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 SpeechMeaningNotes𒂍𒆳 (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 SpeechMeaningNotes𒌚𒉈 (Abum)ܐܒproper noun"August"𒄧 (inbum)ܐܒܐnoun"fruit"abūtuܐܒܘܬܐnoun"rule, plumbline of an architect; goad for scraping plowshares; duct work"abulluܐܒܘܠܐ noun"city gate; portico"agāruܐܓܪܐnoun"hire, wages"agurruܐܓܘܪܐ noun"kiln-fired brick or tile"Addaruܐܕܪ proper 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"akukītuܟܘܟܝܬܐ noun"storm, whirlwind"Kislīmuܟܢܘܢ proper noun"December; January"lilītuܠܠܝܬܐnoun"lilith; female demon"aban gabîܡܓܒܝܐnoun"alum"amuriqānuܡܪܝܩܢܐ noun"jaundice"𒌚𒁇 (nissanum)ܢܝܣܢproper noun"April"Šabāṭuܫܒܛ proper noun"February"šaṭāruܫܛܪܐnoun"deed, document"Duʾūzuܬܡܘܙproper noun"July"Tašrītuܬܫܪܝܢ proper noun"October; November"
Ancient North Arabian Ancient North ArabianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes𐪑𐪈𐪔𐪇ܐܒܓܪproper noun"Abgar" ("lame person")
Old South Arabian Ancient North ArabianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotes𐩥𐩯𐩤ܘܣܩܐnoun"burden, captive, servant" Arabic ArabicSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotesبَغْلܒܓܠܐnoun"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"خِيَار ܟܝܪܐnoun"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 SpeechMeaningNotesܩܘܕܐnoun"fetter, clog, bond, shackle"ࡓࡁࡉࡕࡀܪܒܝܬܐnoun"ocean, sea"ࡔࡒࡀࡐܫܩܱܦverb"to strike, to beat; to contuse, to crush" Hebrew HebrewSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotesהוֹשַׁע־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 / עֲצֶרֶת ܥܨܪܬܐnoun"religious festival", "sacrifice"קַבܩܒܐnoun"Cab"רֵיקܪܝܩܐnoun"empty, worthless"רָקִיעַܪܩܝܥܐnoun"sky"שָׁמִירܫܡܝܪܐnoun"flint, diamond"
Biblical Hebrew Biblical HebrewSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotesאָמֵןܐܡܝܢadverb"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 SpeechMeaningNotesܐܗܡܪܐܓܪnoun"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 SpeechMeaningNoteszanaxܙܢܩܐnoun"chin"
Middle Iranian languages Middle IranianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotesܐܒܙܪܐnoun"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, ܩܘܛܐ noun"shackle, chain"šēnܫܝܢܐnoun"peace", "cultivated land"šīšaܫܝܫܬܐnoun"vase, bottle"
Parthian ParthianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotesܒܝܣܦܢܐnoun"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 SpeechMeaningNotesgawnahܓܘܢܐnoun"color", "appearance", "species"zainaܙܝܢܐnoun"weapons, arms"
Classical Persian Classical PersianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotesزُرْنَاپَاܙܪܢܦܐ, ܙܪܝܦܐnoun"giraffe"لوبیاܠܘܒܝܐnoun"black-eyed pea"
Old Persian Old PersianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotesganza-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"ܢܝܫܐ noun"sign", "goal"batak-ܦܛܩܐnoun"bowl, flask"ܩܛܐnoun"plumbline" Persian PersianSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotesآزارܐܕܪܐnoun"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 SpeechMeaningNotesܐܰܢܰܢܩܺܝܐadjectiveἀράχνηܐܪܟܐܢܐnoun"spider"αἱρετικόςܗܪܛܝܩܐnoun"heretic"τεταρταίοςܛܗܛܐܪܛܗܘ ,ܛܗܛܪܛܗܐ ,ܛܗܛܐܪܛܗܐܘܣnoun"quartan"ὀροβάγχηܐܘܪܒܟܝܢnoun"broomrape"ἄγνοςܐܓܢܘܣnoun"agnus"κέγχροςܩܢܟܢܘܢnoun"a gem"ܦܪܦܝܪܝܛܝܣnoun"porphyrite"ܣܪܕܘܢ noun"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"τάξιςܛܟܣܐ noun"order, military company, apparatus"ἄργολαςܐܪܓܘܠܐnoun"a type of snake"
Ancient Greek Ancient GreekSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotesγένοςܓܢܣܐnoungenus
Byzantine Greek Byzantine GreekSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotesσπεκουλάτωρܐܣܦܘܩܠܛܪܐnoun"speculator, "bodyguard", "lictor, executioner"κούπαܟܘܒܐnoun"cup, goblet, vessel"σκάλαܣܩܠܐnoun"ladder", "stirrup"σακελλάριοςܣܩܠܪܐ, ܣܩܠܐܪܐnoun"treasurer, bursar"
Koine Greek Koine GreekSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotesΣολομώνܫܠܝܡܘܢproper 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 SpeechMeaningNotesarenaܐܪܐܢܐnoun"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 SpeechMeaningNotesկատապանܩܛܐܒܢnoun"governor of the Armenians"թագաւորܬܟܘܘܪnoun"king of the Armenians" Turkic TurkicSyriacPart of SpeechMeaningNotesqanܟܐܢnoun"khan, ruler, emperor"*šāwܫܐܘnoun"bill, banknote, paper money"yarliǵܝܪܠܝܟnoun"decree, mandate, yarligh"
Ottoman Turkish