Syriac

Q: What type of writing system is Syriac?

Syriac is an Abjad used in the Middle Eastern region. It reads Right-to-left and contains 88 characters in Unicode.

Q: How many languages use the Syriac script?

1 language use the Syriac script according to Unicode CLDR data.

ܐܠܦܒܝܬ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ

Syrc Right-to-left Liturgical Abjad Middle Eastern

Sample Text

ܫܠܡܐ

Sample Characters

܀ ܁ ܂ ܃ ܄ ܅ ܆ ܇ ܈ ܉ ܊ ܋ ܌ ܍ ܎ ܏ ܐ ܑ ܒ ܓ ܔ ܕ ܖ ܗ ܘ ܙ ܚ ܛ ܜ ܝ ܞ ܟ ܠ ܡ ܢ ܣ ܤ ܥ ܦ ܧ ܨ ܩ ܪ ܫ ܬ ܭ ܮ ܯ

First 48 characters from Syriac (U+0700–U+074F)

About Syriac

The Syriac script is a cursive, right-to-left abjad used to write the Syriac language, a dialect of Aramaic that became an important literary and liturgical language of early Christianity. Syriac was the language of significant early Christian communities in Mesopotamia, Syria, and Persia.

The Syriac script has three main calligraphic styles: Estrangela (oldest), Serto (western), and Eastern Syriac. Syriac literature is vast and includes early Christian theology, chronicles, and translations of Greek philosophical works. The script continues to be used as a liturgical script by various Eastern Christian churches (Syriac Orthodox, Maronite, Assyrian Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic).

Data sourced from the ISO 15924 registry, Unicode CLDR, and the Unicode Character Database.

Script Family & Lineage

Ancestor Chain

Phoenician › Imperial Aramaic › Syriac

Languages Using Syriac 1

Syriac ܣܘܪܝܝܐ

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of writing system is Syriac?

Syriac is an Abjad. Abjads write consonants only; vowels are absent or shown by optional diacritics.

What direction does Syriac read?

Syriac is written Right-to-left, meaning text flows from right to left. Words and sentences begin on the right side of the page.

How many languages use the Syriac script?

1 language use Syriac according to Unicode CLDR data.

When was the Syriac script created?

The Syriac script originated around 200 CE.

Does Syriac have uppercase and lowercase letters?

Syriac does not have separate uppercase and lowercase forms. Letters are written in a connected, cursive style. Vowels can be marked with optional diacritics but are often omitted in everyday text.

Compare Syriac With Another Script

Direction, characters, languages — side by side.

Key Facts

ISO Code: Syrc
ISO Number: 135
Script Type: Abjad
Direction: Right-to-left
Status: Liturgical
Region: Middle Eastern
Characters: 88
Introduced: 200 CE
Languages: 1

Unicode Ranges

Syriac

U+0700–U+074F
Syriac Supplement

U+0860–U+086A

Script Properties

Has Case: No
Cursive: Yes
Vowels: optional

Official Use In

SY IQ IR SE DE