Etymology

From Ancient Greek Εὐφράτης ‎(Euphrátēs), from Old Persian 𐎢𐎳𐎼𐎠𐎬𐎢 ‎(Ufrātu), from Elamite 𒌑𒅁𒊏𒌅𒅖 ‎(ú-ip-ra-tu-iš). Related is Akkadian 𒀀𒇉𒌓𒄒𒉣 ‎(^ÍDPurattu) (compare Classical Syriac ܦܪܬ ‎(P(ə)rāṯ)). The Elamite, Akkadian, and possibly Sumerian forms are either from an unrecorded substrate language, or from Proto-Sumerian *𒁍𒍏 burudu "copper" (Sumerian 𒍏 ‎(urudu)) with an explanation that Euphrates was the river by which the copper ore was transported in rafts, since Mesopotamia was the center of copper metallurgy at the period.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /juːˈfreɪtiːz/
• Rhymes: -eɪtiz