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    Home»Heritage»History
    @mycameralebanon | @libano_brasil
    5 Mins Read

    The Syriac Roots of The Names of Lebanese Cities

    By Souad LazkaniApril 7, 2020Updated:April 9, 2020
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    The Syriac language has impacted the way Lebanese people talk, even if they’re not aware of it. Many Syriac words have been adapted in the Lebanese language, and have influenced the names of beautiful Lebanese cities.

    Thanks to the ancient people who roamed the glorious land, many Lebanese cities acquired their names from different Semitic languages.

    Here are some Lebanese cities that actually have Syriac roots.

    AMMATOUR

    “Aamma d Tura” translates to “The People of the Mountain.”

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    A post shared by @mycountrylebanon

    ANDAKET

    The spring with little water.

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    A post shared by Andaket (@andaket)

    ASHQOUT

    “Asquta” means Rough and Insubordinate Land, which is a feature of the Kesserwan mountain region.

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    A post shared by Mohamad Machnouk (@mmachnouk)

    AINATA

    Syriac expression for The Water Eye, or Ain el May in current Lebanese

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    A post shared by Simon Destombes (@simondestombes_photography)

    AKOURA

    A combination of ‘ain’ (fountain) ‘qura’ (Cold), Akoura means The Cold Fountain.

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    A post shared by Lebanon 🇱🇧 Worldwide 🌍 (@lebanon_worldwide)

    AITOU

    Two different meanings for the name of this northern village are (1) “quayta”: the summer, (2) “ayta”: the anger.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B2xC9FxHu-2/

    BEHOUAITA

    From Syriac “bet te7wita” for a place with a view.

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    A post shared by Camping Freaks ⛺️ (@campingfreaks)

    BASLOUKIT

    A Syriac name referring to The Place of Ascension.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B7sbTQCnuyV/?igshid=dlg84pmf67cg

    BCHAMOUN

    Syriac Aramaic for the Temple of Eshamun, a Phoenician god.

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    A post shared by Live Love Bchamoun (@livelovebchamoun)

    BCHENNATA

    From Syriac “bet shinnata” meaning land of the towering high rocks and the serrated peaks.

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    A post shared by Alexy Derjany (@alexyderjany)

    BKASSINE

    From Syriac “bet ksin” for a place of the hidden.

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    A post shared by 🇱🇧 Libano Polski Tour 🇵🇱 (@libano_polski_tour)

    BAYKOUN

    From Syriac “bet yuqné” for a place where coins or icons are forged.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BqhnH4GjY83/

    BEJJEH

    The Syriac word for gardens.

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    A post shared by Ghady Elie Gebrayel (@ghadygebrayel)

    BTEDHI

    From Syriac “bayta d’awé” for The Howling Place.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BAFEQbgRKyq/

    BASKINTA

    The Syriac term for abode, the residence, and the place. You can learn more about Baskinta’s magnificence here.

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    A post shared by Live Love Baskinta (@livelovebaskinta)

    BAAKLINE

    From Syriac “beit aakline” for the place of knots and turns.

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    A post shared by Camera_Lebanon (@mycameralebanon)

    BALLOUNEH

    Different Syriac origins include (1) ballani/ballana: the bathroom, (2) appolon: the name of a Greek god, (3) abbiluné: the residence of the monk.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B91-UrtA6ol/

    BAZOUN

    Syriac for “the little hole”.

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    A post shared by Patrick Bou Farraa (@patriosbf)

    BIRE

    Similar to the Arabic word, it means the wells in Syriac.

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    A post shared by Ãdnãn M Merheb (@adnan_mer3eb)

    BEITEDDINE

    “Bet Dino”, the place of judgement.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B0gZQSapOLb/

    BISRI

    Some varying meanings for this town include: (1) besré: the meat or the cadaver, (2) bisra: the unripe grapes, (3) bet sri: the bad smelling place, (4) bet saray: the house of Sara.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B5fEQIGJBAx/

    BROUMMANA

    It could have Syriac origin as “bet rammana” which means the residence of the god “Rimmon”.

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    A post shared by Live Love Lebanon | Beirut 🇱🇧 (@livelovebeirut)

    BEIT CHABAB

    Syriac name for the house of the neighbor.

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    A post shared by Live Love Beit Chabab (@livelove.beitchabab)

    CHEBAA

    Syriac for satiety and abundance.

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    A post shared by 📍كفرشوبا (@kaf_rshouba)

    CHADRA 

    Syriac word for ‘the ambassador’.

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    A post shared by lebanon (@livelovechadra)

    DEBEL

    The Syriac word for dried figs. 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BsP8oq8hsOB/

    DEIR DOURIT

    Meaning the nun’s convent. 

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    A post shared by Fayrousa Nasr (@fayealnasr)

    DIMAN

    Syria for “the ideal”.

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    A post shared by Ziad Bedros (@ziadbedros)

    EHMEJ

    “Top of the Valley.”

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    A post shared by Pégor Yacoubian (@pegor.yacoubian)

    FALOUGHA

    From Syriac “palugha” for the distributor.

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    A post shared by Live Love Falougha (@livelovefalougha)

    FEYTROUN

    Which either means “the beautiful throne” or “the master”.

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    A post shared by VeneziaGardens (@veneziagardens)

     FGHAL

    This name could come from different Syrian origins: (1) pegal: the thickness and the softness, (2) pe ala: the work, (3) piggul: the garbage 

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    A post shared by Live Love Lebanon | Beirut 🇱🇧 (@livelovebeirut)

    FERZOL

    From Syriac “parzla” for Iron mine. Also, chemistry friends will know FE for iron. Coincidence?

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BMHjjzfAj1V/

    HEMLAYA

    From Syriac word “bet hmalé” for grain or harvest.

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    A post shared by Rayan Hilal | ريان هلال (@rayanhilal)

    IJDABRA

    The Syriac word for great luck.

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    A post shared by Live Love Ijdabra (@liveloveijdabra)

    JEB JANNINE

    The Syriac name for Basin of Gardens. The word ‘Jeb’ refers to a water well or water precipitation.

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    A post shared by Live Love Lebanon | Beirut 🇱🇧 (@livelovebeirut)

    JEZZINE

    The Syriac word for storage/safes.

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    A post shared by Live Love Jezzine (@livelove.jezzine)

    JENJLEYA

    Syriac for a haven.

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    A post shared by Aurélie F. (@aurelief)

    JRABTA

    The name may have different Syriac origins that mean either (1) grabta: the vessel, (2) grafta: the scooped, (3) krupte: the caves.

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    A post shared by We Are Lebanon ® (@wearelebanon)

    KFARDEBIAN

    The Village of Deers; Kfar means village.

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    A post shared by iDNES.cz (@idnescz)

    KFAR KILA

    The Bride City.

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    A post shared by Livelovekfarkila (@live.love.kfarkila)

    KFARSHOUBA

    The Village with Hot Weather. Note: Does the Syriac word Shouba remind you of any Arabic word?

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    A post shared by malak⚡ (@malak_portrayal)

    KFARHOUNA

    The Village of Young Siblings. The Syriac “ahouné” means young siblings.

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    A post shared by Mohamad Zinati (@mozinati)

    KFAR CHELLAL

    The Place of Stolen Goods.

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    A post shared by Waël (@waelvortex)

    KAWKABA

    Syriac word for planet.

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    A post shared by Photeugenique (@eugenie_elias)

    KFIFAN

    From Syriac “kfifuna” meaning the small convex place.

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    A post shared by Marwa (@marwaabass)

    MAGHDOUCHE

    Syriac word for people who collect the crops.

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    A post shared by Live Love Maghdouche (@livelove_maghdouche)

    MIYEH W MIYEH

    Miyeh is Syriac for water, so this name literally means ‘water and water’.

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    A post shared by منال نورزایي (@manal__rahal)

    NIHA

    Niha is a Syriac name that means the calm and the patient. 

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    A post shared by Son Ofz Beach (@sonofzbeach)

    QANNOUBINE

    This name might have two origins, the Syriac one being “monastery of the novice monk”.

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    A post shared by Líbano-Brasil 🇱🇧🇧🇷 (@libano_brasil)

    QOUBAIYAT

    From Syriac “qba” which means gather of water.

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    A post shared by Antoine Daher (@adaherinstagram)

    QURNAYIL

    From Syriac “qarna d ila” meaning The Summit of God (ila).

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9wutMSHXbu/

    RECHMAYA

    From Syriac “rish mayo” meaning head of water/spring.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-pGzt9Aw3c/

    REMHALA

    Syriac meaning sand hill.

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    A post shared by Remhala (@liveloveremehala)

    RAB TLATIN

    Syriac word for the guard over 30; it sounds familiar in Arabic too (tlatin).

    RMEISH

    Located in southern Lebanon on the Lebanese-Palestinian border, Rmeish’s name may have different Syriac origins: (1) ramshaya/ramsha meaning something to do with the night; (2) remis meaning calm; (3) ram ishay meaning the hill of Yassa.

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    A post shared by Rmeich (@livelovermeich_)

    SAWFAR

    Syriac word for morning.

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    A post shared by LiveLoveSawfar (@livelovesawfar)

    SARBA

    Syriac word for tower.

    SHBANIEH

    It could have two Syriac origins (1) shebabanaye: neighbors, or (2) sheba: the robber… (is the neighbor a robber?)

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    A post shared by Live Love Lebanon | Beirut 🇱🇧 (@livelovebeirut)

    SIN EL FIL

    The name literally translates to “the tooth of the elephant”. In Syriac, SHEN D FILA means the ivory, like the tusks of an elephant (fil).

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Pne31jq5Z/

    TARTIJ

    Mountain of the crown (or of snow patches).

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    A post shared by Lebanese Photography (@lebgraphyy)

    TANNOURINE

    Syriac Aramaic for smoke and fire or light. Check out Tannourine in 15 Photos.

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    A post shared by Reem🤍 (@reem.5o)

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    A post shared by 🇱🇧 (@mybeiirut)

    ZAHLÉ

    Syriac for moving places. 

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    A post shared by Live Love Zahleh (@livelovezahleh)

    ZGHARTA

    From the Syriac word ‘Zeghartay’ meaning the barricades.

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    A post shared by Lebanon Best Views (@lebanon.best.views)

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