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noun

goy

goy

Goy (noun) means a non-Jewish person, from a Jewish perspective; a gentile. Example: “The novel follows a young goy who falls in love with a rabbi's daughter.”

noun
1
A non-Jewish person, from a Jewish perspective; a gentile.
"The novel follows a young goy who falls in love with a rabbi's daughter."

How to use goy

Learner’s notes
When to use it

Neutral in Jewish community use but can sound loaded or even derogatory depending on tone and context.

Word forms

goyim plural, goys plural, goyem plural, goyin plural, Goys plural

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The novel follows a young _____ who falls in love with a rabbi's daughter.

Etymology

From Yiddish goy, borrowed from Hebrew goi, which originally just meant "nation" and came to refer to non-Jewish peoples.

Origin: Hebrew

gentile non-Jew

Related words

Rhymes for goy

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Frequently asked questions

What does “goy” mean?

The word “goy” means a non-Jewish person, from a Jewish perspective; a gentile.

How do you pronounce “goy”?

“Goy” is pronounced goy (/ɡɔɪ/ in IPA).

How do you use “goy” in a sentence?

Here is “goy” used in a sentence: “The novel follows a young goy who falls in love with a rabbi's daughter.”

What part of speech is “goy”?

“Goy” is a noun.

Where does the word “goy” come from?

The word “goy” comes from Hebrew. From Yiddish goy, borrowed from Hebrew goi, which originally just meant "nation" and came to refer to non-Jewish peoples.

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