Aramaic

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌæɹ.É™.ˈmei.ɪk/

Origin

From Aram, the place settled by Aramaeans; from the Aramaic ארם or ܐܪܡ.

Full definition of Aramaic

Proper noun

1. A subfamily of languages in the Northwest Semitic language group including (but not limited to):

1. The language of the Aramaeans from the tenth century BC: often called Old Aramaic.
2. The language of the administration in the Assyrian, Babylonian and Persian empires from the seventh to fourth centuries BC: often called Imperial Aramaic or Official Aramaic.
3. The language of portions of the Hebrew Bible, mainly the books of Ezra and Daniel: often called Biblical Aramaic.
4. The language of Jesus of Nazareth: a form of Galilean Aramaic.
5. The language of Jewish targums, Midrash and the Talmuds.
6. The liturgical language of various Christian churches: often called Syriac.
7. The liturgical language of the Mandaeans: usually called Mandaic.

Derived terms

• Judeo-Aramaic
• Neo-Aramaic

Related terms

• Aram
• Aramaean, Aramean
• Syria, Syriac, Syrian

Adjective

1. Referring to the Aramaic language, alphabet, culture or poetry.