noun
shiva
SHIH-vuh
noun
1
In Judaism, a seven-day period of formal mourning for a close relative.
"The family sat shiva for a full week after the funeral."
name
1
A major Hindu deity associated with destruction and transformation.
"The temple's central statue depicted Shiva in meditation."
How to Use Shiva
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the Jewish week of mourning, or the Hindu god of destruction and rebirth — two entirely unrelated words that happen to look alike.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the Jewish mourning custom with the Hindu deity — they come from completely different languages and traditions.
Common pairings
sit shiva
Word Forms
shivas plural
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The family sat _____ for a full week after the funeral.
Etymology
The mourning-period sense comes from Hebrew shiv'a, meaning "seven," referring to its seven-day length. The deity name is unrelated, from Sanskrit.