Syriac

noun

Syr·​i·​ac ˈsir-ē-ˌak 

1

: a literary language based on an eastern Aramaic dialect and used as the literary and liturgical language by several Eastern Christian churches

2

: Aramaic spoken by Christian communities

Syriac adjective

Examples of Syriac in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Syria's leading churches — including the Greek Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, and Melkite Greek Catholic communities — have expressed concern over the recent violence. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025

Members hail from three main Christian denominations: Antiochian Greek Orthodox, Antiochian Melkite Catholics and Antiochian Syriac Orthodox. —Chris Massaro, Fox News, 23 Mar. 2025

Due to Turkey's military interventions in Iraq and occupation of parts of Syria, all ethnic and religious groups indigenous to the region suffer because of it—including Yezidis and Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac Christians who are already struggling to recover from ISIS atrocities. —Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025

We will be joined by Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II of the Syriac Orthodox Church, who will travel from Damascus to lend his support. —Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025

The Maronite Mass is similar to the Mass in other Catholic churches, but some parts may be said in Syriac (an Aramaic language) and Arabic. —Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 29 Nov. 2024

But examples of similar texts exist in Latin, Hebrew, Coptic, Syriac, Armenian and Georgian. —Elizabeth Djinis, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024

The text is one of only four examples of the Old Syriac translation. —Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 11 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Latin syriacus Syrian, from Greek syriakos, from Syria, ancient country in Asia

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

Syriac

noun

Syr·​i·​ac ˈsir-ē-ˌak 

1

: a literary language based on an eastern Aramaic dialect and used as the literary and liturgical language by several eastern Christian churches

2

: Aramaic spoken by Christian communities

Syriac adjective