Aramaic Language/Loanwords

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Loanwords in Assyrian Neo-Aramaic came about mostly due to the contact between Assyrians and Arabs, Iranians, Kurds and Turks. Unlike other Neo-Aramaic languages, Assyrian has an extensive number of Iranian loanwords. Depending on the dialect, Arabic loanwords are also reasonably present. To note, some of the loanwords are revised (or "Assyrianized"), and therefore would sound somewhat different to the original word. Also, some loanwords may also have a slightly different meaning from the original language.

Arabic[edit | edit source]

  • Askari (soldier)
  • 'Alasas (as if) - Some speakers
  • Donyeh (world)
  • Bas (but) - Some speakers
  • Boori (water pipe)
  • Chakooch (hammer)
  • Hookma (government)
  • Ës-Haal (diarrhea) - Some speakers
  • Fendëq (hotel)
  • Ghareeb (strange) - Some speakers
  • Ghëssāla (washing machine)
  • Mistashfa (hospital)
  • Mūḥāmi (lawyer) - Some speakers
  • Ooty (clothes iron)
  • Qëssa (forehead)
  • Sadra (chest)
  • Sākh (healthy)
  • Sejën (jail) - Some speakers
  • Thelaja (fridge) - Some speakers
  • Ṭiyāra (aeroplane)
  • Yëlla (hurry up) - Some speakers

Persian[edit | edit source]

  • Bush (more)
  • Changal (fork)
  • Charëk (quarter)
  • Dardeh (sorrow)
  • Dormānah (medicine)
  • Erzan (cheap)
  • Ham (also)
  • Halbat (of course)
  • Hasanay (easy)
  • Hitch (nothing)
  • Janta (purse/backpack)
  • Jëzdan (wallet)
  • Khiyāra (cucumber)
  • Majboor (duty or obligation)
  • Mees (table)
  • Pënjara (window)
  • Ranga (colour)
  • Rāzi (satisfied)
  • Sabab (reason)
  • Tambal (lazy)
  • Zahmat (difficult)
  • Zarda (yellow)

Kurdish[edit | edit source]

  • Chapleh (left)
  • Hāwar (aid)
  • Hiwi (hope)
  • Qësset (story)
  • Qonya (drain/well)
  • Razël (to shame or scold)

Turkish[edit | edit source]

  • Balkët (maybe)
  • Dabanja (gun)
  • Doos (straight or flat)
  • Gamee (ship)
  • Hāzir (ready) - Arabic, Hadir (حاضر), "present'"
  • Kësmet (fate) - Arabic, Qisma (قسمة), "division"
  • Pashgër (towel)
  • Rahat (comfortable) - Arabic, Raha (راحة), "relaxation"
  • Tamëz (clean) - Arabic, Tamy (تمييز), "refinement"
  • Taws (dust)
  • Zengën (rich) - Persian, Sang (سنگين), "precious"

Other[edit | edit source]

These foreign words are borrowed from European languages:

  • Atmābël (automobile/car) - French, English
  • Benzën (petroleum) - German: Benzin
  • Batree (battery) - French: batterie, English: battery
  • Beera (beer) - Old English: beor, from Latin: bibere
  • Bomba (bomb) - English: bomb, French: bombe, from Greek: bombos
  • Bye (bye)
  • Chayik (to check or inspect) - Middle English; the noun and exclamation from Old French eschec, from medieval Latin scaccus, via Arabic from Persian šāh ("king")
  • Glāss (glass cup) - English
  • Hallao (hello)
  • Jamëka (twin) - Latin]]: geminus, French: jumeau, Portuguese: gêmeo
  • Lōrry (truck) - British English]
  • Māshina (train or car) - English: machine, from Greek: mekhos
  • Maymūn (monkey) - Middle Greek: Mimoun (μῖμων), "imitators, ape, mimicry"
  • Pākët (packet) - English, Anglo-Norman French
  • Sōleh (shoe) - English: sole, Latin: solea, Kurdish: sol
  • Stumkā (stomach) - English, Greek: stómachos; Latin: stomachus
  • Stōp (stove/heater) - English
  • Tëlvizion (television) and Tileefon (telephone) - English, Latin, Greek