adj
Common
Jewish
JOO-ihsh
Jewish (adj) means relating to Judaism, the Jewish people, or Jewish culture and heritage. Example: “She grew up in a Jewish household that celebrated Passover every year.”
adj
1
Relating to Judaism, the Jewish people, or Jewish culture and heritage.
"She grew up in a Jewish household that celebrated Passover every year."
"The museum has a permanent exhibit on Jewish history in the region."
noun
1
A Jewish person.
"The community includes many Jewish families who settled here generations ago."
How to use Jewish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes anything connected to Judaism or to Jewish people and their culture.
Common mistake
Using "Jewish" as a slang term for "stingy" is an offensive stereotype and should never be used that way.
Common pairings
Jewish community
Jewish holiday
Jewish heritage
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Jewish.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- Jewishes
- Comparative
- Jewisher, more Jewish
- Superlative
- Jewishest, most Jewish
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She grew up in a _____ household that celebrated Passover every year.
Etymology
From "Jew" plus the adjective ending "-ish," tracing back through Old English to Latin and ultimately Hebrew.
Synonyms
View more →
Judaic
Hebraic
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “Jewish” mean?
The word “Jewish” means relating to Judaism, the Jewish people, or Jewish culture and heritage. In plain terms, describes anything connected to Judaism or to Jewish people and their culture.
How do you pronounce “Jewish”?
“Jewish” is pronounced JOO-ihsh (/ˈd͡ʒuː.ɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Jewish” in a sentence?
Here is “Jewish” used in a sentence: “She grew up in a Jewish household that celebrated Passover every year.”
What part of speech is “Jewish”?
Depending on how it is used, “Jewish” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “Jewish” come from?
The word “Jewish” comes from Latin. From "Jew" plus the adjective ending "-ish," tracing back through Old English to Latin and ultimately Hebrew.
Is “Jewish” a common word?
“Jewish” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Jewish” have?
“Jewish” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to Judaism, the Jewish people, or Jewish culture and heritage.
Is Jewish a religion or an ethnicity?
It can be both. Jewish describes followers of Judaism, the religion, but also a people and cultural heritage passed down through families and communities. Many people identify as Jewish by ancestry and tradition without being religiously observant, while others connect mainly through faith. The word spans religion, ethnicity, and culture together.
What is the difference between Jewish and Judaism?
Judaism is the religion itself — its beliefs, texts, and practices. Jewish is the adjective relating to that religion, and also to the people, culture, and heritage connected with it. So Judaism is what someone may follow, while Jewish describes a person, community, custom, or tradition tied to it.
What is the difference between Jewish and Hebrew?
Today "Jewish" refers to the people, religion, and culture, while "Hebrew" most often means the language, or the ancient Israelites of the Bible. Calling a living person "a Hebrew" is dated and best avoided. In modern use, people are Jewish; Hebrew is the language spoken and read in Jewish tradition.
What is the difference between Jewish and Israeli?
"Jewish" refers to religion, peoplehood, and culture, and applies to Jewish people anywhere in the world. "Israeli" is a nationality — a citizen of the state of Israel, of any religion or background. Many Jewish people are not Israeli, and many Israeli citizens are not Jewish. The terms are not interchangeable.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include Jewish:
