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
1
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 priest placed food by the statue to feed the dead man's ka."
2
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 notesIn plain EnglishMostly used today when discussing ancient Egyptian religion, or as the name for the Cyrillic letter K.
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Word forms
- Plural
- kas
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.
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