name
Uncommon
Bethlehem
BEHTH-luh-hehm
Bethlehem (name) means a city in the West Bank traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Jesus. Example: “Pilgrims travel to Bethlehem every Christmas to visit the Church of the Nativity.”
name
1
A city in the West Bank traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Jesus.
"Pilgrims travel to Bethlehem every Christmas to visit the Church of the Nativity."
noun
1
An old, informal word for a lunatic asylum.
"The archaic use of "bethlehem" for an asylum survives today in the word "bedlam.""
How to use Bethlehem
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBest known as the biblical birthplace of Jesus; also the root of the word "bedlam."
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- Bethlehems
Fill the gap
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Pilgrims travel to _____ every Christmas to visit the Church of the Nativity.
Etymology
From Hebrew beth lechem, literally "house of bread," passed into English via Greek and Latin. The word "bedlam" is a doublet, coming from the same source through the nickname of London's infamous Bethlehem psychiatric hospital.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Bethlehem” mean?
The word “Bethlehem” means a city in the West Bank traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Jesus. In plain terms, best known as the biblical birthplace of Jesus; also the root of the word "bedlam.".
How do you pronounce “Bethlehem”?
“Bethlehem” is pronounced BEHTH-luh-hehm (/ˈbɛθ.lə.hɛm/ in IPA).
How do you use “Bethlehem” in a sentence?
Here is “Bethlehem” used in a sentence: “Pilgrims travel to Bethlehem every Christmas to visit the Church of the Nativity.”
What part of speech is “Bethlehem”?
Depending on how it is used, “Bethlehem” can be a name and a noun.
Where does the word “Bethlehem” come from?
The word “Bethlehem” comes from Latin.
Is “Bethlehem” a common word?
“Bethlehem” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Bethlehem” have?
“Bethlehem” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a city in the West Bank traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Jesus.
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