Punic language

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July 13, 2026

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Punic was a dialect of the Phoenician language, spoken in ancient Carthage and its empire. It is closely related to Hebrew and Moabite, forming the Canaanite subgroup of Northwestern Semitic languages. The Punic language spread through Phoenician colonization across the Mediterranean.12

The earliest inscriptions in Phoenician date back to the 11th century BCE, while Punic, a later stage of the language, continued to be used in North Africa until the 6th century CE. Punic was influenced by the Amazigh language. Words from Phoenician and Punic can be found in ancient Greek and Latin literature. The Phoenician writing system, an alphabet of 22 characters without vowels, significantly influenced the development of most alphabets used today.2

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Canaanite languages
Moabite, Phoenician, and Punic. They were spoken in ancient times in Palestine, on the coast of Syria, and in scattered colonies elsewhere around the Mediterranean. An early form of Canaanite is attested in the Tell el-Amarna letters (c. 1400 bc). Moabite, which is very close to Hebrew, is…
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Moabite, Phoenician, and Punic. They were spoken in ancient times in Palestine, on the coast of Syria, and in scattered colonies elsewhere around the Mediterranean. An early form of Canaanite is attested in the Tell el-Amarna letters (c. 1400 bc). Moabite, which is very close to Hebrew, is…
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Phoenician language
…of the language, known as Punic, became the language of the Carthaginian empire. Punic was influenced throughout its history by the Amazigh language and continued to be used by North African peasants until the 6th century ce. Phoenician words are found in Classical Greek and Latin literature as well as…
Read More
…of the language, known as Punic, became the language of the Carthaginian empire. Punic was influenced throughout its history by the Amazigh language and continued to be used by North African peasants until the 6th century ce. Phoenician words are found in Classical Greek and Latin literature as well as…
Read More