israeli

IPA/ɪzˈreɪ.li/
KK[ˌɪzrˈeli]IPA/ɪzˈreɪ.li/

israeli — adjective

  • israelipositive
  • more israelicomparative
  • most israelisuperlative

1. coming from or connected with the nation of Israel, its culture, or its citizens

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

coming from or connected with the nation of Israel, its culture, or its citizens

Example

Eitan's grandmother told him stories about life on an Israeli farm in the 1950s.

attributive use: Israeli + noun

The wedding musicians were all Israeli and played traditional songs from their home region.

predicative use: be + Israeli

Common collocations
  • Israeli government
  • Israeli army
  • Israeli culture
  • Israeli citizens
  • Israeli company
  • Israeli university

Grammar Patterns

Israeli + noun

be + Israeli

Usage Note

Always capitalised. Works both before a noun (attributive) and after a linking verb (predicative). The adjective does not change form for singular or plural subjects.

Common Mistakes

She is a Israel.
She is Israeli.
The country is called Israel; the adjective that describes nationality or origin is Israeli.
It was a Israeli company.
It was an Israeli company.
Use 'an' before the vowel sound at the start of 'Israeli.'

israeli — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Israeli and Israelite are easily confused but refer to different groups. An Israeli is a modern citizen of the State of Israel (established in 1948). An Israelite, by contrast, belongs to the ancient people of the Kingdom of Israel described in the Hebrew Bible and historical texts. Use 'Israeli' when discussing current events, politics, culture, or travel: 'Nora met an Israeli in Bangkok.' Use 'Israelite' only in biblical, archaeological, or ancient-historical contexts: 'The Israelites crossed the Jordan River under Joshua's leadership.' The two terms are not interchangeable in modern writing.

Israeli ↗Israelite ↗

Common collocations

Prepositions

  • from Israel

Etymology

HebrewEnglish

Israeli entered English in the mid-20th century after the founding of the modern State of Israel in 1948. It is formed from the name Israel (from Hebrew Yisra'el, the name given to the patriarch Jacob) plus the Hebrew adjectival suffix -i, which is also found in other nationality words such as Iraqi and Pakistani. The older term Israelite refers to the ancient people, not to modern citizens.

First known use

1948

1948, in the meaning defined above Noun