syrian

syrian — adjective

1. belonging to or connected with the country of Syria or the people who live there

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

belonging to or connected with the country of Syria or the people who live there.

Example

The Syrian flag has two green stars above a white stripe.

attributive: Syrian + noun (flag)

Rohan found a Syrian restaurant in São Paulo and ordered kibbeh.

Common collocations
  • Syrian government
  • Syrian people
  • Syrian culture
  • Syrian cuisine
Synonyms
  • from Syria

    a phrase that replaces the adjective in informal contexts, e.g. 'a rug from Syria' instead of 'a Syrian rug'

Grammar Patterns

be + Syrian

Syrian + noun

Usage Note

Commonly used before a noun (attributive) as in 'Syrian cuisine,' but also works after linking verbs: 'The fabric is Syrian.'

Common Mistakes

She is a Syria.
She is Syrian.
'Syria' is the country name; 'Syrian' is the adjective form.

syrian — noun

Word family

  • Syria
    nounA2
  • Syriac
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Syrian' is the standard everyday term for a person from Syria, used in casual conversation and journalism. 'Syrian national' is more formal and appears in official documents, passport data, or government contexts. 'Syrian citizen' emphasises legal citizenship and is narrower — not everyone from Syria holds citizenship, and not all citizens currently live in Syria. For example: 'Élise married a Syrian she met in Berlin' (everyday), while 'Only Syrian nationals may vote in the presidential election' (formal).

Syrian ↗Syrian nationalSyrian citizen

Common collocations

Nouns

  • Syrian government
  • Syrian border
  • Syrian cuisine
  • Syrian community

Phrases

  • Syrian-born
  • Syrian-led
  • Syrian-owned

Prepositions

  • Syrian from + [city]
  • Syrian in + [country]

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

'Syrian' comes from the country name 'Syria' plus the suffix '-an', meaning 'of or relating to'. The name 'Syria' traces back through Latin and Greek 'Syria', which ancient Greeks used for the region around the eastern Mediterranean. The word is historically connected to 'Assyria', the ancient empire in northern Mesopotamia.