beth

beth — noun

1. the second character in the traditional Hebrew alphabet

1.nounC2
Definition

the second character in the traditional Hebrew alphabet

Example

On the classroom chart, beth comes after aleph and before gimel.

order of letters in the Hebrew alphabet

Kian traced beth on the board during his first Hebrew lesson.

write or trace the letter during a lesson

Common collocations
  • the letter beth
  • Hebrew beth
  • write beth
  • circle beth
Synonyms
  • bet

    an alternative spelling of the same Hebrew letter name

Grammar Patterns

the letter beth

write beth

beth comes after aleph

Usage Note

Most learners meet this word when reading about Hebrew spelling, scripture, or the history of alphabets rather than in everyday conversation.

Common Mistakes

Beth is the second letter in the English alphabet.
Beth is the second letter in the Hebrew alphabet.
beth names a Hebrew letter, not an English one.

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • the letter beth
  • beth comes after aleph
  • write beth

Etymology

HebrewEnglish

Beth comes from Hebrew. The name is related to an older word meaning 'house', and in English it is mainly used when people talk about the Hebrew alphabet and its letter names.

First known use

1650

1650, in the meaning defined above