hebrew

hebrew — noun

IPA/ˈhiːbruː/
KK[hˈibru]IPA/ˈhiːbruː/
  • hebrewsingular
  • hebrewsplural

1. the language spoken by Jewish people for thousands of years, now the national la

1.nounB1
Definition

the language spoken by Jewish people for thousands of years, now the national language of Israel

Example

Renata has been studying Hebrew for two years and can now read simple news articles.

collocation: study/learn/speak/read Hebrew

The library has a large collection of Hebrew poetry from the Middle Ages.

Hebrew poetry: noun phrase for cultural material in Hebrew

Common collocations
  • speak Hebrew
  • read Hebrew
  • write Hebrew
  • learn Hebrew
  • study Hebrew
  • modern Hebrew
  • biblical Hebrew
  • ancient Hebrew
  • in Hebrew

Usage Note

As with all language names, Hebrew is capitalized. It is uncountable, so you cannot say 'a Hebrew' to mean the language. The phrase 'in Hebrew' is common: 'The sign was written in Hebrew.'

Common Mistakes

She can speak hebrew.
She can speak Hebrew.
Language names are always capitalized in English.
I am learning a new Hebrew.
I am learning Hebrew.
Hebrew is uncountable; do not use 'a' before the language name.

2. a person who belongs to the Jewish people, especially one from the period of anc

2.nounB2
Definition

a person who belongs to the Jewish people, especially one from the period of ancient Israel

Example

Dario's essay examines how the ancient Hebrews organized their laws and festivals.

ancient Hebrews: common historical plural usage

Devika found a book about the daily life of the Hebrews under King Solomon.

Common collocations
  • ancient Hebrews
  • the Hebrew people
  • the Hebrews
Synonyms
  • Jew

    broader term used for Jewish people of any period; 'Hebrew' has a more historical or biblical tone

  • Israelite

    more specific to the people of the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah; 'Hebrew' can refer to earlier patriarchal figures

Usage Note

In modern contexts, 'Jewish person' or 'Jew' is far more common than 'Hebrew' when referring to living people. 'Hebrew' for a person is used mainly in historical, biblical, or archaeological writing.

Common Mistakes

Three Hebrews walked into a restaurant.
Three Jewish people walked into a restaurant.
'Hebrew' for a person sounds unnatural in modern everyday contexts.
He is a Hebrew from Tel Aviv.
He is Jewish and lives in Tel Aviv.
Use 'Jewish' for modern identity; 'Hebrew' is reserved for historical contexts.

hebrew — adjective

IPA/ˈhiː.bruː/
KK[hˈibru]IPA/ˈhiː.bruː/

Word family

  • Hebraic
    adjectiveC1
  • Hebraism
    nounC2
  • Hebraist
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All three terms refer to members of the Jewish people, but they differ in time period and connotation. 'Hebrew' (noun/2) is the oldest term, used in the Bible for the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and the early Israelites before the establishment of the monarchy. 'Israelite' refers specifically to the people of the united kingdom of Israel and its later divided kingdoms, emphasizing political and territorial identity. 'Jew' (from 'Judah') is the broadest and most modern term, used for Jewish people from the Babylonian exile to the present day. In writing, use 'Hebrew' for the patriarchal period (e.g., 'the Hebrew slaves in Egypt'), 'Israelite' for the kingdoms period (e.g., 'the Israelite prophet Elijah'), and 'Jew' for post-exilic and contemporary contexts. Modern speakers almost never call themselves 'Hebrews' in everyday conversation.

Hebrew ↗Jew ↗Israelite ↗

Common collocations

Prepositions

  • in Hebrew

Etymology

HebrewAramaicGreekLatinEnglish

The word 'Hebrew' comes from the Hebrew word 'Ivri' (עִבְרִי), which originally meant 'one from beyond' — referring to the patriarch Abraham, who crossed the Euphrates River into Canaan. The term passed through Aramaic and Greek ('Hebraios') into Latin ('Hebraeus') and then into English. In the Bible, it first appears as a name for Abraham (Genesis 14:13) and later for his descendants.