noun
Common
ba
pah
Ba (noun) means In ancient Egyptian belief, a part of the soul, often shown as a bird with a human head, that lived on after death. Example: “Priests believed the ba could fly out of the tomb and return again.”
noun
1
In ancient Egyptian belief, a part of the soul, often shown as a bird with a human head, that lived on after death.
"Priests believed the ba could fly out of the tomb and return again."
"In the museum, a guide explained how the ba differed from the body."
"Egyptian tomb paintings often depict the ba hovering near the body."
How to use ba
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA term from Egyptian mythology for one aspect of a person's soul.
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Word forms
- Plural
- bas
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Priests believed the _____ could fly out of the tomb and return again.
Etymology
Borrowed from ancient Egyptian.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “ba” mean?
The word “ba” means in ancient Egyptian belief, a part of the soul, often shown as a bird with a human head, that lived on after death. In plain terms, a term from Egyptian mythology for one aspect of a person's soul.
How do you pronounce “ba”?
“Ba” is pronounced pah ([p˭ɑ˨] in IPA).
How do you use “ba” in a sentence?
Here is “ba” used in a sentence: “Egyptian tomb paintings often depict the ba hovering near the body.”
What part of speech is “ba”?
“Ba” is a noun.
Is “ba” a common word?
“Ba” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between the 'ba' and the 'ka' in ancient Egyptian belief?
In ancient Egyptian belief the ba and the ka were both regarded as parts of a person's soul. The ba is the element usually depicted as a bird with a human head that lived on after death, and it is traditionally distinguished from the ka, another part of the soul.
Why is the 'ba' shown as a bird with a human head?
The bird form is generally understood to represent the part of the soul that could move freely and survive after death, while the human head keeps the figure recognisable as the individual it belonged to. This imagery reflects the ba's role as the aspect of the person believed to live on.
Is the word 'ba' capitalised?
'Ba' is normally written in lowercase as an ordinary noun when discussing Egyptian belief, as in 'the ba of the deceased.' It is capitalised only at the start of a sentence or within a title.
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