# Elam

> English word · Proper noun · IPA /ˈiːləm/ · frequency rank #47,597

## Definitions
1. An ancient civilization and empire in modern southwestern Iran, existing between c. 3200 BCE and 539 BCE. Capital: Susa.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Elamite 𒄬𒆷𒁶𒋾 (ḫalˡᵃ-tam₆-ti /⁠haltamti⁠/)bor.
Sumerian 𒉏𒆠 (elamᵏⁱ /⁠Elam⁠/)bor.
Akkadian 𒉏𒈠𒆠 (Elamtu)bor.
Hebrew עֵילָם (ʿêlām)bor.
English Elam
Borrowed from Hebrew עֵילָם (ʿêlām), borrowed from Akkadian 𒉏𒈠𒆠 (Elamtu), borrowed from Sumerian 𒉏𒆠 (elamᵏⁱ /⁠Elam⁠/), borrowed from Elamite 𒄬𒆷𒁶𒋾 (ḫalˡᵃ-tam₆-ti /⁠haltamti⁠/).

## Easily confused with
- **em** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-em)
- **era** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-era)
- **EPA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-epa)
- **EVA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-eva)
- **Eli** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-eli)
- **elf** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-elf)
- **elk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-elk)
- **eta** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-eta)
- **elm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-elm)
- **ESA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-esa)
- **erm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-erm)
- **Ely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-ely)
- **ell** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-ell)
- **ema** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-ema)
- **els** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-els)
- **ele** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-ele)
- **Elo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-elo)
- **else** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-else)
- **exam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-exam)
- **Evan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elam-vs-evan)

## Common misspellings (5)
`ealm`, `elamm`, `ellam`, `elma`, `leam`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/elam