Euphrates (Latin)
Where does "Euphrates" come from?
The Latin proper name 'Euphrates' descends through a long chain of ancient languages, originating from the Sumerian river name '^(ÍD)Buranun'[1]. This name was borrowed into Akkadian as '^(ÍD)Purattu'[1], which subsequently passed into Old Persian as 'u-f-r-a-tu-u'[1]. Within Old Persian, the name underwent folk etymology to develop into 'ʰUfrātuš', literally meaning 'having good fords'[3]. From Old Persian, the term was adopted into Ancient Greek as 'Εὐφράτης'[1], finally entering Latin in its current form to designate the major river in West Asia as well as certain historical figures.
Open questions
- The Old Persian form is noted as having developed through folk etymology into a meaning of having good fords. [3]
Full etymology tree
- Euphrates (Latin), 'Euphrates (a river in West Asia)'
- derived Εὐφράτης (Euphrátēs) (Ancient Greek), 'Euphrates, a river in Asia'
- borrowed 𐎢𐎳𐎼𐎠2𐎬𐎢 (u-f-r-a-tu-u) (Old Persian)
- derived 𒀀𒇉𒌓𒄒𒉣 (Purattu) (Akkadian), 'Euphrates'
- borrowed 𒀀𒇉𒌓𒄒𒉣 (Buranun) (Sumerian), 'Euphrates'
- derived 𒀀𒇉𒌓𒄒𒉣 (Purattu) (Akkadian), 'Euphrates'
- borrowed 𐎢𐎳𐎼𐎠2𐎬𐎢 (u-f-r-a-tu-u) (Old Persian)
- derived Εὐφράτης (Euphrátēs) (Ancient Greek), 'Euphrates, a river in Asia'
Ancestors
- Εὐφράτης (Ancient Greek)
- 𐎢𐎳𐎼𐎠𐎬𐎢 (Old Persian)
- 𒀀𒇉𒌓𒄒𒉣 (Akkadian)
- 𒀀𒇉𒌓𒄒𒉣 (Sumerian)
Sources
- Euphrates (Latin) - Wiktionary
- Εὐφράτης (Euphrátēs) (Ancient Greek) - Wiktionary
- 𐎢𐎳𐎼𐎠𐎬𐎢 (Old Persian) - Wiktionary
- 𒀀𒇉𒌓𒄒𒉣 (Purattu) (Akkadian) - Wiktionary
Updated August 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris