Learn – Aramaic Archive

Learn Aramaic

Begin your journey into one of the world's oldest languages with our comprehensive learning resources

Aramaic 101: Getting Started

Start with the basics of Aramaic language, including the alphabet, common phrases, and writing samples.

The Aramaic Alphabet

Aramaic uses a 22-letter consonant alphabet, written from right to left. Here are the basic letters:

𐡀

Alaph

𐡁

Beth

𐡂

Gamal

𐡃

Dalath

𐡄

𐡅

Waw

𐡆

Zayn

𐡇

Heth

𐡈

Teth

𐡉

Yodh

𐡊

Kaph

𐡋

Lamadh

𐡌

Mim

𐡍

Nun

𐡎

Semkath

𐡏

𐡐

𐡑

Sadhe

𐡒

Qoph

𐡓

Resh

𐡔

Shin

𐡕

Taw

Learn Aramaic

Begin your journey into one of the world's oldest languages with our comprehensive learning resources

Aramaic 101: Getting Started

Start with the basics of Aramaic language, including the alphabet, common phrases, and writing samples.

The Aramaic Alphabet

Aramaic uses a 22-letter consonant alphabet, written from right to left. Here are the basic letters:

𐡀

𐡁

𐡂

𐡃

𐡄

𐡅

𐡆

𐡇

𐡈

𐡉

𐡊

𐡋

𐡌

𐡍

𐡎

𐡏

𐡐

𐡑

𐡒

𐡓

𐡔

𐡕

Writing Direction

Aramaic is written from right to left, unlike English which is written left to right. This can take some getting used to for new learners.

Peace be upon you (Shlama 'alokhun) - ܫܠܡܐ ܥܠܘܟܘܢ

Basic Phrases

Learn some common Aramaic phrases to get started with basic conversations:

Hello / Peace

ܫܠܡܐ (Shlama)

Used as a greeting, meaning "peace"

How are you?

ܕܟ ܐܝܬܟ؟ (Dakh eetakh?) - to a male

ܕܟ ܐܝܬܟܝ؟ (Dakh eetekhee?) - to a female

Literally "How is your being?"

Thank you

ܬܘܕܝ (Tawdi)

Common expression of gratitude

Yes / No

ܗܝ (Hee) - Yes

ܠܐ (La) - No

Writing Samples

Explore samples of Aramaic writing from different periods and dialects:

Ancient Inscription

𐤊𐤋 𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤔 𐤉𐤔𐤕 𐤄𐤊𐤋 𐤆𐤍

Sample from an ancient Aramaic inscription, showing the early script style.

Modern Neo-Aramaic

ܐܢܐ ܪܚܡܢܐ ܐܢܐ ܠܫܢܐ ܐܬܘܪܝܐ

Modern sentence in Assyrian Neo-Aramaic: "I love the Assyrian language."

Recommended Books

Expand your knowledge with these carefully selected resources for learning Aramaic.

Introduction to Aramaic

Frederick E. Greenspahn

A comprehensive textbook for Biblical Aramaic with exercises and vocabulary.

A Grammar of Neo-Aramaic

Geoffrey Khan

Detailed grammar of the dialect of the Jews of Arbel (Iraqi Kurdistan).

The Aramaic Language

Klaus Beyer

Its Distribution and Subdivisions, translated from German.

Aramaic Archive

Preserving the voices of Aramaic for future generations.

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