Etymology

From Old English Niniue under influence from Hebrew נִינְוֶה ‎(Nīnewēh), from Latin Nīnevē, from Ancient Greek Νινευή ‎(Nineuḗ), ultimately from Akkadian 𒀏 ‎(Ninua) or Old Babylonian [script needed] ‎(Ninuwā) of uncertain origin.^[1] The cuneiform seems to denote "House of Fish", although whether this referred to literal fish, an aspect of Ishtar, a separate Hurrian goddess, or something else entirely is unclear.^[2]

The traditional folk etymology in classical antiquity derived it from an eponymous founder Ninus (Greek: Νίνος ‎(Nínos)).^[1]

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnɪnɪvə/, /ˈnɪnəvə/