Bethlehem
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.”
How to use Bethlehem
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBest known as the biblical birthplace of Jesus; also the root of the word "bedlam."
Word forms
Bethlehems plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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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