Gabriel

IPA/ɡˈabɹiːəl/
KK[ɡˈebriəl]IPA/ɡˈeɪbriːəl/

Gabriel — noun

1. in the Bible, the Quran, and other Abrahamic religious texts, an angel of the hi

1.nounB1
Definition

in the Bible, the Quran, and other Abrahamic religious texts, an angel of the highest rank who delivers God's most important messages. In Christian tradition, Gabriel announced to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus (the Annunciation) and told Zechariah that his wife Elizabeth would have a son, John the Baptist. In Islam, the angel Jibril (Gabriel) revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad.

Example

The angel Gabriel announced the coming birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary.

announced [event] to [person] — biblical context

In Islam, the angel Gabriel (Jibril) revealed the Quran to Muhammad over twenty-three years.

Common collocations
  • the archangel Gabriel
  • Gabriel appeared to
  • Gabriel announced
  • Gabriel visited
  • Gabriel revealed

Usage Note

Always capitalised when referring to the named archangel. The title 'Archangel Gabriel' appears in formal religious writing. In Islam, the Arabic name Jibril (جبريل) is more commonly used than 'Gabriel,' though English translations of the Quran use 'Gabriel.' The other named archangels in the same tradition are Michael, Raphael, and Uriel.

Common Mistakes

Gabriel is one of the angels of the church.
Gabriel is one of the archangels named in the Bible and the Quran.
Gabriel is a specific named archangel in Abrahamic traditions, not a general angel.

2. a first name for boys, used widely across Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and secular

2.nounB1
Definition

a first name for boys, used widely across Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and secular families around the world. It comes from the Hebrew name Gavri'el, meaning 'God is my strength.' Common short forms include Gabe in English and Gabi in Spanish and Portuguese.

Example

Gabriel moved to Taipei last year and now teaches English at a local middle school.

given name in everyday context

My friend Astrid named her son Gabriel after the archangel because she wanted a biblical name.

Common collocations
  • named Gabriel
  • called Gabriel
  • Gabriel + [verb]

Usage Note

As a given name, Gabriel is not capitalised differently from any other proper name. The feminine form Gabrielle is common in French-speaking countries. In Spanish-speaking countries, Gabriel is often shortened to Gabi. The name ranks among the top 100 baby names in the United States, the United Kingdom, and many Latin American countries.

Word family

  • Gabrielle
    nounB2
  • Gabe
    nounB2
  • Gabi
    nounB2
  • Jibril
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael are the three archangels named in canonical Abrahamic scriptures, though traditions vary on which angels hold archangel status. Michael is portrayed as a warrior angel who fights against evil and is often called a protector of nations; he appears in the Book of Daniel, the Book of Revelation, and the Quran. Raphael appears in the Book of Tobit (accepted in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles) as a healing angel who guides Tobias on a journey. Gabriel, by contrast, is the messenger angel — his role is to deliver important announcements from God rather than fight or heal. For example, Gabriel appears to Mary (Annunciation) and to Zechariah, while Michael fights the dragon in Revelation and Raphael heals Tobit's blindness. Learners encountering these names in religious texts can look for the action (delivering news = Gabriel; fighting = Michael; healing/protecting = Raphael) to tell them apart.

MichaelRaphaelGabriel ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • the Archangel Gabriel
  • angel Gabriel
  • Gabriel appeared to
  • Gabriel announced

Etymology

HebrewGreekLatinEnglish

From Hebrew גַּבְרִיאֵל (Gavri'el), composed of 'gever' (man, strong one) and 'El' (God), meaning 'God is my strength' or 'strong man of God.' The name entered Greek as Γαβριήλ (Gabriēl), then Latin as Gabriel, and finally Old English and modern English. The Arabic form جبريل (Jibril) comes from the same Hebrew root and refers to the same archangel in Islam.