Dingir (ð’€) is a Sumerian word most often translated as "god" or "goddess". Its cuneiform sign is ð’€ (DIÄœIR, U+1202D). As an ideogram, ð’€ represents the Sumerian word an (sky), and as a determinative, it indicates that the following word is a divine name.
In Sumerian religion, dingir denoted a deity or a divine being. The concept of divinity in Sumer was fluid, and beings designated as dingir could encompass a wide range of supernatural entities, from major deities like Enlil and Inanna to more localized or specialized spirits.
The use of ð’€ as a determinative was a common practice in Sumerian writing. Placing it before a name signaled that the name belonged to a god or goddess. This convention aided in distinguishing divine entities from ordinary individuals in written texts. The term is fundamental to understanding Sumerian theology and its written expression.