Loanwords in Classical Syriac entered the language throughout different periods in the history of Mesopotamia. The Alexandrian and Seleucid rule along with interaction with their fellow citizens of the Greco-Roman world of the Fertile Crescent resulted in the adoption of numerous Greek words. The majority of these were nouns relating to Roman administration, such as officials, military, and law.

The largest group of loanwords come from Greek and is followed by Iranian loans, although words from Sumerian, Akkadian, and Latin are also passed on in varying degrees. Several Hebrew loanwords exist (particularly religious terms). The Islamic Conquests changed the demographics of the empire and resulted in an influx of a new corpus of words from Arabic while life under the Seljuk, Ottoman, and Safavid empires introduced Turkic words to the language. Several loanwords in Classical Syriac are also partly taken or additionally rooted to other Semitic, Iranian, and Indo-European families, being rooted across various languages.

Language isolates

Sumerian

SumerianSyriacPronunciationPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
𒂍𒆳 (E.KUR)ܐܓܘܪܐagguranoun"pagan shrine, altar"
𒀀𒂵𒄠 (agam)ܐܓܡܐagmanoun"meadow, swamp"
𒂍𒋞 (addir)ܐܓܪܐagranoun"hire, wages"
𒌑𒊩 (usal)ܐܘܣܠܐaoslanoun"swamp"
𒄑𒀠𒆷𒈝 (allanum)ܐܝܠܢܐīlānānoun"tree, tree trunk"
𒀀𒍪 (azu)ܐܣܝܐasyanoun"doctor (physician)"
𒀀𒇉𒈦𒄘𒃼 (idigna)ܕܩܠܬdeqlāṯnoun"Tigris"
𒂍𒃲 (E.GAL)ܗܝܟܠܐhayklanoun"palace, temple"
𒀀𒇉𒌓𒄒𒉣 (buranun)ܦܪܬprāṯnoun"Euphrates"

Semitic

Akkadian

AkkadianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
𒌚𒉈 (Abum)ܐܒproper noun"August"
𒄧 (inbum)ܐܒܐnoun"fruit"
abūtuܐܒܘܬܐnoun"rule, plumbline of an architect; goad for scraping plowshares; duct work"
abulluܐܒܘܠܐnoun"city gate; portico"
agāruܐܓܪܐnoun"hire, wages"
agurruܐܓܘܪܐnoun"kiln-fired brick or tile"
Addaruܐܕܪproper noun"March"
ummānuܐܘܡܬܐnoun"nation"
𒌝𒈪𒀀 (UM.MI.A)ܐܘܡܢܐadjective/noun"clever, skillful" "artisan, craftsman"
𒌚𒄞 (Ayyaru)ܐܝܪproper noun"May"
Ulūluܐܝܠܘܠproper noun"September"
𒌵𒆠 (akkadûm)ܐܟܕܝܐnoun"Akkadian bird"
𒈣 (eleppum)ܐܠܦܐnoun"ship, boat, gallery"
arad ekalliܐܪܕܟܠܐnoun"architect, builder"
arruܐܪܐnoun"decoy bird"
𒅈𒂵𒌋𒌋𒉡 (argamannu)ܐܪܓܘܢܐnoun"purple"
𒌋𒈬 (U.MU /⁠atūnu, utūnu⁠/)ܐܬܘܢܐnoun"oven, furnace"
asītuܐܫܝܬܐnoun"wall, column"
egubbuܓܝܒܐnoun"temple courtyard basin"
muršānuܘܪܫܢܐnoun"wood dove, pigeon"
zīmuܙܝܘܐnoun"beauty"
ziqtuܙܩܬܐnoun"goad, rod"
akukītuܟܘܟܝܬܐnoun"storm, whirlwind"
Kislīmuܟܢܘܢproper noun"December; January"
lilītuܠܠܝܬܐnoun"lilith; female demon"
aban gabîܡܓܒܝܐnoun"alum"
amuriqānuܡܪܝܩܢܐnoun"jaundice"
𒌚𒁇 (nissanum)ܢܝܣܢproper noun"April"
Šabāṭuܫܒܛproper noun"February"
šaṭāruܫܛܪܐnoun"deed, document"
Duʾūzuܬܡܘܙproper noun"July"
Tašrītuܬܫܪܝܢproper noun"October; November"

Ancient North Arabian

Ancient North ArabianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
𐪑𐪈𐪔𐪇ܐܒܓܪproper noun"Abgar" ("lame person")

Old South Arabian

Ancient North ArabianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
𐩥𐩯𐩤ܘܣܩܐnoun"burden, captive, servant"

Arabic

ArabicSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
بَغْلܒܓܠܐnoun"mule"
بَغْلَةܒܓܠܬܐnoun"mule, hinny"
بُومَةܒܘܡܐnoun"owl"
بَقَّالܒܩܠܐnoun"vegetables"
جُمَادَىܓܘܡܕܐnoun"Jumada", "Jumada" "audacity, importunity"
ذُو الْحِجَّةܕܘܠܚܓܗnoun"Dhu al-Hijjah"
ذو القعدةܕܘܠܩܥܕܗnoun"Dhu al-Qadah"
دَرْبܕܪܒܐnoun"way, road"
دَرَجܕܪܓܐnoun"stairway, step"
هَجِينܗܓܝܢܐadjective"half-breed", "bastard"
وَزِيرܘܙܝܪܐnoun"vizier"
وَرِيدܘܪܝܕܐnoun"blood vessel, vein"
وَرَنܘܪܢܐnoun"large lizard"
زَعْفَرَانܙܥܦܪܢnoun"crocus, saffron"
حَبّܚܒܐnoun"grain"
حُسْبَانَةܚܘܫܒܢܐnoun"small cushion"
حَوْلܚܝܠܐnoun"army, force"
حِلْسܚܠܣܐnoun"horsecloth, saddle"
خَنْجَرܚܢܓܪܐnoun"dagger"
طُنُبܛܘܢܒܐnoun"rope, cord, cordage"
طِيزܛܝܙܐnoun"anus, buttocks"
يَرْبُوعܝܪܒܘܥܐnoun"Jerboa"
كُوعܟܘܥܐnoun"joint, limb"
كِيمِيَاءܟܝܡܝܐ ,ܟܝܡܝܐܐ, ܟܝܡܝܢnoun"alchemy, chemistry"
خِيَارܟܝܪܐnoun"cucumber"
خَلِيفَةܚܠܝܦܗ, ܟܠܝܦܬܐ ,ܟܠܝܦܗnoun"caliph"
اَلْكَعْبَةܟܥܒܬܐproper noun"Kaaba"
محرمܡܘܚܪܡnoun"Muharram"
مَحْرَمَةܡܚܪܡܬܐnoun"mosquito net"
مَيْدَانܡܝܕܐܢnoun"stadium, arena"
مُسْلِمَةܡܫܠܡܢܝܬܐnoun"traitor", "Muslim"
نَبِيذܢܒܝܕܐnoun"date wine"
نَجْمܢܓܡܐnoun"celestial body"
نِمْسܢܡܣܐnoun"mongoose"
سِلْفܣܘܠܦܐnoun"brother in-law"
سِرْقِينܣܪܩܝܢܐnoun"excrement"
عُودܥܘܕܐnoun"aloe, agarwood"
عُرْفܥܘܪܦܐnoun"cockscomb"
عَامِلܥܡܠܐnoun"labor", "prefect"
فِجّܦܓܐnoun"unripe fig", "henna flower"
فَهْدܦܗܕܐnoun"panther"
فَاغِرَةܦܥܪܐnoun"Zanthoxylum"
فِتْنَةܦܬܢܐnoun"tumult, discord"
صينܨܝܢproper noun"China"
صَنْدُوقܣܢܕܘܩܐnoun"box", "case"
صَفَرܨܦܪnoun"Safar"
اَلْقُرْآنܩܘܪܐܢproper noun"Quran"
قَطَّانܩܛܢܐnoun"cotton worker"
قِطْعَةܩܛܥܐnoun"segment"
قَائِدܩܝܕܐnoun"leader"
قَالِبܩܠܒܐnoun"mold"
قَلْعَةܩܠܥܐnoun"fortress, castle"
رَبِيعܪܒܝܥnoun"Rabi' I", "Rabi II"
رجبܪܓܒnoun"Rajab"
رُبّܪܘܒܐnoun"thickened juice", "honey"
رِزْقܪܙܩܐnoun"daily supply"
رِيحܪܝܚܐnoun"wind"
رمضانܪܡܕܢ, ܪܡܨܐܢ, ܪܡܛܐܢnoun"Ramadan"
رَسُولܪܣܘܠܐnoun"messenger"
شَوّالܫܘܐܠproper noun"Shawwal"
شُغْلܫܘܓܠܐnoun"affair, business"
شُرْطَةܫܘܪܛܐ, ܫܪܛܐnoun"guard, royal guard"
سُرْمܫܘܪܡܐnoun"rectum"
شِحْنَةܫܚܢܐnoun"prefect"
شَيْخܫܝܟnoun"sheik"
سَنَاءܫܢܐnoun"subliminity"
شعبانܫܲܥܒܵܐܢnoun"Sha'ban"
تَمَاسِيحܬܡܣܝܚnoun"crocodile"

Classical Mandaic

Classical MandaicSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
ܩܘܕܐnoun"fetter, clog, bond, shackle"
ࡓࡁࡉࡕࡀܪܒܝܬܐnoun"ocean, sea"
ࡔࡒࡀࡐܫܩܱܦverb"to strike, to beat; to contuse, to crush"

Hebrew

HebrewSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
הוֹשַׁע־נָאܐܘܫܥܢܐnoun; interjection"hosanna"
אֵלܐܝܠproper noun"El, God"
אֵפוֹדܐܦܘܕܐnoun"ephod"
גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁהܓܢܫܝܐnoun"sciatic nerve"
חֹמֶשׁܚܘܡܫܐnoun"abdomen"
יָבָםܝܒܡܐnoun"brother-in-law"
יָדִידܝܕܝܕܐadjective"beloved"
יהוהܝܗܘܗproper noun"Yahweh"
יוֹנָהܝܘܢܐnoun"dove"
יֵצֶרܝܨܪܐnoun"desire, inclination"
יְרִיעָהܝܪܝܥܬܐnoun"curtain"
כוהן / כֹּהֵןܟܗܢܐnoun"priest"
כְּרוּבܟܪܘܒܐnoun"cherub"
לִוְיָתָןܠܘܝܬܢ, ܠܘܝܬܐܢproper noun"Leviathan"
מַבּוּלܡܡܘܠܐnoun"deluge, whirlpool"
מְנַקִּיתܡܢܝܩܝܬܐnoun"bowl, spoon"
מָרוֹםܡܪܘܡܐnoun"height"
מַתִּתְיָהוּܡܬܝproper noun"Matthew"
נָבִיאܢܒܝܐnoun"prophet"
סְדוֹםܣܕܘܡproper noun"Sodom"
שָׂטָןܣܛܢܐnoun"Satan, devil"
סַנְחֵרִיבܣܢܚܪܝܒproper noun"Sennacherib"
שָׂרָהܣܪܐproper noun"Sarah"
עֵדָהܥܕܬܐnoun"church"
עֲמוֹרָהܥܡܘܪܐproper noun"Gomorrah"
עֲצָרָה / עֲצֶרֶתܥܨܪܬܐnoun"religious festival", "sacrifice"
קַבܩܒܐnoun"Cab"
רֵיקܪܝܩܐnoun"empty, worthless"
רָקִיעַܪܩܝܥܐnoun"sky"
שָׁמִירܫܡܝܪܐnoun"flint, diamond"

Biblical Hebrew

Biblical HebrewSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
אָמֵןܐܡܝܢadverb"Amen"
בְּהֵמוֹתܒܗܡܘܬnoun"behemoth"
הֶבֶלܗܰܒܶܝܠproper noun"Abel"
הָמוֹןܗܡܢnoun"realm of the dead"
יֹאשִׁיָּהܝܘܫܝܐproper noun"Josiah"
מִזְמוֹרܡܙܡܘܪܐnoun"psalm, hymn"
מִיכָאֵלܡܺܝܟ݂ܳܐܝܶܠproper noun"Michael"
נַעֲמָןܢܥܡܢproper noun"Naaman"

Iranian languages

IranianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
ܐܗܡܪܐܓܪnoun"accountant"
ustanܐܘܣܬܢܐnoun"(Persian) court, crown estate"
ezbarkaܐܙܒܪܟܐnoun"large ox, bull, buffalo"
ܐܣܦܝܕܟܐnoun"white lead"
būrakܒܘܪܟܐnoun"borax"
bandaܒܢܕܐnoun"banner, standard"
barzaܒܪܙܐnoun"sown field"
jôrâbܓܘܪܒܐnoun"sock, stocking"
ܓܙܐnoun"treasure"
gâv-mêšܓܡܘܫܐnoun"buffalo bull"
garzaܓܪܣܐnoun"crushed grain" or "learning"
daewaܕܝܘܐnoun"demon, devil"
ܙܝܘܓnoun"mercury (element)"
ܙܪܢܝܟܐnoun"arsenic"
heshmitaܚܫܡܝܬܐnoun"supper, dinner, banquet"
ܝܘܙܐnoun"cheetah, leopard, panther"
qabaܩܒܝܬܐnoun"man's tunic, uppercoat, overgarment"
ܩܘܒܬܐnoun"vault, pavilion"
kūzܩܘܙܐnoun"weasel, mongoose"
murtakܡܪܬܟܐnoun"dross of silver, litharge"
ܢܘܗܕܪܐnoun"commander"
papaܦܦܐproper noun"Papa" (male given name) or "parrot"

Northwestern Iranian languages

Northwestern IranianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
zanaxܙܢܩܐnoun"chin"

Middle Iranian languages

Middle IranianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
ܐܒܙܪܐnoun"attachment (on a device)"
āβzanܐܘܙܢܐnoun"basin"
ačār-ܐܨܪܐnoun"spices"
ܕܪܓܘܫܬܐnoun"litter, bed"
dārṣīnīܕܪܨܝܢܝnoun"cinnamon"
ܙܢܓܒܝܠ, ܙܢܓܒܝܪ, ܙܝܢܓܒܝܪ, ܙܢܓܒܠܐ, ܙܢܓܝܒܪ, ܙܝܢܓܒܪnoun"ginger"
ܟܘܬܐnoun"food preserved in vinegar"
nôlܢܘܠܐnoun"weaver's beam"
kondܩܘܕܐ, ܩܘܛܐnoun"shackle, chain"
šēnܫܝܢܐnoun"peace", "cultivated land"
šīšaܫܝܫܬܐnoun"vase, bottle"

Parthian

ParthianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
ܒܝܣܦܢܐnoun"mounted courier"
ܒܝܣܦܩܐnoun"courier's wagon"
ܒܪܙܢܩܐnoun"greave, bracelet"
daxšܕܚܫܐnoun"attendant, lictor"
wardܘܪܕܐnoun"rose"
ܙܢܩܐnoun"long boot"
𐭕𐭓𐭐𐭍𐭎ܛܪܦܢܣܐnoun"corselet, chain mail"
𐫖𐫡𐫃ܡܪܓܐnoun"meadow"
sfsyrܣܦܣܝܪܐnoun"sword, dagger"
plyncܦܠܙܐnoun"brass, bronze"
𐫢𐫡𐫀𐫄ܫܪܓܐnoun"lamp"

Old Iranian languages

Old IranianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
gawnahܓܘܢܐnoun"color", "appearance", "species"
zainaܙܝܢܐnoun"weapons, arms"

Classical Persian

Classical PersianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
زُرْنَاپَاܙܪܢܦܐ, ܙܪܝܦܐnoun"giraffe"
لوبیاܠܘܒܝܐnoun"black-eyed pea"

Old Persian

Old PersianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
ganza-ܓܙܐnoun"treasure"
ganzabarahܓܙܒܪܐ, ܓܝܙܒܪܐnoun"treasurer"
𐎭𐎼𐎴𐎹 (d-r-n-y)ܕܪܝܟܘܢܐ, ܕܪܟܘܢܐnoun"daric"
𐏀𐎴 (zana-)ܙܢܐnoun"kind, type"
𐎶𐎦𐏁 (maguš)ܡܓܘܫܐnoun"Magi"
nibrāšti-ܢܒܪܫܬܐnoun"candelabrum, lightstand"
𐎴𐎡𐏀𐎣 (naizaka-⁠)ܢܝܙܟܐnoun"spear", "meteor"
ܢܝܫܐnoun"sign", "goal"
batak-ܦܛܩܐnoun"bowl, flask"
ܩܛܐnoun"plumbline"

Persian

PersianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
آزارܐܕܪܐnoun"leishmaniasis"
دهلܕܗܘܠnoun"davul"
خنجرܚܢܓܪܐnoun"dagger"
لاجوردܠܐܙܘܪܕnoun"lapis lazuli"
سپستانܣܓܦܣܬܢnoun"sebesten"
پولادܦܘܠܕnoun"steel"

Indo-European

Greek

Early Greek loans which were administrative in nature became obscure as society changed, although words adopted from translations of Christian and philosophical texts outlived the former and survive to the current day. Many loanwords originally from Greek were philosophical and took the plural stem, and the current-day Syriac language remains rich in these loanwords.

GreekSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
ܐܰܢܰܢܩܺܝܐadjective
ἀράχνηܐܪܟܐܢܐnoun"spider"
αἱρετικόςܗܪܛܝܩܐnoun"heretic"
τεταρταίοςܛܗܛܐܪܛܗܘ ,ܛܗܛܪܛܗܐ ,ܛܗܛܐܪܛܗܐܘܣnoun"quartan"
ὀροβάγχηܐܘܪܒܟܝܢnoun"broomrape"
ἄγνοςܐܓܢܘܣnoun"agnus"
κέγχροςܩܢܟܢܘܢnoun"a gem"
ܦܪܦܝܪܝܛܝܣnoun"porphyrite"
ܣܪܕܘܢnoun"sard, a kind of stone"
γαλακτίτηςܓܠܐܩܛܝܛܝܣnoun"a type of milky stone"
ἀπόφασιςܐܦܘܦܣܝܣnoun"judgement"
συλλογισμόςܣܘܠܘܓܣܡܐnoun"syllogism"
ܦܪܘܛܣܝܣnoun"premise, proposition, preposition"
ὕπατοιܐܘܦܛܝܢnoun"highest musical string"
κιθάραܩܝܬܪܐnoun"harp, lute"
βάσιςܒܣܣnoun"base, basis"
ܩܘܒܘܣnoun"cube'
ἀμμωνιακόνܐܡܘܢܝܩܘܢnoun"gum ammoniac"
ἀνδροδάμαςܐܢܕܪܘܕܘܡܘܣnoun"arsenical pyrites"
ἄσβεστοςܐܣܒܣܛܘܢnoun"asbestos"
ἀφρόνιτρονܐܦܘܢܝܛܪܘܢnoun"sodium carbonate"
ἀρσενικόνܐܪܣܘܢܝܩܘܢnoun"arsenic sulfide, yellow ointment"
ܡܓܢܝܣܝܐnoun"magnesium"
μολυβδήνηmwlbdynˀnoun"galena"
μίσυmyswnoun"shoemaker's vitriol"
νίτρωνnyṭrwnnoun"nitre"
σηρικόνsryqwnnoun"red ink, red lead"
ψιμύθιονpsymtynnoun"white lead"
κιννάβαριςܩܝܢܒܪܝܣnoun"cinnabar"
ܩܠܡܝܐnoun"cadmia (ore of zinc)"
κρήτηܩܪܝܛnoun"chalk"
ῥητίνηܪܛܝܢܐnoun"resin"
όξεῖαܐܘܟܣܝܐnoun"sharp things (grammatical)"
σχῆμαܐܣܟܡܐnoun"character, shape, form"
ἄρθρονܐܪܬܪܘܢnoun"particle"
ζεῦγοςܙܘܓܐnoun"pair, conjugation, name of an accent"
τάξιςܛܟܣܐnoun"order, military company, apparatus"
ἄργολαςܐܪܓܘܠܐnoun"a type of snake"

Ancient Greek

Ancient GreekSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
γένοςܓܢܣܐnoungenus

Byzantine Greek

Byzantine GreekSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
σπεκουλάτωρܐܣܦܘܩܠܛܪܐnoun"speculator, "bodyguard", "lictor, executioner"
κούπαܟܘܒܐnoun"cup, goblet, vessel"
σκάλαܣܩܠܐnoun"ladder", "stirrup"
σακελλάριοςܣܩܠܪܐ, ܣܩܠܐܪܐnoun"treasurer, bursar"

Koine Greek

Koine GreekSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
Σολομώνܫܠܝܡܘܢproper noun"Solomon"

Latin

Latin loans appear to have been largely transmitted to Syriac via Greek. This is evident based on the Syriac orthography which demonstrates it was borrowed from the Greek form.

LatinSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
arenaܐܪܐܢܐnoun"arena"
comitatusܩܝܡܛܛܘܢnoun"retinue"
curopalataܩܘܪܐܦܠܛܝܣnoun"prefect of the palace"
caldariumܩܪܕܠܐnoun"pot"
candelaܩܢܕܝܠܐnoun"lamp, torch"
carrariusܩܪܪܐnoun"driver"
carrucaܩܪܘܟܐnoun"chariot"
cellaܩܠܐnoun"cell"
dinariusܕܝܢܪܐnoun"gold dinarius"
numerusܢܘܡܪܐnoun"number"
pāgānusܦܓܐܢܐnoun"villager, commoner"
palatiumܦܠܛܝܢnoun"palace"
sacraܣܩܪܐnoun"letter, report"
tālāreܛܠܪܐ ,ܛܐܠܪܐnoun"sandal"
vēlumܘܝܠܐnoun"veil, curtain, cover"

Old Armenian

Old ArmenianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
կատապանܩܛܐܒܢnoun"governor of the Armenians"
թագաւորܬܟܘܘܪnoun"king of the Armenians"

Turkic

TurkicSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
qanܟܐܢnoun"khan, ruler, emperor"
*šāwܫܐܘnoun"bill, banknote, paper money"
yarliǵܝܪܠܝܟnoun"decree, mandate, yarligh"

Ottoman Turkish

Ottoman TurkishSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
زورناܙܘܪܢܐnoun"pipe, flute, zurna"
توتونܬܬܘܢnoun"tobacco"

Other

Old Georgian

Old GeorgianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
შოლტიܫܘܛܐnoun"whip, lash, scourge"

Portuguese

PortugueseSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
commodoreܟܘܡܕܘܪnoun"commander"

Chinese

ChineseSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes
牌子ܦܝܙܐnoun"paiza, gerege"

Notes

See also

Bibliography

  • Brockelmann, Carl (1995) [1928]. (2nd ed.).
  • Hillers, Del. . COMPREHENSIVE ARAMAIC LEXICON PROJECT. Cincinnati, USA: Hebrew Union College.
  • Smith, Robert Payne (1903). (PDF). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9781725206427. {{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  • Ciancaglini, Claudia A. (2006). . Encyclopaedia Iranica.