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name

Aramaic

a-ruh-MAY-ihk

Aramaic (name) means an ancient family of Semitic languages once used across the Near East, including the everyday language spoken by Jesus of Nazareth. Example: “Parts of the Book of Daniel were originally written in Aramaic.”

name
1
An ancient family of Semitic languages once used across the Near East, including the everyday language spoken by Jesus of Nazareth.
"Parts of the Book of Daniel were originally written in Aramaic."
"Aramaic was the common language of the Persian Empire's administration."
adj
1
Relating to the Aramaic language or its speakers.
"Some Aramaic inscriptions have survived on ancient pottery."

How to Use Aramaic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old Semitic language once spoken widely across the Middle East, related to Hebrew and Arabic.

Memory tip

It's still spoken today in small communities, so it is not purely an ancient or "dead" language.

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Word Forms

Aramaics plural

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Parts of the Book of Daniel were originally written in _____.

Etymology

From Greek Aramaikos, based on the name of the region of Aram.

Origin: Greek

Rhymes for Aramaic

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “Aramaic” mean?

The word “Aramaic” means an ancient family of Semitic languages once used across the Near East, including the everyday language spoken by Jesus of Nazareth. In plain terms, an old Semitic language once spoken widely across the Middle East, related to Hebrew and Arabic.

How do you pronounce “Aramaic”?

“Aramaic” is pronounced a-ruh-MAY-ihk (/ˌæɹ.əˈmeɪ.ɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “Aramaic” in a sentence?

Here is “Aramaic” used in a sentence: “Parts of the Book of Daniel were originally written in Aramaic.”

What is another word for “Aramaic”?

Words with a similar meaning to “Aramaic” include Chaldee.

What part of speech is “Aramaic”?

Depending on how it is used, “Aramaic” can be a name and an adjective.

Where does the word “Aramaic” come from?

The word “Aramaic” comes from Greek. From Greek Aramaikos, based on the name of the region of Aram.

How many meanings does “Aramaic” have?

“Aramaic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an ancient family of Semitic languages once used across the Near East, including the everyday language spoken by Jesus of Nazareth.

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