Aramaic Definition
a Semitic language that was the lingua franca of the Near East from the 6th century BC until the Arab conquest in the 7th century AD.
Using Aramaic: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "Aramaic" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The Aramaic language was widely spoken in the Near East during the time of Jesus.
Example
The Targums are Aramaic translations of the Hebrew Bible.
Example
The Dead Sea Scrolls include texts written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.
Phrases with Aramaic
Example
The Old Aramaic inscriptions found at Tel Dan are some of the oldest examples of the Aramaic language.
Neo-Aramaic
a group of modern Aramaic languages spoken by various communities in the Near East
Example
The Assyrian people speak a dialect of Neo-Aramaic known as Assyrian Neo-Aramaic.
Example
Many important works of Christian literature were written in Syriac Aramaic.
Summary: Aramaic in Brief
'Aramaic' [ˌærəˈmeɪɪk] is a Semitic language that was widely spoken in the Near East from the 6th century BC until the Arab conquest in the 7th century AD. It was the lingua franca of the region and was used for trade, diplomacy, and administration. The language has several dialects, including Old Aramaic, Neo-Aramaic, and Syriac Aramaic.
