Dimashq
/dɪˈmɑːʃk/noun
The Arabic name for Damascus, the capital and largest city of Syria.
Did you know?The name’s deepest origin is still debated, but it is tied to a city so old that its name passed through Aramaic, Greek, and Arabic before reaching modern use.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Near East
Semitic
*Dimašqa / *Dammaśq
“An early Semitic form of the city name, likely referring to Damascus in pre-Arabic usage.”
Aramaic
Aramaic
Dammeseq / Damesq
“The city of Damascus, used in Aramaic-speaking contexts.”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
Dammeseq
“Damascus, the well-known Syrian city.”
Classical Greek
Greek
Damaskos
“Damascus.”
Arabic
Arabic
Dimashq
“Damascus, the capital city of Syria.”
Modern English
English
Damascus
“The modern English name of the city, borrowed through Latin and Greek traditions.”