Turoyo language

Turoyo
Surayt/Suryoyo
ܛܘܪܝܐ Turoyo
Pronunciation[tˤuˈrɔjɔ]
Native toTurkey, Syria
RegionMardin Province of southeastern Turkey; Al-Hasakah Governorate in northeastern Syria
EthnicityAssyrians
Native speakers
100,000 (2019–2023)
Syriac alphabet (West Syriac Serṭo)
Latin alphabet (Turoyo alphabet)
Official status
Recognised minority
language in
Language codes
ISO 639-3tru
Glottologturo1239
ELPTuroyo
Neo-Aramaic languages, including Turoyo (represented in red colour)

Turoyo (Turoyo: ܛܘܪܝܐ), also referred to as Surayt (Turoyo: ܣܘܪܝܬ), or modern Suryoyo (Turoyo: ܣܘܪܝܝܐ), is a Central Neo-Aramaic language traditionally spoken by the Syriac Christian community in the Tur Abdin region located in southeastern Turkey and in northeastern Syria. Turoyo speakers are mostly adherents of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Originally spoken and exclusive to Tur Abdin, it is now majority spoken in the diaspora. It is classified as a vulnerable language. Most speakers use the Classical Syriac language for literature and worship. Its closest relatives are Mlaḥsô and western varieties of Northeastern Neo-Aramaic like Suret. Turoyo is not mutually intelligible with Western Neo-Aramaic, having been separated for over a thousand years.