Syrian Arabic refers to any of the Arabic varieties spoken in Syria, or specifically to Levantine Arabic.
Characterized by the imperfect with a-: aà ¡á¹Âab âÂÂI drinkâÂÂ, aà ¡à «f âÂÂI seeâÂÂ, and by a pronounced þimÃÂla of the type sÃÂfaá¹Â/ysÃÂfer, with subdialects:
These dialects are transitional between the Aleppine and the Coastal and Central dialects. They are characterized by *q > ÃÂ, þimÃÂla of the type the type sÃÂfaá¹Â/ysÃÂfer and á¹£ÃÂlaḥ/yá¹£ÃÂliḥ, diphthongs in every position, a- elision (+t > , but +it > ), type perfect, þimÃÂla in reflexes of *CÃÂÃÂiC, and vocabulary such as "plow sole".
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These dialects are characterized by diphthongs only in open syllables: bÃÂt/bayti âÂÂhouse/my houseâÂÂ, á¹£à Ât/á¹£awti âÂÂvoice/my voiceâÂÂ, but àis found in many lexemes for both *ay and *aw (sÃÂf, yÃÂm). There is pronounced þimÃÂla. Unstressed a is elided or raised to i and u whenever possible: +t > , +it > , +it > , +t > , +ayt > , +t > , * > > , * > . The feminine plural demonstrative pronoun is , or . It can be divided into several subdialects:
In this area, predominantly *ay, aw > ÃÂ, à Â. Mostly, there is no þimÃÂla, and a-elision is only weakly developed. Word-final *-a > -i operates. Several dialects exist in this area:
Leans toward the Idlib and Coastal dialects. Preservation of *q, 2nd masc. inti, 2nd fem. inte, feminine forms in the plural , .
Preservation of interdentals. 2/3 pl. masc. ending -a: , , , . 2nd plural m/f inta - . 3rd plural m/f hinhan - . The perfect of the primae alif verbs are ake, axe. In the imperfect, yÃÂka, yÃÂxa. The participle is mÃÂke.
Characterized by *q > ÃÂ; preservation of *ç; six short vowels: a, ÃÂ, e, i, o, u, and six long vowels: ÃÂ, ÃÂ, ÃÂ, ë, à Â, à «.
Preservation of *q.
Characterized by *q > ÃÂ.
Preservation of interdentals and terms like alhaz "now".
Source:
Characterized by *q > k, *g > c [ts], *k > ÃÂ, and þimÃÂla of type *lisÃÂn > lsën. Distinctive pronouns are . aham and . suffix -ÃÂi. The suffix of the verbal a-Type is -at, and i-Type perfects take the form þÃÂlbis "he got dressed".
Characterized by preserved *q, *g > ÃÂ, and unconditioned þimÃÂla in hÃÂda. Distinctive pronouns are ahu - hinna, and . suffix -ki. The suffix of the verbal a-Type is -at, and i-Type perfects take the form þÃÂlbis "he got dressed".
Characterized by preserved *q and unconditioned þimÃÂla in hÃÂda. Distinctive pronouns are hunni - hinni. The suffix of the verbal a-Type is -at, and i-Type perfects take the form lbës "he got dressed".
Characterized by preserved *q and pronouns hà «wun - hëyin. The suffix of the verbal a-Type is -at.
Characterized by preserved *q and the changes masaku > masakaw# and masakin > masake:n# in pause. Distinctive pronouns are . hinne, and the suffix of the verbal a-Type is -at.
Characterized by *q > ÃÂ, and *ay, *aw > ÃÂ. The shifts *CaCC > CiCC/CuCC and *CaCaC > CaCà ÂC take place. The þimÃÂla is of the i-umlaut type. Distinctive pronouns are . suffix -ke. The a-Type perfects take the form á¸Âarà Âb and the i-type lbÃÂs. The suffix of the verbal a-Type is -et, with allophony á¸Âarbet - á¸Âárbatu.
Characterized by *q > àand þimÃÂla of the i-umlaut type. Distinctive pronouns are . suffix -a/-e. The suffix of the verbal a-Type is -at.
Characterized by *q > àand unconditioned þimÃÂla in hÃÂda. Distinctive pronouns are . suffix -ki. The perfect conjugation is of the type , similar to the qÃÂltu dialects of Iraq. Also like qÃÂltu dialects, it has lengthened forms like á¹£afá¹Âà"yellow [fem.]".
The Qalamà «n dialects have strong links to Central Lebanese. The short vowels i/u are found in all positions. Pasual kbër > # and yrà «á¸¥ > yrawḥ#. The a-elision is not strongly pronounced. Shortening of unstressed long vowels is characteristic: *sakÃÂkën > sakakën âÂÂknivesâÂÂ, fallà Âḥ/fillaḥën âÂÂpeasant/peasantsâÂÂ, or fillà Âḥ/filliḥën, as in Northwest Aramaic. Conservation of diphthongs and *q > àare common, as well as splitting of àinto àand à Â. As for negation, the type mÃÂ- -à ¡ is already attested along with the simple negation.
No interdentals
No interdentals
Conservation of interdentals, subdialects:
Conservation of interdentals, a-elision +t > , distinctive pronouns are . . Subdialects are:
No interdentals, conservation of diphthongs
These dialects have no interdentals, no diphthongs, and a reflex of *g > à ¾. The suffix of the verbal a-Type is -it, á¸Âarab+it > á¸Âárbit. The short vowels i/u are found in all positions. Demonstrative plural pronoun .
The Hauran area is split between Syria and Jordan and speak largely the same dialect
Dialects of Mount Hermon and Druze have a Lebanese origin
Shawi Arabic and Najdi Arabic are also spoken in Syria.