Damascus
/dəˈmæs.kəs/noun
The capital and largest city of Syria, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities.
Did you know?The city’s name is ancient and pre-Arabic in origin, and its exact earliest source is still debated, which is why Damascus feels like it emerged from the deep memory of the Near East.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Near East
Unknown
𐎄𐎎𐎔𐎕𐎊 / Dimashqa (reconstructed)
“An early Semitic form of the city’s name, likely referring to Damascus itself”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Δαμασκός (Damaskós)
“Damascus”
Latin
Latin
Damascus
“Damascus”
Old French
Old French
Damas
“Damascus”
Middle English
English
Damaske
“Damascus; also associated with the famed patterned cloth from the city”
Modern English
English
Damascus
“The city in Syria”