Suwar
/ˈsuː.wɑːr/noun
The Arabic plural of surah, referring to the chapters of the Quran.
Did you know?Unlike the regular English plural “suras,” suwar preserves the Arabic plural pattern and is especially common in academic and Islamic contexts.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Arabic
Arabic
sūrah
“A chapter or discrete section, especially a chapter of the Quran.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
suwar
“The broken plural of sūrah; chapters or sections.”
7th Century
Arabic
sūrat al-Qurʾān
“A chapter of the Quran, as preserved in the Quranic Arabic tradition.”
19th Century
English
suwar
“Arabic plural used by English orientalists and Quranic scholars.”
Modern English
English
suwar
“The chapters of the Quran, used chiefly in Islamic studies and specialist writing.”