The word "ašphalt" is claimed to have been derived from the Accadian term "asphaltu" or "sphallo," meaning "to split."
ðə wˈɜːd "ˈæʃfɔlt" ɪz klˈeɪmd tə hɐvbɪn dᵻɹˈaɪvd fɹʌmðɪ ɐkˈeɪdiən tˈɜːm "ˈæsfɐltˌuː" ɔːɹ "sfˈæloʊ," mˈiːnɪŋ "tə splˈɪt."