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noun Common

Jew

joo
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Jew (noun) means a person who is Jewish by religion, ethnicity, or descent. Example: “Her grandparents were Jews who emigrated from Poland in the 1930s.”

noun
1
A person who is Jewish by religion, ethnicity, or descent.
"Her grandparents were Jews who emigrated from Poland in the 1930s."

How to use Jew

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA member of the Jewish people or faith.

When to use it

As a noun for a person this is standard and neutral; however, older slang uses of "jew" as a verb meaning "to haggle" are widely recognized as an offensive antisemitic stereotype and should be avoided entirely.

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Word forms

Plural
Jews, Jewes
Third person singular
Jews
Past tense
Jewed
Comparative
more Jew
Superlative
most Jew
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Her grandparents were _____ who emigrated from Poland in the 1930s.

Etymology

From Latin and Greek forms of the Hebrew name Yehuda ("Judah"), originally referring to people of the tribe and later kingdom of Judah.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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Hebrew Israelite

Related words

Hebrew israelite

Frequently asked questions

What does “Jew” mean?
The word “Jew” means a person who is Jewish by religion, ethnicity, or descent. In plain terms, a member of the Jewish people or faith.
How do you pronounce “Jew”?
“Jew” is pronounced joo (/d͡ʒuː/ in IPA).
How do you use “Jew” in a sentence?
Here is “Jew” used in a sentence: “Her grandparents were Jews who emigrated from Poland in the 1930s.”
What part of speech is “Jew”?
“Jew” is a noun.
Where does the word “Jew” come from?
The word “Jew” comes from Latin. From Latin and Greek forms of the Hebrew name Yehuda ("Judah"), originally referring to people of the tribe and later kingdom of Judah.
Is “Jew” a common word?
“Jew” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between 'Jew' and 'Jewish'?
"Jew" is a noun naming a person who is Jewish by religion, ethnicity, or descent, while "Jewish" is the corresponding adjective, used in phrases like "Jewish history" or "a Jewish family." In careful usage, many people prefer "Jewish person" over the bare noun when an adjective would fit.
Is it more polite to say 'Jewish person' than 'Jew'?
Both are correct, since "Jew" is the standard neutral noun and "Jewish person" simply uses the adjective form. Many speakers and style guides favor "Jewish person" in careful or formal contexts, while "Jew" remains accurate and respectful when used plainly as a noun.
Can a person be a Jew by ethnicity without practicing the religion?
Yes; the word Jew covers religion, ethnicity, and descent, so a person can identify as a Jew through Jewish heritage and ancestry even if they do not practice Judaism. This is why Jewish identity is often described as both a religious and a cultural one.
Is 'Jew' always capitalized?
Yes; as the name of a people, Jew takes a capital "J," in line with other names of religious and ethnic groups. A lowercase spelling is not standard for this meaning.

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