noun Common

ka

kah

Ka (noun) means In ancient Egyptian belief, the vital life-force or spiritual double thought to inhabit a person, existing alongside the body and soul. Example: “Egyptologists believe tomb offerings were meant to sustain the ka of the deceased.”

noun

In ancient Egyptian belief, the vital life-force or spiritual double thought to inhabit a person, existing alongside the body and soul.

"Egyptologists believe tomb offerings were meant to sustain the ka of the deceased."

"Statues were sometimes carved as a resting place for the ka after death."

The name of the Cyrillic letter К / к.

"In Russian, ka is pronounced much like the English "k" sound."

How to use ka

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMostly used today when discussing ancient Egyptian religion, or as the name for the Cyrillic letter K.

Word forms

kas plural, kas plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “ka” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Egyptologists believe tomb offerings were meant to sustain the _____ of the deceased.

Etymology

From the ancient Egyptian word kꜣ, referring to this concept of the soul or life-force.

Frequently asked questions

What does “ka” mean?

The word “ka” means in ancient Egyptian belief, the vital life-force or spiritual double thought to inhabit a person, existing alongside the body and soul. In plain terms, mostly used today when discussing ancient Egyptian religion, or as the name for the Cyrillic letter K.

How do you pronounce “ka”?

“Ka” is pronounced kah (/kɑː/ in IPA).

How do you use “ka” in a sentence?

Here is “ka” used in a sentence: “Egyptologists believe tomb offerings were meant to sustain the ka of the deceased.”

What part of speech is “ka”?

“Ka” is a noun.

Is “ka” a common word?

“Ka” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “ka” have?

“Ka” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in ancient Egyptian belief, the vital life-force or spiritual double thought to inhabit a person, existing alongside the body and soul.

What is the ka in ancient Egyptian belief?

In ancient Egyptian belief, the ka was the vital life-force or spiritual double thought to inhabit a person, existing alongside the physical body and the soul. It was central to Egyptian funerary practice, since preserving the body and providing offerings were meant to sustain the ka after death.

What does ka mean as a letter name?

Ka is also the name of the Cyrillic letter К / к, used when referring to or spelling out that letter in languages that use the Cyrillic alphabet.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include ka:

Words that end with A Words that start with K