Syrakousai
/sy.raˈku.sai/noun
The Ancient Greek name for Syracuse, the Greek-founded city on Sicily.
Did you know?The name’s ultimate origin is unknown, suggesting Syracuse may preserve a linguistic relic from Sicily’s peoples before Greek colonization.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Greek Sicily
Pre-Greek
*Syrak-
“A proposed substrate place-name element; its meaning is unknown and the reconstruction is uncertain.”
8th Century BCE
Ancient Greek
Συράκουσαι (Syrákousai)
“The Greek plural place-name for Syracuse, likely reflecting the city’s original local name.”
5th Century BCE
Ancient Greek
Συρακόσιοι (Syrakósioi)
“The Syracusans, or inhabitants of Syracuse.”
Latin Antiquity
Latin
Syracusae
“Syracuse; the Latin form of the Greek city-name.”
Medieval English
English
Sirecusa
“A medieval English form referring to Syracuse.”
Modern English
English
Syracuse
“The modern English name of the Sicilian city.”