Euphrates

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Εὐφράτης (Euphrátēs), from Old Persian 𐎢𐎳𐎼𐎠𐎬𐎢 (Ufrātu), from Elamite 𒌑𒅁𒊏𒌅𒅖 (ú-ip-ra-tu-iš). Related is Akkadian 𒀀𒇉𒌓𒄒𒉣 (ÍDPurattu) (compare Classical Syriac ܦܪܬ (P(ə)rāṯ)). The Elamite, Akkadian, and possibly Sumerian forms are either from an unrecorded substrate language, or from Proto-Sumerian *𒁍𒍏 burudu "copper" (Sumerian 𒍏 (urudu)) with an explanation that Euphrates was the river by which the copper ore was transported in rafts, since Mesopotamia was the center of copper metallurgy at the period.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /juːˈfɹeɪtiːz/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -eɪtiz

Proper noun

Euphrates

  1. The river in the Middle East, 2780 kilometers in length, flowing southwest from Turkey, then southeast, and uniting with the Tigris before entering the Persian Gulf. It forms the Western edge of classical Mesopotamia.

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