Here's a breakdown:
* "Per" meant "house" or "palace"
* "Aa" was a title used for the king, meaning "great" or "big".
Therefore, "per-aa" translates to "The Great House", which referred to the king's palace and, by extension, the king himself.
How it evolved:
* The Greeks, who interacted with Egypt, adopted the word as "pharaoh", which later became the standard term in English.
* It's important to note that the Egyptians themselves never used the term "pharaoh" to refer to their rulers. They used various titles, such as "king" and "divine king".
The word "pharaoh" has become a powerful symbol of ancient Egyptian power and majesty, synonymous with the rulers of this great civilization.