'surah' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'sūrah' (سورة), where the word meant 'chapter' or 'portion' of a text.

'surah' was borrowed into European languages from Arabic (via scholarly translations and travel) and entered English usage to denote a chapter of the Qur'an, retaining the form 'surah' (also seen as 'sura' or plural 'suras') in modern English.

Initially and historically it meant 'a chapter of the Qur'an', and this core meaning has been retained in modern English usage.