Coptic is the last historical stage of the Egyptian language. During the 3^rd cent. AD, (monophysitic orthodox) Christianity makes its way in Egypt. In that time, Egyptian Christians translate the Old and New Testament and other religious texts from Greek into their colloquial language, Coptic. It is written in the Coptic script. The Coptic standard is codified, based on the Sahidic dialect, by the most important writer, the abbot Shenute/Shenouda (348-466). Although Coptic continues Demotic, one third of its lexicon are loans from Greek.

Up to the 8^th cent., Coptic serves as the general colloquial language. Then, as Egyptians become muslims, it is gradually ousted by Arabic. Coptic is then only spoken by Christians (called qubṭi by the Arabs). Literature is almost exclusively religious in content. Besides there are ten thousands of ostraka.

In Upper Egypt, Coptic was spoken at least up to the 17^th cent., in the monasteries probably up to the 19^th cent., until it was everywhere replaced by Arabic. Today Coptic serves as the liturgical language of the Coptic Churches. Since the second half of the 19^th cent., there have been repeated attempts at reviving the language.