Sumerian Lexicon
Online English to Sumerian Dictionary
I’m building this Sumerian-to-English online dictionary out as I post my Simple Sumerian Language Lessons, so if you don’t see what you’re looking for yet, check back later. And of course, you can find an extensive list of Sumerian language resources here.
a
a 𒀀 n., water; semen; progeny; canal; flood. part., suff., in, at, when (loc.); nominalizing suffix.
a-a 𒀀𒀀 n., father.
ab 𒀊 n., sea; opening; nook. part., inf., ergative infix -b- ‘by it/them’ when preceded by /a/; indirect object infix -b- when preceded by /a/.
a-ba 𒀀𒁀 pron., inter., who? (OS x2, OA x3, NS x20, OB x308)
áĝ 𒉘 v., to measure, check.
ak 𒀝 v., to do, act; make into; place. part., suff., of (gen.).
àm 𒀀𒀭 cop., he/she/it is.
am6 𒀭 cop., he/she/it is (OS).
ama 𒂼 n., mother.
an 𒀭 n., heaven; high. det., indicates the name of a deity. part., inf., 3rd person (pers.) infix when preceded by /a/.
a-na 𒀀𒈾 pron., inter., what? (OS x2, OA x1, NS x73, OB x394), why? (OB x10); poss. his/her (gen., loc.) (earlier periods) (a)na (𒀀)𒈾.
a-na-àm 𒀀𒈾𒀀𒀭 pron., inter., what? (OB x23).
a-na-aš 𒀀𒈾𒀸 pron., inter., why? (OA x1, NS x8, OB x68).
a-na-áš 𒀀𒈾𒀾 pron., inter., why? (NS x3).
a-na-gin7 𒀀𒈾𒄀 pron., inter., how? (OB x76).
a-ne 𒀀𒉈 pron., ind., he/she (OS x7, NS x9, OB x20).
a-né 𒀀𒉌 pron., ind., he/she (OA x1). part., suff., poss., (a)né (𒀀)𒉌 his/her (erg., dir.), variation used when his/her modifies a plural noun (earlier periods).
a-ne-ne 𒀀𒉈𒉈 pron., ind., he/she (OS x1, OB x3). part., suff., poss., (a)ne-ne (𒂊)𒉈𒉈 their (pers.) (abs., erg., dir., gen.) (with a 𒀀 (loc.)) (with ra/er 𒊏/𒅕 (dat.)) (with da/ta/šè/gin7 𒁕/𒋫/𒂠/𒄀 (com., abl., term., equ.)) (earlier periods).
(a)ni (𒀀)𒉌 pron., poss. his/her (abs.) (with da/ta/gin7 𒁕/𒋫/𒄀 (com., abl., equ.)) (with ra/ir 𒊏/𒅕 (dat.)) (with šè/iš 𒂠/𒅖 (term.)) (earlier periods).
anše 𒀲 n., donkey; equid; pack animal.
B
ba 𒁀 n., allotment, portion; wages. v., to give; pay; divide; distribute; allot. pron., dem., of this/that (gen.). part., pref., conjugational prefix; suff., poss., its (impers.) (gen., loc.); their (impers.) (gen., loc.).
bé (bi) 𒁉 pron., dem., this, that (similar to ‘the’) (x261) (ba 𒁀 gen.). part., suff., poss., its (impers.)(erg., dir.); their (impers.) (erg., dir.); its/their (impers.) when used modifying a plural noun.
bi (bé) 𒁉 pron., dem., this, that (similar to ‘the’) (x261) (ba 𒁀 gen.). part., part., suff., poss., its/their (impers.) (with ra/ir 𒊏/𒅕 (dat.)) (with šè/iš 𒂠/𒅖 (term.)).
D
da 𒁕 n., arm; edge, line; near, close. v., to be near, hold, protect. part., suff., with (com.).
diĝir 𒀭 n., god, deity. det., indicates the name of a deity (abbr. d).
dilmunki 𒉌𒌇𒆠 n., ancient city/territory near the Persian Gulf in modern-day Kuwait.
dù 𒆕 v., to beget; bear (a child); be born; build, create, fashion, make; transform, change; replace.
dub-sar 𒁾𒊬 n., scribe.
dumu 𒌉 n., child, son, daughter.
dúr 𒂉 n., anus, buttocks; dwelling. v., to sit (intrans. m. sg.); be seated; set down; break wind; occupy, dwell (transitive durun 𒂉𒂉 (h./m. pl.).
durun 𒂉𒂉 v., to sit (h./m. pl.) (trans.).
E
e 𒂊 v., to speak, say; do; water. part., suff., [performed] by (the agent); in, at, beside (directive); plural hamṭu (perfective) suffix; marû (imperfective) singular/plural suffix.
é 𒂍n., house; temple.
eden 𒂔 n., desert; plain, steppe, open country.
é-gal 𒂍𒃲 n., palace.
eme 𒅴 n., tongue; language; speech.
eme-ĝir15 𒅴𒂠 n., prop., the Sumerian language.
èn 𒇷 pron., ind., he/she (variation of e-ne) (OB). part., compound verbal nominal element.
(e)na (𒂊)𒈾 part., suff., poss., his/her (gen., loc.) (later version of (a)na (𒀀)𒈾).
en-na-bi-šè 𒂗𒈾𒁉𒂠 pron., inter., how long? (OB x2).
en-nam 𒂗𒉆 pron., inter., what? (OS x5, NS x1).
en-na-me-šè 𒂗𒈾𒈨𒂠 pron., inter., how long? (OB x4).
e-ne (𒂊)𒉈 pron., ind., he/she, him/her (variation: èn 𒇷 (OB)); to whom (OB); to you (pl.) (OB); dem., that one (pers.), inter., what? (OB x11). part., suff., plural marker (e)ne (𒂊)𒉈 (pers.).
(e)né (𒂊)𒉌 part., suff., poss., his/her (erg., dir.), used when his/her modifies a plural noun (later version of (a)né (𒀀)𒉌).
èn-ne-na-bi-šè 𒇷𒉈𒈾𒁉𒂠 pron., inter., how long? (OB x1).
e-ne-ne (𒂊)𒉈𒉈 pron., ind., they/them (pers.) (NS, OB) (variation: e-ne-e-ne 𒂊𒉈𒂊𒉈 (OB x2)). part., suff., poss., (e)ne-ne (𒂊)𒉈𒉈 their (pers.) (abs., erg., dir., gen.) (with a 𒀀 (loc.)) (with ra/er 𒊏/𒅕 (dat.)) (with da/ta/šè/gin7 𒁕/𒋫/𒂠/𒄀 (com., abl., term., equ.)) (later version of (a)ne-ne (𒂊)𒉈𒉈).
(e)ni (𒂊)𒉌 part., suff., poss., his/her (abs.) (with da/ta/gin7 𒁕/𒋫/𒄀 (com., abl., equ.)) (with ra/ir 𒊏/𒅕 (dat.)) (with šè/iš 𒂠/𒅖 (term.)) (later version of (a)ni (𒀀)𒉌).
denki 𒀭𒂗𒆠 n., Sumerian god of fresh water, creation, wisdom, and crafts.
den-líl 𒀭𒂗𒆤 n., prop., Sumerian god of air, wind, and storms; considered the binding force between heaven and earth.
éš 𒂠 v., to anoint. part., suff., by it/them (inst?); to(ward) (term.); personal suffix ‘they/them’ when the root verb ends in /e/; adverbial suffix.
G
ga 𒂵 n., milk. v., to bring, carry. part., pref., cohortative prefix meaning ‘let me/I shall’. part., suff., nominalizing suffix when preceded by /g/.
ga-ab-šúm 𒂵𒀊𒋧 n., seller.
gal 𒃲 v., to be big, great, large, mighty. adj., big, great, large, mighty.
gaz 𒄤 v., to kill, slaughter; break; grind; crush, smash.
gibil 𒉋 v., to be fresh, new; to make new, renovate.
gin7 𒄀 part., suff., like, as, just as; instead of; during (equat.).
gu-za 𒆪𒃻 n., throne; chair.
ĝ
ĝá 𒂷 v., to come/go. pron., ind., I (especially before a case marker ending in /a/—alternative reading of ĝe26 𒂷). part., suff., poss., my (gen., loc.); nominalizing suffix when preceded by /ĝ/.
ĝá-a 𒂷𒀀 pron., ind., I (Variation of ĝá-e 𒂷𒂊) (OB x2).
ĝá-e 𒂷𒂊 pron., ind., I (OS, OA, NS, OB).
ĝál 𒉌𒅅 , to exist; be (somewhere); to cause to be; to dwell.
ĝe26 𒂷 pron., ind., I (may be read ĝá 𒂷 before a case marker ending in /a/) (NS, OB).
ĝe26-e 𒂷𒂊 pron. ind., I (especially before the enclitic copula (alternative reading of ĝá-e 𒂷𒂊).
ĝir15 (gi7) 𒂠 v., to be native; local; domesticated. adj., native, domestic; noble.
ĝiš 𒄑 n., tree, wood; tool; organ; plow. adj., wooden. det., indicates a type of tree, or wooden object.
ĝu10 𒈬 pron., poss., my (abs., erg., dir.) (with ra/úr 𒊏/𒌫 (dat.)) (with šè/uš 𒂠/𒍑 (term.)) (with da/ta/gin7 𒁕/𒋫/𒄀 (com., abl., equ.)) (with um 𒌝 before the enclitic copula).
ḫ
hé 𒃶 part., suff., modal prefix meaning ‘let him/her/it’, or ‘he/she/it will indeed’.
ḫi 𒄭 v., to mix (up); process.
ḫuĝ 𒂠 v., to pacify; hire, rent; rest.
ḫuĝ-ĝá adv., hired.
I
ì 𒉌 n., butter, oil, fat, cream; oil container. part., pref., stand-alone agentive prefix ‘I’; conjugational prefix (indicates distance from speaker).
íb 𒌈 n., hips; middle. v., to be angry; to curse. part., pref., stand-alone agent prefix ‘he/she/it’ (impers.).
in 𒅔 n., abuse; insult, offense. part., pref., stand-alone agent prefix ‘he/she/it’ (pers.).
iri 𒌷 n., city, town, village, district. det., indicates the name of a city.
K
ka 𒅗 n., mouth; opening; beginning, origin; body part. part., suff., ‘of’ (gen.) (mutation of ak 𒀝 when anlaut /a/ assimilates to the proceeding vowel {ĝu10 + ak = ĝá-ka}.
kalag 𒆗 v., to be strong, mighty, powerful; to strengthen, repair. adj., strong, swift.
ki 𒆠 n., earth, area. prep., where. det., indicates a geographic location.
ki áĝ 𒆠𒉘 v., to love, show affection.
ki áĝ-ĝá 𒆠𒉘𒂷 n., beloved.
ki-šár 𒆠𒊹 n., totality; whole earth; horizon; everywhere.
ku6 𒄩 n., fish. det., indicates a type of fish or (semi)aquatic animal.
kug 𒆬 n., (precious) metal; silver; money. v., to be pure, holy, sacred; to purify, sanctify. adj., bright, white; pure, sacred, holy.
kur 𒆳 n., mountain(s), highland; foreign land; underworld, netherworld. v., to reach, attain; rise; to kindle, ignite; burn.
L
la 𒆷 n., abundance, plenty; luxury, wealth; joy, bliss; youthfulness; wish, desire; lust. part., spelling bridge between /l/ and /a/.
lú 𒇽 n., man, male; human, person.
lugal 𒈗 n., king; owner, master, lord.
lú-ḫuĝ-ĝá 𒇽𒂠𒂷 n., hireling; Aries (zodiac sign).
M
ma 𒈠 part., spelling bridge between /m/ and /a/.
me 𒈨 n., function, office, responsibility; divine power/decree. part., suff., poss., our (abs., erg., dir., gen.,) (with a 𒀀 (loc.)) ra/da/ta/šè/gin7 (dat., com., abl., equ.,)) cop., I am (OS), you are (OS, NS), they are (NS). v., to say, tell. adv., where?
me-a 𒈨𒀀 pron., inter., where? (NS x13, OB x117).
me-àm 𒈨𒀀𒀭 pron., inter., where? (OB x20).
me-da 𒈨𒁕 pron., inter., whence? (OB x14).
me-e 𒈨𒂊 pron., inter., where? (NS x4, OB x 5).
me-en 𒈨𒂗 cop., I am, you are (sg.).
me-en-dè-en 𒈨𒂗𒉈𒂗 cop., we are (pl.).
me-en-zé-en 𒈨𒂗𒍢𒂗 cop., you are (pl.).
me-eš 𒈨𒌍 cop., they are (OB).
me-éš 𒈨𒂠 cop., they are (NS).
me-na 𒈨𒈾 pron., inter., when? (OB x68).
me-na-àm 𒈨𒈾𒀀𒀭 pron., inter., when? (OB x11).
mi-na-še 𒈪𒈾𒊺 pron., inter., how long? (OB x5).
me-na-šè 𒈨𒈾𒂠 pron., inter., how long? (OB x13).
me-šè 𒈨𒂠 pron., inter., whither? (OB x42).
me-ta 𒈨𒋫 pron., inter., whence? (OB x12).
me(te) 𒈨𒋼 n., body, self, one’s own; creates a reflexive pronoun (with te 𒋼, used before 3rd person pronouns) (OS x5) (NS and OB variation of ní(te) 𒉎(𒋼)).
mi-na-ši 𒈪𒈾𒅆 pron., inter., how long? (OB x2).
mu𒈬 n., name; word; oath; year; entry (line on a tablet). v., to name; speak.
mul 𒀯 n., celestial body, star, planet, constellation, meteor; arrow. det., indicates a celestial body or constellation.
mušen 𒄷 n., bird. det., indicates a type of bird, insect, or winged animal.
N
na 𒈾 n., man; incense; rock, stone; token. part., inf., ‘to/for him/her’ (dat.).
na8-na8𒅘𒅘 v., to drink; to irrigate, water (m.)
naĝ 𒅘 n., drink. v., to drink; to irrigate, water (m. na8-na8 𒅘𒅘).
nam 𒉆 pron., inter., what? (OB x17).
ne 𒉈 pron., dem., this/that (here) (NS x1, OB x14).
ne-e 𒂊𒉈 pron., dem., this/that (here) (OB x14).
ne-en 𒉈𒂗 pron., dem., this/that (here) (NS x1, OB x13).
ni 𒉌 part., inf., locative infix indicating ‘where’.
ní-bi 𒉎𒁉 pron., ref., itself.
ní…gíd 𒉎…𒁍 v., to stretch one’s self.
ní-ĝu10 𒉎𒈬 pron., ref., myself.
nin 𒎏 n., lady, mistress, owner, queen; lord (sometimes found in male names).
nin9 𒎐 n., sister.
dnin-ḫur-saĝ 𒀭𒎏𒄯𒊕 n., oldest Sumerian mother goddess, embodied in the mountains; synonymous with ki 𒆠, the mother earth.
nisi(g) 𒊬 n., greens, vegetables. adj., blue; green; beautiful. det., indicates a type of vegetable.
ní-te-ne-ne 𒉎𒋼𒉈𒉈 pron., ref., themselves.
ní-te-né 𒉎𒋼𒉌 pron., ref., his/herself.
ní-zu 𒉎𒍪 pron., ref., yourself.
nu 𒉡 v., to not be. adv., no, not, without.
P
paḫ 𒈜 n., leg.
R
ra 𒊏 v., to accompany; bear; drive; go; lead; multiply; mix, stir. part., suff., to/for (dat.).
re 𒊑 pron., dem., that, those (remoteness in space/time) (OB x113).
ré 𒌷 pron., dem., that, those (remoteness in space/time) (x2).
ri 𒊑 v., to be distant (OB x35); to cry out (OB x2). pron., dem., that, those (remoteness in space/time) (OB x34).
S
š
šè 𒂠 n., portion. part., suff., to(ward) (term.); personal suffix ‘they/them’ when the root verb ends in /e/; adverbial suffix.
šeš 𒋀 n., brother; colleague; assistant.
šúm 𒋧 n., garlic, onion. v., to give; lend.
T
ta 𒋫 part., suff., away from, out of; by means of; after, since (abl.)
ta-gin7 𒋫𒄀 pron., inter., how? (OB x3).
tum 𒌈 n., work, action; cross-beam; quiver (of arrows). part., Akkadian feminine suffix.
tur 𒌉 n., child; young; second [in rank]. v., to be/make small; to be insufficient; to reduce. adj., young, small, little.
tuš 𒂉 n., home. v., to sit, lie down (trans. h. sg.) (h./m. pl. durun 𒂉𒂉; m. sg. dùr 𒂉); to sing; to dwell, reside, be at home, settle; set up, establish.
U
ud 𒌓 n., sun; light; day; time; weather, storm. prep., when; since.
ur5 𒄯 v., to anoint, rub in (OB x1); to bake (OS x1); adv., downstream, downward. pron., dem., this/that (over there) (OS x1, OA x1, NS x2, OB x176).
uš 𒍑 n., foundation; distance; dimension; edge; man; penis. v., to support, lift; transport; join; be adjacent to. num., 60. part., suff., personal suffix ‘they/them’ when the root verb ends in /u/.
úš 𒍗 n., blood, gore; death. v., to block; die; be dead; kill. adj., dead.
dutu 𒀭𒌓 n., prop., Sumerian god of the sun, protection, and guidance.
Z
za 𒍝 pron., ind., you (especially before a case marker ending in /a/—variation of za-e 𒍝𒂊) (NS x1, OB x 127). part., suff., poss., your (sg.) (gen., loc.).
za-a 𒍝𒀀 pron., ind., you (especially before a case marker ending in /a/—variation of za-e 𒍝𒂊, which may be transliterated/read ze4-e 𒍝𒂊) (OB x 36).
za-e 𒍝𒂊 pron., ind., you (especially in conjunction with a copula) (may be transliterated/read as ze 𒍣 (OB x 11), or ze4-e 𒍝𒂊) (NS x1, OB x419).
zé 𒍢 pron., ind., you (OB x5)
zé-e 𒍢𒂊 pron., ind., you (NS x1, OB x 2)
zà(g)-mu 𒍠𒈬 n., new year.
zu 𒍪 n., knowledge, wisdom. v., to know; learn, discover; teach (m. zu-zu 𒍪𒍪); be experienced. part., suff., poss., your (sg.) (abs., erg., dir.) (with da/ta/gin7 𒁕/𒋫/𒄀 (com., abl., equ.).
zu-ne-ne 𒍪𒉈𒉈 part., suff., poss., your (pl.) (abs., erg., dir., gen.) (with ra/ur 𒊏/𒌫 (dat.)) (with šè/uš 𒂠/𒍑 (term.)) (with a 𒀀 (loc.)) (with da/ta/šè/gin7 𒁕/𒋫/𒂠/𒄀 (com., abl., term., equ.)) (with um 𒌝 before the enclitic copula).