How to Say "Syria" in Japanese

シリア

Shiria[ɕiɾʲia̠]

Syria in Japanese is シリア (Shiria).

シリア is the name used to refer to the country in West Asia.

Meaning: country in West Asia (name)

Which one should you use?

シリア is the standard name for the country, while シリア共和国 refers specifically to the Syrian Arab Republic.

Shiria

While シリア is written in katakana today, older Japanese texts occasionally used the kanji 叙利亜 to represent the country. These characters were chosen for their sounds rather than their meanings.
When referring to Syrian food in Japan, the term シリア料理 is used. However, because Syrian cuisine is less common than other Middle Eastern styles, it is often grouped under the broader category of 中東料理 or 'Middle Eastern cuisine'.
While シリア sounds like 'Syria', the Japanese pronunciation uses a distinct 'ri' sound り that is a flap, sounding slightly like a mix between an English 'r' and 'l'.

今日、シリアの文化について調べていたよ。
Today, I was researching about Syrian culture.
シリア共和国の美食に興味があるんだ。
I'm interested in the culinary delights of the Syrian Arab Republic.
シリアは西アジアにあります。
shiria wa nishiasia ni arimasu.
Syria is in West Asia.
シリアの歴史を勉強しています。
shiria no rekishi o benkyou shite imasu.
I am studying the history of Syria.
以前、シリアに行ったことがありますか？
izen, shiria ni itta koto ga arimasu ka?
Have you ever been to Syria before?

Yui and Yota are looking at a world map.

陽太 Yota

ここはどこですか？
Koko wa doko desu ka?
Where is this place?
結衣 Yui

ここはシリアですよ。
Koko wa Shiria desu yo.
This is Syria.
陽太 Yota

シリアはどんな国ですか？
Shiria wa donna kuni desu ka?
What kind of country is Syria?
結衣 Yui

とても古い歴史がある国です。
Totemo furui rekishi ga aru kuni desu.
It is a country with a very old history.

Sources

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