LEARN ASSYRIAN ONLINE

THE ARAMAIC ALPHABET
SYRIAC-ARAMAIC VOCABULARY


Grab a sheet of lined paper, review the pronounciation, and practice each A-TOO-TAA (letter) 10 times, and educate yourself. Along with knowledge comes pride. Along with pride comes confidence. Confidence in yourself reflects the confidence people have in you. With pride, confidence, and knowledge, our nation will survive for 100 more generations.

Remember, as one of the first Christians (a couple years after the life of Christ), you speak one of the oldest, rarest language in the world. The language of God!!! Be proud of that. It is the root language of hebrew, arabic, turkish, and the alphabet for farsi (Persian), urdu (Pakistan/Indian), and greek. Aramaic replaced our ancient brethren's language, Akkadian (the oldest semetic language) around 1000 B.C.. The aramaic script was in turn derived from the Phonecians who probably extracted it from Canaan. After the Assyrians accepted the language of the Aramaens, Aramaic became the lingua franca of Mesopotamia and the whole middle-east. The word Aramaic comes from the word Aram, the son of Shem (of which the word SHE-MAA-YAA (Semetic) is derived).

There are two major dialects, Western (also refered to as Palastinian dialect (the dialect of EE-SHO (Jesus)) and Eastern (also referred to as "Syriac dialect" ("Syriac" is a dialect of Aramaic, not a language. Syriac also has Akkadian influences)). To say Modern Aramaic or Modern Syriac, you must be consistent and say Modern Hebrew, Modern English, Modern Greek, etc. for all languages follow the law of evolution. "Modern" is omitted when referring to any language. However, our language comparitivly has changed very little in 2000 years, especially lituraturally and liturgically.

Parts of the bible were written in aramaic, including the books of Erza and Daniel. The famous writing on the wallŒ, which was seen by Nebuchadnezzar's grandson, Belshazzar, told of the fall of Babylon. Later that night, Belshazar died and Cyrus the Persian and Darius the Mede conquered Babylon. The famous painting by Rembrandt incorrectly showed the handwriting as hebrew, because he could not find people who knew the script (He should have asked any Assyrian). The famous last words of Jesus were in his native tounge, aramaic,
(E-LEE E-LEE L-MAA-NAA SAA-BAACH-TAA-NEE) = (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me).

Celebrate the native tounge of Jesus, the language He preached in, the language of the Assyrians. The language is so valued that it is extensivly studied at the vatican and taught in ivy league schools such as Harvard University and the University of Chicago (just to name a couple). Learn to read and write as He did. It is an absorbing feeling. Challenge yourself to find a more asthetically beautiful script. Alaha umokhoon (God be with (all of) you).

Download this 41 page, adobe formatted file, ARAMAIC.PDF, if you intend on printing this web page. Get the adobe reader. It has been retyped and has a more professional format, includes the vowels and estrangela letters, and has more words and more words spelled out. You can also read it offline.

Remember, we write from right to left. (say that 10 times). If your interested in learning more Syriac-Aramaic, you may want to check out the "Songs of Assyria" page. Juliana Jendo's song "Alap Beet" is the best and quickest way to learn the ATWAT'E (letters).

With these 22 AT-WAA-TEH (letters) and 7 ZO-WEH (vowels), you should learn 69 words. You will get used to the pronounciation of the letters and the HAAJ-YAAT (spelling) of the words in Aramaic will come almost naturally and fall in place.  85% of the Assyrian words are written phonetically, that is they are spelled as they are pronounced (like the Spanish language). This makes spelling very easy.

Just follow these steps, and within two months (if you speak a little Assyrian) you shall start to read and write Assyrian (Believe me). After you learn, you will realize how easy it really was.

  1. Learn Juliana's "Alap Beet" song.
  2. Practice each A-TOO-TAA until you memorize each one of them.
  3. Learn the ZOW'E (Vowels) and how they are used.
  4. Practice assembling the AT-WAA-TEH to construct words according to how each A-TOO-TAA sounds. Begin with your name.
    The HAAJ-YAAT (spelling) is not important now.
  5. Practice reading and writing with your new skills.

HIGHLY RECOMMENED!! Get the "Classical Aramaic" book (written by Rocco A. Errico and Michael J. Bazzi).  Get the "Learning Syriac CD".  The benifits will be enormous. Also, download these images and use one as your desktop background.  Click here for the Letters image.  Click here for the Vowels image.

Don't forget the EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE TABLE at the end of this page. It contains a wealth of information to build your LOO-GHAA-TAA (vocabulary).

Three ATWAT'E have a final form that are placed at the end of the word. Kap, Meem, and Noon..
If you see an Alap in this form, , it is the Estrangela AT-WAA-TEH. The Estrangela set is mainly used for scriptures, titles, headings, and book and album titles. It usually has no ZO-WEH (vowels). Only 6 AT-WAA-TEH (letters) are different, the rest are the same. Click here to learn the Estrangela letters and learn more important words.

The History of Aramaic is at your disposal.
Learn in 5 minutes Learn to read, write, and type the Aramaic language is five minutes. Watch the video. Download the fonts and watch the video on how to type on your PC.


If you intend on printing this web page, download this 41 page, adobe formatted file, ARAMAIC.PDF.
Also download The Most Commonly Misused Assyrian Words

The Assyrian (Syriac-Aramaic) blocks are here.

BlocksBlocks2



ALAP

(Equivilant to "A")


AA-SHOO-RRAA-YAA (m) // AA-SHOO-RRE-TAA (f) - - - - "People of Ashur"
(our god before Christ). The original and correct name of our people
(Assyrians AND Chaldeans). ALL of the Middle East including Israel
refer to us by our original name. If you meet an Israeli, Arab, Turk,
Persian, or Kurd, you introduce yourself as an Ashooraayaa. (or AA-SHOO-REE-EEN in arabic).
"Assyrian" is the Greek translation (as well as Mesopotamia (Bet Nahrain) & Sargon (Shurikin))

AA-TO-RRAA-YAA (M) / AA-TO-RRE-TAA (F) - - - A modern alternative to Assyrian

AA-TAA - - - - flag
BAAY-DAAGH - has Turkish orgins.

AA-RRAA-MAA-EET - - - - Aramaic.
"Aramaic" and "Assyrian" are used interchangably. This is fine within
the community since we assume we know what language we are refering to.
Outside the community, you refer to your language as "Aramaic" or
"Syriac-Aramaic", for linguists do not use "Assyrian" as a language.
It is a nationality. (Sometimes we say LEE-SHAA-NAA D AA-RRAA-MAA-YAA -
The language of the Aramaens.)


Writing the letter
  • Make a short horizontal line from right to left on line.
  • Make a small dot above slightly left of center.
  • Connect dot with with a curved line on the left side of line with a downward stroke.


  • NOTE: If a word ends with the SQAAPAA (the "AA" sound),
    NOTE: ZLAMA PSHEEQA (the "IH" sound),
    NOTE: or the ZLAMA QASHYA (the "EH" sound) vowels, Alap is always
    NOTE: placed at the end of the word. This letter is indicative and necessary
    NOTE: just like the "e" in the word, "spike" or "white".



    BEET

    (Equivilant to B).


    BOORR-JAA D BAA-VIL - - - - Tower of Babylon
    (BAA-VIL=Babylon)

    BET NAAH-REN - - - - Mesopotamia.
    (in Greek). "The land between the two rivers". When asked what region
    you are from, you reply "Mesopotamia". However, if you say you are
    middle eastern, the implication is that you are arab or muslim. If you
    specify that you are Mesopotamian, you specify a specific region that
    was occupied by AssyrIa, Babylon, Sumer, and Akkad. You specify the
    region in the Middle East just as the French specify a region in Europe.
    (NAA
    H-RRAA = river) (YAA-MAA = sea) (YAAM-TAA = lake).

    BE-TAA - - - - house
    BIN-YAA-NAA = building.      BI-NAA = foundation.

    Writing the letter
  • Make short vertical line with downward (upward if preceeded by a connecting letter) stroke.
  • Make a short horizontal line moving right to left.
  • Join a line from right to left on bottom of vertical line. Make it slightly longer than top line.



  • NOTE - Placing a "DIPA" (dot) underneath the beth turns it into a soft "W" sound. Almost a "V" sound.




    GAMAL

    (Equivilant to "G" )


    GIKH-KAA - - - - laugh

    J-BAA-RRAA (M) / J-BAA-RRTAA (F) - - - - gallant / courageous / noble / mighty

    GEN-YAA-T'E TIL-Y'E - - - - hanging gardens.
    (GEN-TAA) = garden.

    Writing the letter
  • From left to right, draw long slanted line that ends below the base line.
  • Connect middle of line and draw from right to left a short line.

    NOTE: Placing a MAJLEEAANAA ( ~ ) under GAMAL turns the
    NOTE: letter to JAMAL with a "J" sound.
  • NOTE: Placing a DIPAA ( period ) under GAMAL changes the
    NOTE: sound of the letter to a "GH" sound (example. Evin Aghassi).




    DALAT

    (Equivilant to "D")


    DO-RRAA - - - - century / a period of 100 years / 100

    DAA-TEED - - - future.
    (DAA-WAARR = past). (QAA-IM = present).

    DAARR-WAA-ZAA D'AAISH-TAARR - - - - gate of Ishtar

    Writing the letter
  • From right to left, make a short line on base line.
  • Connect line on right, draw a short curve until left edge of line.
  • from right to left, make a short horizontal line underneath base line.


  • NOTE: Modern Assyrians use a DIPA (dot) instead of the line.
    NOTE: I choose the classical way when learning how to write.
    NOTE: It is easier to differentiate the zow'e (vowels)
    NOTE: when you use a line.
    NOTE: After you learn to read and write, switch to a dipa.



    HEH

    (Equivilant to "H")


    HAA-SSAA-NAAY - - - - easy / simple.
    (ZAAH-MUT = trouble / inconvenient / annoyance .) (CHAA-TOON = difficult / hard.)

    HAAJ-YAAT / HAA-JEE - - - - spelling / spell (verb)

    HAA-NAA-GOO-TAA - - - - joke / jest / something said or done to amuse.

    Writing the letter
  • Make a short vertical line downward (upward if connectd by a connecting preceeding letter).
  • Make a horizontal line on top of vertical line and finish off with a circle.




  • WAW

    (Equivilant to "W")


    WURR-DAA - - - - rose
    BIB-LAA = flower.

    WAAHKH-SHEE- - - - savage

    WAA-RRAA-QAA- - - - paper
    QAA-LAA-MAA = pen.   BID-YOO-TAA = ink.

    Writing the letter
  • From top to bottom, make a short vertical line.
  • Begin at top of line and make a half circle and connect bottom of line.


  • NOTE: When writing Waw, use a line on the right of the letter.
    NOTE: In script format, it is in a circular fashion.



    ZAIN

    (equivilant to "Z")

    ZOO-Z'E - - - - money (plural)
    MU-DI-AA-TAA = tax

    ZRRAA-QAA D SHIM-SHAA - - - - sunrise.
    GNE-TAA D SHIM-SHAA = sunset.
    SUH-RRAA = moon, can be used in place of sun.


    ZMAARR-TAA - - - - song
    ZAA-MAA-RRAA = singer (M).   ZAA-MAARR-TAA = singer (F).   
    ZOOL QAA-LAA (album).     ZOOL KHIZ-WAA (video)

    Writing the letter
  • From top, make a curved line below base line.
  • From top of line, connect the intersection of base line and vertical line.


  • NOTE: The two DIP'E (dots) at the top of the word ZOO-Z'E is used to
    NOTE: mark plural words. You usually place it on the lowest letter closest to
    NOTE: the end of the word. It is okay if you put it close to the begining or on
    NOTE: a tall letter if the lower letters have ZOW'E (vowels) on them.




    KHETH

    (no English equivilant / back of throat, guttorial sound).

    KHOO-YAA-DAA - - - - unity / the state of being one / oneness.

    KHEE-RROO-TAA - - - - freedom -
    KHEE-RRAA (m) / / KHIRR-TAA (f) = free.

    KHAA B-NEE-SAAN - - - the first of Spring.
    Our New Year. This day, celebrated on the first of April (March
    21 by the Gregorian calander) signifies the rebirth of the land.
    In ancient days of Assyria and Babylon, we celebrated for 12 days with
    elaborate festivals. Also, on this day, in certain parts of the world, we
    have a (MEE-ZEL-TAA) = parade. So important was this day, that Nabonidus
    (the last king of Babylon) ignored it (and other religious activities), that
    the people accepted Cyrus the Persian with open arms, for they heard that he
    had religious tolerance. Babylon soon was destroyed. Our current year is 6750
    (2000 years after Christ + 4750, the day the capital Ashur of Assyria was born).


    Writing the letter
    • From right, make a short curved u.
    • Finish up with a short upward curve (unless connects with another letter on left, therefore finish off with a straight line.)




    TETH

    (No equivilant but close to a soft T and D. (Represented as TD or 'TD'))

    'TD'OO-RRAA-N'E - - - - mountains
    ('TD'OO-RRA =mountain) - ('TD'OO-RRAA-YAA - mountaineer)
    (RRAAM-TAA = hill / hieght) , (RRAM-YAA-TEH = hills)


    'TD'AA-LAA-NAA - - - - player

    'TD'LAA-NEE-TAA - - - - - shadow / shade
    Writing the letter
  • From right to left, make a medium line on base.
  • Downward, from right side of line, make a short slanted line to center of horizontal line.
  • From bottom of slanted line, make an upward slanted line leftward.






  • YODH

    (Equivilant to "Y")

    EE-SHO MSHEE-KHAA - - - - Jesus Christ.
    MSHEE-KHAA means Messiah (the annointed one), Christ is derived from
    the Greek word "Cristos" meaning Messiah. He was annointed with
    MISH-KHAA (oil) of which the word MSHEE-KHAA is derived. Since this is
    His Aramaic name, this is as He was called by His friends and desciples.

    MSHEE-KHAA-YAA (m) // MSHEE-KHE-TAA (f) = follower of the Messiah (Christian)

    YAA-LOO-PAA - - - - a student/learner/pupil
    (RRU-BEE = teacher / my master / my lord / Rabbi) ,
    (MAAL-PAA-NAA (M) / MAAL-PAAN-TAA (F) = teacher / learner).

    YAA-QOO-RRAA
    - - - - heavy / very meaningful
    QAA-LOO-LAA (light / not heavy)
    Writing the letter
  • Starting from right to left, write a short u (straight line if proceeded by another letter to the left) with right side of letter higher than left side.





  • KAP

    (Equivilant "K")

    CHAA-RRAA - - - - remedy / solution / that which corrects or counteracts an evil of any kind.

    KTAA-VAA - - - KAA-TAA-VAA - - - - book / letter / mail
    KAA-TAA-VAA = writer (one who writes).    BET URR-KEH = house of archives (library)

    KAAL-DAA-YAA (M)/ KUL-DE-TAA (F)
    - - - - a Chaldean
    (a tribe of Babylon) person. In modern times, "Chaldean" is a misnomer
    for "Assyrian-Catholic". Rome (which hates and envies the stubborn
    Eastern-Orthodox Assyrians for their triumphs over Asia and there
    unwillingness to accept Roman rule and Catholic doctrine) ,siezed their
    opprotunity to divide us (very succesfully). Instigated in 1551 by
    Pope Julius III and sealed with the consent of the Ottomans (in conjuntion
    with Rome) in 1844. Read the full details part one and part two. Written by an "Assyrian-Catholic".
    Rome acknowledges it's role in the "Chaldean" division, so should you.
    Writing the letter
  • Starting from bottom right-hand corner, make a curved line upward.
  • From bottom right, connect bottom of curved line and make horizontal line towards left. This letter is wider than Resh or Dalat

  • NOTE: Placing a MAJLEEAANAA ( ~ ) under KAP turns the
    NOTE: letter to CHAP with a "CH" sound.

    NOTE: Placing a DIPA under Kap changes the sound to a "KH"
    NOTE: sound (same as the KHET letter).




    LAMADH

    (Equivilant to "L").

    LEE-SHAA-NAA - - - - tounge / language
    LU-AA-ZAA = dialect.   RRIT-MAA = pronounciation.

    LOO-KHAA - - - - tablet / a writing tablet / a flat piece of material to write, paint, or draw.

    LOOP OO MAA-LIP
    - - - - learn (verb) and teach (verb)







    Writing the letter
  • From left to right, above top baseline, make a slanted line to lower base line.
  • From right to left, connect bottom of line and join a horizontal line, making end and upward slant (do not beyond top of slanted line).


  • NOTE: The slash on top of a letter makes it silent and are called
    NOTE: "AATWAAT'E TLEEQ'E". Just like the letter "K"
    NOTE: in the word "Knob" or "Know", you need it for proper spelling






    MEEM

    (Equivilant to "M")

    [MOO-RRAA-KHAAS - - - - vacation / leave of absence / forlough
    SAA-PAARR = travel.    SAA-PAARR-CHEE = traveler.

    MU-DN-KHAA - - - - East
    GURR-BYAA = North.    MU-AARR-WAARR = West.    TUY-MNAA = South.

    MISH-TOO-TAA - - - - party / feast
    (haaflaa is arabic. ) KNOOSH-YAA D AA-TORR-AA-Y'E = Assyrian convention.     PIT-QAA = ticket.
    Writing the letter
  • From right to left, make an upsidedown u.
  • On left lower side of the upsidedown u, make a short upward slanted line.
  • Make a short horizontal line from right to left a little beyone top of slanted line.





  • NOON

    (Equivilant to "N".)

    NAA-GIS-TAAN - - - - suddenly / all of a sudden

    NEE-KHAA - - - - slowly.
    (JUL-D'E = quick / rapid / swift.)

    NOOS-'TD'OORR-NAA-YAA - - - - Nestorian.
    Another succesful attempt by Rome to belittle us and our achievements. Who
    were these Syriac-Aramaic speaking people who spread Christianity like
    wild-fire to all of Asia from Pakistan to China. And this before the Catholics
    go there. They tried to destroy the evidence (not succesfully) and
    blacklist us as "Nestorian" which is labeling us as heritics. It is the
    equivelant of calling someone a communist to tarnish our credibility.
    Nestorius was a bishop of Constantinople around 428A.D.. He believed
    in two bodies of Jesus, one divine and one human. He also argued that
    since Mary gave birth to the human form, and was the passive recipient
    of the divine form, she could not be the mother of God. He was then
    exiled to Egypt. Nothing to do with Assyrians. Eastern-Orthodox
    have always zealously rejected this misnomer for the past 1500 years.
    Writing the letter
  • Begin with a tiny horizontal line and then make a downward slightly angular line.
  • Connect bottom of line and make a horizontal line.




  • SIMKAT

    (Equivilant to "S")

    SOO-RRAA-YAA (M) / SOO-RRE-TAA (F) - - - - an Assyrian.
    An incorrect term. Translated, it means "Syriac-Speaking Christian".
    We are the only nation to change our name to refer to our religion.
    Correctly refer to yourself as an AA-SHOO-REE or
    AA-TO-RRAA-YA / AA-TO-RRE-TA. Christianity is our religion, not our nationality.
    (SOO-RRIT = Syriac) - (AA-RRAA-MAA-EET = Aramaic)


    SAAH-DAA / SAAH-DOO-TAA - - - - martyr / martyrdom
    YOM D SAAH-DEH = Martyr's Day. August 7th marks the day of mourning for Assyrians around the world and to acknowledge the hundreds of thousands of Assyrian, Armenian, and Greek lives that were lost to the muslims. August 7th was the date on which the Iraqis massacred tens of thousands of lives in Simele, Iraq in the year 1933.

    SUH-RRAA - - - - moon.
    SHIM-SHAA = sun.     KUKH-WAA = star.
    Writing the letter
  • From bottom right, make a short curved line upward.
  • From bottom of curved line, make an upward slanted line and continue with a semi-circle.
  • Finish off with a curved line towards left (if Simkath is the final letter in a word, make last curved line point downward a little past base line.




  • AIH

    (No equivilant, but like the first letter of Alley)

    EE-DAA - - - - festival / a time of feasting or celebration / a feast / an aniversary day of joy.
    EE-DAA GOO-RRAA = Easter.    EE-DAA SOO-RRAA = Christmas.
    SHAAH-RRAA = means the same as EE-DAA, but we dont' use combination words (as above) to associate Easter or Christmas.

    AA-ZEEZ - - - - a person or thing very dear to you
    AA-ZEE-ZEE (m) / / AA-ZIZ-TEE = one dear to me.

    AA-SHIQ - - - - excessive or enthusiastic passion or love
    Writing the letter
  • Leftward, make a very short horizontal line on base line.
  • From left of horizontal line, make an upward line.
  • From left of horizontal line, make a vertical line (do not go past top of slanted line.)




  • PEH

    (Equivilant to "P")

    POO-SHAAQ MI-L'E - - - - dictionary.
    KOO-NAA MI-LEH = lexicon.   MI-LAA = word.    KOO-NAA-SHAA = collection
    POO-SHAAQ-TAA = explanation / interpretation / translation
    Sometimes, we incorrectly use the Greek word, LIK-SEE-QON = lexicon.
    KHAASH-KHAA-TEH = the ancient word for dictionary (rarely used).

    PRAAS-TAA - - - - spreading
    PRAS QAA-LAA = spreading of sound (modern equivelant of radio)
    PRAS KHIZ-WAA = spreading of vision (modern equivelant of TV)


    PAA-RRIQ
    - - - - rescue / save (verb). Also means finish (verb)
    PAAR-QAA-NAA = savior

    Writing the letter
  • Make a downward slanted line (upward if porceeded by a letter).
  • From top, make a half circle and close it with the slanted line.
  • From bottom of horizontal line, make a line along base.

    NOTE: Placing a half-circle under Peh turns the letter
    NOTE: into a "F" sound. (Example: FILISTINAAYAA (Palastinian))




  • SAD'E

    (Equivilant to double "SS".)

    SLEE-WAA - - - - cross
    NEE-SHUN-QAA D MSHEE-KHAA-YOO-TAA = symbol of Christianity.
    ZQEE-PAA = crucifix / cross.


    SOOP-RRAA - - - - Food placed on a spread cloth or on a table to be partaken of. / Table-cloth / a cloth for covering a table, before the dishes are set on for meals.

    SAA-YAA-DAA
    - - - - hunter.
    B-SYAA-DAA = hunting (verb).    SE-DAA = hunting (noun)
    Writing the letter
  • From right above base line, make a u.
  • From left of u, make a slightly curved line downward below base line(do not go beyond right of u).
  • At the bottom end of curved line, make a horizontal line.




  • QOP

    (No equivilant, but between "Q" and "K")

    QAA-DOO-SAA . . . - - - - example . . . / for example . . .

    QOO-WUT - - - - strength / endurance / possesing power
    KHE-LAA = strength / power / force / might ,
    ZU-BOON = weak / feeble / deficient in physical strength.

    QURR-'TD'E-SAA
    - - - - diploma / degree
    Writing the letter
  • Make a downward vertical line (upward if preceeded by a letter).
  • Make a very slight u from top right of vertical line to right.
  • From left of very slight u, make a curved, slanted line and connect the bottom of vertical line.
  • Make a very short, slightly curved line from bottom-left of letter.




  • RESH

    (Equivilant to "R" (with a rolling of the tounge))

    RRAA-WAA-YAA (M)/ RRAA-WE-TAA (F) - - - - a drunk person
    SAA-LEE-LAA (M) / SAA-LIL-TAA (F) = lucid/sober

    RROOZ-NAA-MAA - - - - newspaper / daily paper
    SPAARR ZONAA = another word for newspaper that is more proper.    (JEREEDAA is arabic)

    RRAA-ZEE
    - - - - acceptable / willing / favorable / in mind.
    RRDAAY-TAA = approval / satisfaction / being pleased with
    Writing the letter
  • From right to left, make a horizontal line on base line.
  • Beginning from right side of line, make a short curved line above horizontal line.
  • Make a short horizontal line above letter.


  • NOTE: Modern Assyrians use a DIPA (dot) instead of the line.
    NOTE: I choose the classical way when learning how to write.
    NOTE: It is easier to differentiate the zow'e (vowels)
    NOTE: when you use a line.
    NOTE: After you learn to read and write, switch to a dipa.



    SHEEN

    (Equivilant to "SH")

    SHAA-PEE-RRAA (M) / SHAA-PIRR-TAA (F) - - - - beautiful / pretty
    SAA-WAA-NAA (M) / SAA-WAAN-TAA (F) = ugly.

    SHIT-RRUNJ - - - chess.
    DUM-AAH = checkers.     NURRD-TUKH-TAA = backgammon.

    SHLAA-MAA
    - - - - peace.
    When used in a greeting ("Peace be among you"), you say "SHLAA-MAA-LOOKH (M)"
    (broken down: Shlama Alookh) and SHLAA-MAA-LAAKH (F) (broken down: Shlama alakh).
    Or, you may say SHLAA-MAA-UM-OOKH (M) and SHLAA-MAA-UM-AAKH (F), "Peace be with you".
    Writing the letter
  • Leftward, make a very short horizontal line, then follow through an upward stroke
  • Leftward again, make a horizontal line on top of letter.
  • From middle of letter and make a very short downward stroke followed through by a horizontal line.




  • TAW

    (Equivilant to "T")

    TO-RRAA GOOL-PI-NAA - - - - winged bull
    TO-RRAA = bull.     GOOL-PAA | GOOL-PAA-NEH = wing | wings.
    TAA-WIRR-TAA = cow.


    TUSH-EE-TAA - - - - history
    (taarriq is arabic.)

    TUL-MEE-DEH
    - - - - Desciples
    PO-LOOS SHLEE-KHAA (Apostle Paul).   PEE-LEE-POS = Phillip.    TO-MAA = Thomas.
    YO-KHU-NAAN = John.     YAA-QOO = James.     TU-DAAY = Thaddeus.
    BURR-TOOL-MEH = Bartholomew.     UN-DRRE-OS = Andrew.     SHI-MON = Simon.
    ME-TEH = Mathew
    .    EE-HOO-DAA = Judas

    Writing the letter
  • Beginning on right side above top line, make a long slanted slope downward (upward if preceeded by a letter) toward the right.
  • On top of line, downward to the left, draw a slanted line to base line.
  • From bottom right of line, connect a wavy line and draw towards right stopping short of other line




  • TAW-ALAP

    (Equivilant to "TA")


    SIP-RRAA-YOO-TAA - - - - liturature / a person of liturary status / highly intellectual
    SIP-RRAA-YAA (m) / / SIP-RE-TAA (f) = literate person

    BTOOL-TAA - - - virgin (f).
    MURR-YAAM BTOOL-TAA (Virgin Mary). Derived from the words MAARR-YAA (the Lord) & YI-MAA (mother)
    BTOO-LAA = chaste (M) (chaste used for males instead of virgin).

    MUD-RRAASH-TAA - - - school
    MUD-RRAASH-TAA EE-LE-TAA = usually used as highschool.
    MU-DRRAA-SAA = school is arabic.      BET SO-BEH = university.

    Writing the letter
  • From right to left, make a half-circle.
  • Make a straight line at a 45 degree angle..
  • To the right of the left tip of the angle, draw a dot.
  • In a circular fashion, draw a curved line (you are now making Alap).
  • Finish off (without lifting your pencil) by connecting the bottom left of the semi-circle with a straight line..


  • NOTE: This letter is not part of the 22. It is a combination of TAW and ALAP and
    NOTE: is sometimes used at the end of words. You will see this letter often.




    Special Notes

    The sentence structure is close to that of latin languages like Spanish or French.  Instead of saying "Sargon's book", we say, "book of Sargon" (KTAA-VAA D SARR-GON), or, instead of "Assyrian flag", we say "Flag of Assyria" (AA-TAA D AA-TORR). 

    Other grammatical rules would be  object-adjective instead of adjective-object.  So instead of saying "large tower", we say "tower large" (BOORR-JAA GOO-RRAA), or, instead of "dark tea", we say, "tea dark" (CHAAY TOKH).  If you translate directly from English, you may confuse yourself.  If you know the basics of a latin language or other semetic languages, these rules should be very easy to comprehend.

    Don't worry about this now, but when you excel in the Aramaic language, keep these letters in mind.
    Dalat ,    lamad   and     waw.   By themselves, they mean something and are combined with the the second word of a combination sentence.

    Dalat    (pronounced ID when combined)             = of / symbolizes possesion
    lamad     (pronounced IL when combined)           = on / onto / to

    waw   (pronounced OO when combined)            = and

    In this lesson, I separate the letter from the combined word to make it easier to differentiate. For example,  if the word begins with d or the AD@ sounding letter, d .  It is easier in the beginning to read and write  "go to nineveh" than "go tonineveh" or "love and unity" than "love andunity", or "flag of Assyria" than "flag ofAssyria".

    Click to listen to below words.

      (AA-TAA D AA-TOR) should be written  .
    It also should be pronounced, AA-TID AA-TORR.   

      (KHOO-BAA OO KHOO-YAA-DAA) should be written  .
    When using Waw as the word Aand@, it is pronounced the same as above.

      (KHOOSH L NIN-WAA) should be written  .
    It also should be pronounced, KHOOSH-IL NIN-WAA.

    Enjoy one of the three major languages of the bible (Hebrew and Greek are the others).  It is through God's strength that our language has survived such enormous odds and tragedies, especially since 700AD.  However, assimilation in the West cuts as a sword does in the East.  Survival of the language begins with the individual.




    Links on this table will be filled as time permits

  • Vowels
  • Estrangela Letters
  • Numbers
  • Time / Days / Months
  • Greetings
  • Family
  • Christianity / Church
  • General Rules
  • Going Out
  • Poetic Phrases
  • Colors
  • The Body / Face
  • Quizes
  • Food / Drink
  • Animals
  • General Phrases
  • Geography
  • Useful Words
  • Marraige / Wedding
  • Telephone Etiquitte
  • Sample Sentences

  • The voice and the spirit Mom behind the words.