adj
Common
Syrian
SIH-ree-uhn
Syrian (adj) means relating to Syria, its people, or its culture. Example: “She cooked a traditional Syrian dish for the dinner party.”
adj
1
Relating to Syria, its people, or its culture.
"The Syrian force was pulled back quickly and with reportedly heavy losses, but it stayed around long enough to remind the world that the Syrians are still the biggest blusterers and brinkmen in the Middle East."
— Time (1970)
"She cooked a traditional Syrian dish for the dinner party."
"Representatives of the Syrian National Council and the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria signed an agreement late Friday in Cairo for a transition in a post-Assad era, the NCB said on its Facebook page."
— , Syrian opposition group: More than 5,800 died in 2011 (2011)
noun
1
A person from Syria or of Syrian descent.
"Many Syrians fled the country during the civil war."
"He said the agreement calls for the refusal of any non-Arab foreign intervention, an important issue because some Syrians want international intervention to overthrow the al-Assad regime."
— , Syrian opposition group: More than 5,800 died in 2011 (2011)
How to use Syrian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to Syria or someone from there.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Syrians
Fill the gap
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She cooked a traditional _____ dish for the dinner party.
Etymology
From "Syria" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-an."
Rhymes for Syrian
See all rhymes for Syrian →Frequently asked questions
What does “Syrian” mean?
The word “Syrian” means relating to Syria, its people, or its culture. In plain terms, relating to Syria or someone from there.
How do you pronounce “Syrian”?
“Syrian” is pronounced SIH-ree-uhn (/ˈsi.ɹi.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Syrian” in a sentence?
Here is “Syrian” used in a sentence: “She cooked a traditional Syrian dish for the dinner party.”
What part of speech is “Syrian”?
Depending on how it is used, “Syrian” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “Syrian” a common word?
“Syrian” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Syrian” have?
“Syrian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to Syria, its people, or its culture.
Should 'Syrian' always be capitalized?
Yes. "Syrian" is a proper adjective and noun formed from the country name Syria, so it is always written with a capital S, whether it describes the people, the culture, or a person from Syria.
What is the difference between Syrian and Assyrian?
"Syrian" relates to the modern country of Syria and its people. "Assyrian" refers to the ancient Mesopotamian civilization and to a distinct ethnic and linguistic group, so the two words are not interchangeable.
What is the difference between Syrian and Syriac?
"Syrian" describes anything relating to Syria, its people, or its culture. "Syriac" refers specifically to a dialect of Aramaic used as a literary and liturgical language, so it is a linguistic term rather than a general demonym.
Can 'Syrian' be both a noun and an adjective?
Yes. As an adjective it describes something relating to Syria, as in "Syrian cuisine." As a noun it names a person from Syria or of Syrian descent, as in "she is a Syrian."
