Dingir

Dingir (𒀭) is a Sumerian word most often translated as "god" or "goddess". Its cuneiform sign is 𒀭 (DIĜIR, U+1202D). As an ideogram, 𒀭 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 𒀭 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.