noun
Common
Israeli
ihz-RAY-lee
Israeli (noun) means a person from Israel or of Israeli citizenship. Example: “Several Israelis attended the international conference.”
noun
1
A person from Israel or of Israeli citizenship.
"Several Israelis attended the international conference."
adj
1
Relating to Israel, its people, or its culture.
"They tried Israeli food for the first time at a local restaurant."
How to use Israeli
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe word for people, culture, or things belonging to the country of Israel.
Common mistake
"Israeli" describes citizenship/nationality of the modern state; "Israelite" is the older, biblical term for the ancient people of Israel.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- Israelis
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Several _____ attended the international conference.
Etymology
From Hebrew yisraeli, formed from Israel plus the adjective suffix -i.
Synonyms
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Israeli citizen
national of Israel
Rhymes for Israeli
See all rhymes for Israeli →Frequently asked questions
What does “Israeli” mean?
The word “Israeli” means a person from Israel or of Israeli citizenship. In plain terms, the word for people, culture, or things belonging to the country of Israel.
How do you pronounce “Israeli”?
“Israeli” is pronounced ihz-RAY-lee (/ɪzˈɹeɪli/ in IPA).
How do you use “Israeli” in a sentence?
Here is “Israeli” used in a sentence: “Several Israelis attended the international conference.”
What part of speech is “Israeli”?
Depending on how it is used, “Israeli” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “Israeli” come from?
The word “Israeli” comes from Hebrew. From Hebrew yisraeli, formed from Israel plus the adjective suffix -i.
Is “Israeli” a common word?
“Israeli” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Israeli” have?
“Israeli” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person from Israel or of Israeli citizenship.
What is the difference between Israeli and Israelite?
An Israeli is a citizen of the modern State of Israel, founded in 1948. An Israelite is a member of the ancient Hebrew people described in the Bible, the descendants of the twelve tribes of Israel. One term is about present-day nationality, the other about an ancient people, separated by thousands of years.
What is the difference between Israeli and Jewish?
'Israeli' is a nationality — anyone holding citizenship of Israel, whatever their faith or background. 'Jewish' describes an ethnic and religious identity that spans the world. Many Israelis are Jewish, but not all; Israel also has Arab, Christian, and other citizens, and most Jewish people live outside Israel.
Is Israeli a nationality or an ethnicity?
Israeli is a nationality, defined by citizenship of the State of Israel rather than by ethnic origin. Israeli citizens come from many backgrounds, including Jewish, Arab, Druze, and others. It describes the country a person belongs to, not their ancestry, religion, or ethnic group.
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