بيروت

[amirsherman]

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know if the word بيروت (which is obviously of Arabic origin) is related to بئر (well)?

Thank you in advance

 

[WadiH]

It is of Canaanite origin, not Arabic, and it means "wells" (plural of well). It is however cognate with Arabic بئر (well) (or more precisely, a theoretical Arabic plural بئرات or بيرات, though in practice Arabic uses a 'broken plural' form آبار or أبيار).

 

[Ali Smith]

It is from the Phoenician word 𐤁𐤓𐤕 brt.