactly what it sounded like, only like you say we still have an example of what it LIKELY sounded as least very similar to.
@gabe4247
March 14, 2024 at 5:13 pm
@@ObsessiveGeek well, it sounded to me like she said we could reconstruct the language phonetically, and it’s still unclear how to even say Egypt in Ancient Egyptian. To me, it seemed like she was misleading people.
@ObsessiveGeek
March 14, 2024 at 5:23 pm
@@gabe4247 She’s saying we have a good idea what it sounded like, that’s it.
You’re adding absolutes into what was said, to call it a “lie” is a bit extreme.
@gabe4247
March 14, 2024 at 6:21 pm
@@ObsessiveGeek She said “very good.” We don’t. We have an idea.
@gabe4247
March 14, 2024 at 12:57 pm
We cannot phonetically reconstruct Ancient Egyptian because they did not write their vowel sounds in their phonetic written language. Coptic is probably close, but it’s essentially an educated guess. We have no way of knowing what vowel sounds they used.
@ObsessiveGeek
March 15, 2024 at 2:23 am
@gabe4247 still, calling it a lie is an extreme overreaction, dude.
@Usiris23
March 14, 2024 at 1:20 pm
The Mummy was such a banger. Prime Brenden Fraser and Racheal Weisz 💪🏽
@goshnodo
March 14, 2024 at 1:37 pm
This is not true.
@asadmalik2464
March 14, 2024 at 1:38 pm
The mummy was such a legendary movie fr
@CapOb314
March 14, 2024 at 4:27 pm
I can’t wait for all the comments saying this person is not a credible source because we have no absolute evidence of many parts of Egyptain culture as if that somehow slays all semblance of credibility.
@gabe4247
March 14, 2024 at 6:53 pm
No, it doesn’t mean she’s always wrong, she’s just wrong right now.
@Nick-hi9gx
March 16, 2024 at 1:10 am
No, this person isn’t credible because she is pretending the Egyptian dialects written down in Greek in the Classical Greek Period are anything like the languages of Egypt 2500 years before that.
@AdnicajChiquis
March 14, 2024 at 5:37 pm
This lady is if Julia stiles and Drew Barrymore had a middle aged child
@deathsee
March 14, 2024 at 5:39 pm
you do with the short vowel a few hundred years ago, you have no clue what even they sounded like, but, please, continue haaaaaaaaaa
@Nick-hi9gx
March 16, 2024 at 1:17 am
We know what they sounded like during the Greek Classical Age, through some of the Roman Era in Egypt. They made rhyming poetry and left puns that use homophones and the like.
But that says nothing about the Egyptians that built the pyramids, or fought the Hittites. Centuries and centuries of linguistic shift, if not dramatic change because of invasion.
@deathsee
March 16, 2024 at 1:25 am
@@Nick-hi9gx First, Pre Holy Roman Latin and Latin sounded NOTHING alike, same with Biblical Hebrew, Ancient Greek, and a Lot more, these Videos and People do not bother really researching facts and Just babble away. can we learn what they mean, sure, can we know how they sounded, if you bother to actually study how the Vowels and Languages really progressed, but No, Not by learning how to speak Coptic, which even then, I would have my doubts
@deathsee
March 16, 2024 at 1:26 am
@@Nick-hi9gx that just means II agree with what you say on Linguistic Shifts
@LailaAhmed-re5co
March 14, 2024 at 6:24 pm
I’m Egyptian and if I’m not mistaken, the architect of the Great Pyramid is called Hamin-ou
@EpiphoneShredzzzzz
March 15, 2024 at 11:30 am
So now who is correct–the Egyptian or the Egyptologist?
@user-np8lb5jf3h
March 15, 2024 at 4:15 pm
She said first pyramid not the great pyramid
@magnus1383
March 14, 2024 at 8:41 pm
So they _could_ have done Prince of Egypt in Coptic!
@gabe4247
March 14, 2024 at 8:57 pm
Coptic didn’t exist yet. Hebrew would actually make more sense.
@TheRulerRoderickSutton
March 15, 2024 at 2:38 am
How did you write in italics???😮😮
@OcarinaSapphr-
March 17, 2024 at 7:07 am
@@TheRulerRoderickSutton
They used _underscore_ either side; to write *bold* , you use an asterisk either side, & leave a space between any punctuation – _otherwise_, it won’t *show up*!
@patrickparr3331
March 14, 2024 at 10:35 pm
Cool.
@p.be.s
March 15, 2024 at 1:53 am
The Nubians are part of ancient Egyptians… black Africans.
@MuchToDoAboutNowt
March 19, 2024 at 11:14 am
Nubia was it’s own ancient civilization later conquered and ruled by Ancient Egypt. Do you agree that any people conquered by an opposing warring civilization become a different ethnicity?
@p.be.s
March 19, 2024 at 12:02 pm
@@MuchToDoAboutNowt that would mean that Africans who were conquered by the Portuguese, Arabs and you who are now different ethnicities?
@raerohan4241
March 20, 2024 at 11:52 am
@@p.be.s See, it sounds ridiculous even to you. Egyptians didn’t become black just because they were ruled by black people for some length of time.
@danitho
March 15, 2024 at 2:13 am
People claiming this is false but not giving any evidence 😂
@galphie5997
March 15, 2024 at 4:50 am
Asterix&Obelix: “Yeah, yeah, Imhotep”
@bennyhuang2014
March 15, 2024 at 6:09 am
I love doomscrolling, seeing something interesting like this, and forgetting it the next day. 🙂↕️😌🙂↕️
@cmnyc4286
March 15, 2024 at 8:19 am
“Hieroglyphics ain’t speech”… high quality questions. Sounds like they need to learn English first!
@KingdomSilverStar
March 15, 2024 at 2:47 pm
Instead of just reading some for us in
2024 Egyptologists play Hollywood movies. Just awesome, thank you 😅
@leaderforever6282
March 15, 2024 at 3:07 pm
They sounded like Africans😂😂😂😂😂, but they won’t accept!!
@Bananabear20
March 16, 2024 at 4:37 am
They sounded Greek
@Andris-ml4oo
March 17, 2024 at 8:53 pm
And what are Africans supposed to sound like?
@IllKeepALightOn
March 15, 2024 at 4:32 pm
This lady can barely speak English, I don’t trust her
@Bumper_jed
March 15, 2024 at 11:15 pm
Of course the ancient Egyptians were Nordic.
@jj-vu5ov
March 16, 2024 at 12:51 am
I know she isnt saying definitively that we know exactly what they sounded like, but if ancient egypt persisted thousands of years, wouldnt they have generational differences in their speech, diction, accents, etc. Sorta similar to how Old and Middle English sound pretty different to the many variations of modern english? Id imagine thered be many ways Egyptian sounded depending on the time period.
@Nick-hi9gx
March 16, 2024 at 1:11 am
Yes, exactly this. She is talking about what Egyptians sounded like ~600BCE, up through ~100CE. Couple thousand years after the Pyramids were constructed.
@GRB-tj6uj
March 20, 2024 at 3:32 pm
Yeah and an added issue is that hieroglyphic script doesn’t have vowels (like Hebrew). So for the early history of Egypt we can only guess
@silverphoenix1307
March 16, 2024 at 11:37 am
I need more cowbell
@someguysomewhere100
March 16, 2024 at 11:56 am
It’s been known for decades that the ancient Egyptians sounded very similar to London cockneys.
The ancient Egyptian sound was characterized by its distinctive rhyming slang, and dropped “H” sounds, and the “th” sound often pronounced as “f” or “v.”
@carpe5432
March 16, 2024 at 3:13 pm
Even I, an enthusiast in Ancient Egypt culture, know that the supposedly Greek (both with Arabic) elements were introduced to the Ancient Egypt culture almost to the end of its existence. We still do not fully know how the language sounded at the beginning or even middle of its civilisation. I don’t think it’s fully credible, should’ve stated it more clearly.
@OcarinaSapphr-
March 17, 2024 at 7:12 am
I was of the assumption that it was like a linguistic reverse-engineering; the Rosetta Stone had one element that could be understood (the Greek portion)- & a small presumption was made: that the other two portions were actually saying *the same thing* , rather than being symbolic (which was novel at the time)- & using the Greek as the key, they used that starting point & slowly deciphered both Hieroglyphics & Demotic…
@karlforsyth-gray3519
March 16, 2024 at 3:45 pm
Don’t agree coptic is very late variation of eygyptian. They pre dynastic and up to the middle kingdom we can not know how ancient eygyptians sounded like .
Capric came about around the second century CE and would have been heavily influenced by ptolomaic Greek and roman Latin
@user-ww6cx3de1d
March 16, 2024 at 5:56 pm
Another scammer who thinks she knows more about Egypt..than Egyptians…
Typical arrogance…they shall teach you your culture…
@thepoweroftacos5311
March 17, 2024 at 4:01 am
I see the mummy I give a thumbs up
@OcarinaSapphr-
March 17, 2024 at 7:04 am
I have **always** wondered if films like ‘The Mummy’ & ‘Stargate’s’ Egyptian was gibberish, or there was linguists working on them…
@JoseLopez-tk4tq
March 17, 2024 at 9:28 pm
Sorry, it’s still Greek to me. 🏺
@satlynutz
March 18, 2024 at 2:26 am
Who knew the mummy was so historically accurate😅 even to this day the first time you see the mummy, before he start sucking the life force out of bitc**s, still terrifies me😂
@amulawa
March 18, 2024 at 11:36 am
we wuz kangz?
@johnjoyus6062
March 18, 2024 at 7:02 pm
Sounds good.
@LeonArdo-ev6xo
March 19, 2024 at 4:41 pm
Em how thep???😂😂😂
@juliebaxter7152
March 20, 2024 at 4:02 am
Really? That was accurate! Awesome! Named my daughter Evie after that movie, reminds me of old Indiana Jones.❤ love Egyptian culture
@blizzunt420e
March 20, 2024 at 5:34 am
I bet you make some great facial expressions while getting eaten out
@AlexsandroFerreira-bm5qe
March 20, 2024 at 3:28 pm
Histórico 😂😢😅😮
@AlexsandroFerreira-bm5qe
March 21, 2024 at 12:43 am
Ok.
@brunobely
March 21, 2024 at 4:07 am
That tweet has to be one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen.
@TonkarzOfSolSystem
March 21, 2024 at 6:11 am
Ancient Egypt lasted thousands of years. English can’t even sound the same for a few centuries in a row. And just because they used greek letters doesn’t mean speaking the language was exactly the same as the greek letters.
As an example Japanese is sometimes written in English letters but the sounds are only ever an approximation at best.
@seyeruoynepotsuj
March 21, 2024 at 6:58 am
I didn’t expect my takeaway to be regarding the positive historical accuracy of the mummy movies.
@AlannaSingsALot
March 21, 2024 at 8:27 am
She reminds me of a science nerd Drew Barrymore 🤓
@msjkramey
March 21, 2024 at 9:10 am
Just because we have living versions of the language doesn’t mean we know how the older version sounded though. There are all sorts of shifts in pronunciation and regional accents and slang that are all lost to time
@juilenechilton544
March 21, 2024 at 1:43 pm
“Here’s a quarter” ……………..
@yaganomabaatuolkuu3702
March 21, 2024 at 5:15 pm
That accent sounds terrible 😂😂😂
@jinxingxuelang
March 21, 2024 at 6:47 pm
My love for The Mummy yet again increased 😻
@josiahkronk6846
March 22, 2024 at 1:38 am
That’s super fantastic!
@ZombieQueeen
March 22, 2024 at 1:44 am
How interesting ! Thank you
@YwY-ct5yq
March 22, 2024 at 1:50 am
How did we knowbits phoenetic… English today sounds so not like how its written ket alone french
@bensmith5685
March 22, 2024 at 2:55 am
Haven’t we proved the pyramids was there before the Egyptians why do these people still lie 🤯🤯
@stopmotionharry8989
March 22, 2024 at 7:45 am
We haven’t proven that, we’ve proven the opposite 🤯
@Vermillion808
March 22, 2024 at 1:17 pm
We’ve proven the opposite
@Gandalf22476
March 22, 2024 at 2:59 am
We know how it sounded because we have the archival footage…. starring Brendan Fraser.
@Carniwarrior1111
March 22, 2024 at 10:04 am
Bad skin is a sign of inflammation. Reduce inflammation by doing an elimination diet eating only beef, eggs, salt & water for 30 days. Boom, no more breakouts. You’re welcome.
@sambarvada
March 22, 2024 at 10:22 am
The egyptians didn’t build the pyramids
@Davewutsup
March 22, 2024 at 10:59 am
Drew Barrymore’s baby sister
@myfuneralismytimetoshine
March 22, 2024 at 11:01 am
The mummy had no business being that accurate and respectful. I know the whole Anubis thing was wrong, but still, they slapped.
@MonsterPrincessLala
March 22, 2024 at 11:12 am
“ain’t speech” clearly doesn’t know that Egyptian people still exist
@AndreLobov
March 22, 2024 at 12:11 pm
“Hieroglyphics ain’t speech” neither are latin letters 😂
@Ozzymandius1
March 22, 2024 at 12:57 pm
We also happen to know what one screams like.
@melleetheka
March 22, 2024 at 1:27 pm
Holy crap she looks like Kathy Bates when she was young!!
@badtanline
March 22, 2024 at 1:52 pm
And the Egyptian word for cat is miaow
@SaidAlSeveres
March 22, 2024 at 1:52 pm
Gonna need 700 shorts on this please
@sharri5412
March 22, 2024 at 2:32 pm
Greek
@TheDichotomyofEverything
March 22, 2024 at 3:45 pm
Lies lies and more lies 😂
@XavierVB
March 22, 2024 at 4:21 pm
That one line “Hieroglyphics don’t make sound” is hilarious because neither do letters. They’re just supposed to be transcriptions of our speech
@FanFicnic
March 22, 2024 at 5:50 pm
Wait really?? I didn’t know they used Coptic fr fr
@Nadine369
March 22, 2024 at 6:25 pm
So fantastic! The Mummy
@fonglim1670
March 22, 2024 at 6:36 pm
So not very great. Not that attractive a language.
@otakugamer2690
March 22, 2024 at 6:48 pm
No siblings 😶🌫️
@justiceforusall7038
March 22, 2024 at 7:49 pm
bruh we can’t phonetically get words now “right” 🙄🤣😏
@wizzerd229
March 23, 2024 at 12:28 pm
Lmao the latin alphabet isnt speech either what is bro on
@brad349miller
March 23, 2024 at 12:56 pm
Why did they succumb to Islam? All hail hatred!
@pondypoo
March 23, 2024 at 2:12 pm
I need to rewatch The Mummy again! My mom bought the CD for it and we watched the movie together as a family every now and then, I miss it so much, snuggling in my blankie during the scary scenes and hiding behind my mom and my sister
@ThePeteSandoval
March 23, 2024 at 2:18 pm
When she was reading the comment it sounded like she was about to drop some bars 💀
@maocharlisme
March 23, 2024 at 2:21 pm
I love it!!
@mickyodeon
March 23, 2024 at 2:26 pm
Love the Mummy
@gottalovetheinternet
March 23, 2024 at 2:31 pm
They were white!
@ZeldasMask
March 23, 2024 at 2:59 pm
lol ‘the first pyramid in eypt’ ok Jan
@olivesan.
March 23, 2024 at 3:10 pm
What did you mean by this?
@JohnStrong-fd8lq
March 23, 2024 at 3:09 pm
Amount of times I’d start “Iiiiiimmmmmhooooteeeeeep, iiiiimphoooooteeeeeeeeping” is infinite
@saragrant556
March 23, 2024 at 3:12 pm
I have heard an ancient Egyptian before! He specifically went “AHHHHH!” 😂
@bionicRod
March 23, 2024 at 3:15 pm
Really cool video!
@khier-eddinehennaoui9783
March 23, 2024 at 3:20 pm
Now tell us how dinosaurs talked 🤔
@devonjardine9603
March 23, 2024 at 3:35 pm
Imhotep didn’t build the first pyramid. He did the first renovation.
@gnomedeguerre2482
March 23, 2024 at 4:26 pm
How much did it change over time tho…. late stage Koptic when the Greeks were around vs thousands of years before.. just saying Ye Olde Egyptian might have had a difference or two 😅
But still a great start no doubt
@user-bv3vr1bo1q
March 23, 2024 at 4:49 pm
But ehat about the earlier state of the language?
@Natz77
March 23, 2024 at 4:51 pm
eyelashes be like🕷️🕷️🕷️
@ursidae97
March 23, 2024 at 5:29 pm
This take on imhotep was hot
@youssefgergis7360
March 23, 2024 at 5:31 pm
I am a Christain Egyptian and can speak Coptic as it is still taught in churches. It is so cool that Christains managed to preserve such an acncient language.
@jonathantalley6110
March 23, 2024 at 6:05 pm
We literally know the guy who built the first pyramid and some people will still say it was aliens
@rationalgazer
March 23, 2024 at 6:06 pm
I’m so sorry this isn’t on topic, but this woman is so insanely attractive haha!
@xys7536
March 23, 2024 at 6:24 pm
BLACK biggest proof ever coptics are BLACK
@Dee-uy3tx
March 23, 2024 at 7:34 pm
First of all they weren’t Egyptians .Kemet kemet
@t-mac1236
March 23, 2024 at 7:35 pm
Poor girls hair is all messed up in the back 😬
@coym5452
March 23, 2024 at 7:41 pm
Ohh and they where black your welcome 🙏
@woofawoof7616
March 23, 2024 at 7:55 pm
Very random, but your eyes are so pretty!!! ❤ Appreciate the video, too, so interesting!