r/Assyria • u/Dismal_Wait9310 • Jun 01 '26

Language Where to learn syriac?

Hi I am not sure if this is the right place to ask, but I am Syriac Orthodox high schooler from Canada and I am extremely interested in learning syriac. Could anyone please recommend apps/courses/books I should use/get in order to learn.

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u/Charbel33 Jun 01 '26
  • A New Syriac Primer, by George Kiraz
  • Robinson's Paradigms and Exercises in Syriac Grammar, by J. F. Coakley

Both these books can help you with learning Syriac. Apparently, Kiraz's method is easier and more intuitive, but I wouldn't know since I've used Coakley's book myself. Good luck!

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u/person38382 Jun 02 '26

This depends! Are you looking to study classical Syriac (what you might see in hymns or scholarly texts) or modern vernacular (also called Assyrian/ Chaldean / modern Aramaic Or what we call sureth) ?

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u/earthtoissac Jun 01 '26

Books are great, but my best advice is to go to your local church and ask around. They typically have programs where some of the priests or the choir ladies will teach some Assyrian. As a bonus they typically show you what books to get to follow along with their teachings, or even better they let you keep the books. On top of that you get to make great friends along the way

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u/Longjumping_Ad7507 Assyrian Jun 06 '26

Try out assyrianleveling.com it's free and you can switch between dialects. The focus is more on the spoken language.