Hebrew is a language that was spoken by Jews in former times. A modern form of Hebrew is spoken now in Israel.
He is a fluent speaker of Hebrew.
2. countable noun
In former times, a Hebrew was a Jewish person.
...the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt.
3. adjective
Hebrew means belonging to or relating to the Hebrew language or people.
...the respected Hebrew newspaper Haaretz.
He sits puzzling over ancient Hebrew texts.
Hebrew in British English
(ˈhiːbruː)
noun
1.
the ancient language of the Hebrews, revived as the official language of Israel. It belongs to the Canaanitic branch of the Semitic subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic family of languages
2.
a member of an ancient Semitic people claiming descent from Abraham; an Israelite
3. archaic or offensive
a Jew
adjective
4.
of or relating to the Hebrews or their language
5. archaic or offensive
Jewish
Word origin
C13: from Old French Ebreu, from Latin Hebraeus, from Greek Hebraios, from Aramaic `ibhray, from Hebrew `ibhrī one from beyond (the river)
Hebrew in American English
(ˈhiˌbrʊ)
noun
1.
any member of a group of Semitic peoples tracing descent from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Israelite
in modern, esp. earlier, usage interchangeable with Jew
2.
a.
the ancient Semitic language of the Israelites, in which most of the Old Testament was written
b.
the modern form of this language, the official language of Israel
adjective
3.
of the Hebrews or their language or culture
4.
Jewish
Word origin
ME Hebreu < OFr < L Hebraeus < Gr Hebraios < Aram ivray < Heb ivri, lit., ? one from across (the Euphrates River)
Word lists with
Hebrew
Asian Languages, Ancient Languages
In other languages
Hebrew
British English: Hebrew NOUN
Hebrew is a language that was spoken by Jews in former times. A modern form of Hebrew is spoken now in Israel.
He is a fluent speaker of Hebrew.
American English: Hebrew
Brazilian Portuguese: hebraico
Chinese: 希伯来语
European Spanish: hebreo
French: hébreu
German: Hebräisch
Italian: ebraico
Japanese: ヘブライ語
Korean: 헤브라이 어
European Portuguese: hebraico
Latin American Spanish: hebreo
British English: Hebrew ADJECTIVE
Hebrew means belonging to or relating to the Hebrew language or people.
...the respected Hebrew newspaper Haarez.
American English: Hebrew
Brazilian Portuguese: hebreu
Chinese: 希伯来语
European Spanish: hebreo
French: hébraïque
German: hebräisch
Italian: ebreo
Japanese: ヘブライの
Korean: 헤브라이어의
European Portuguese: hebreu
Latin American Spanish: hebreo
All related terms of 'Hebrew'
Modern Hebrew
the official language of the state of Israel ; a revived form of ancient Hebrew
Hebrew-Aramaic
a mixture of Hebrew and Jewish Aramaic
Hebrew calendar
→ Jewish calendar
rabbinic
of or relating to the rabbis , their teachings , writings, views , language, etc
Jewish calendar
the lunisolar calendar used by the Jews , in which time is reckoned from 3761 bc : regarded as the year of the Creation . The months , Nisan , Iyar , Sivan , Tammuz , Av , Elul , Tishri , Cheshvan , Kislev , Tevet , Shevat , and Adar , have either 29 or 30 days. Originally a new month was declared when the new moon was sighted in Jerusalem , but when this became impossible , a complex formula was devised to keep Rosh Chodesh near to the new moon. In addition , to keep the harvest festivals in the right seasons , there is a Metonic cycle of 14 years, in five of which an additional month is added after Shevat. The year according to biblical reckoning begins with Nisan, and the civil year begins with Tishri; the years are numbered from Tishri
Chinese translation of 'Hebrew'
Hebrew
(ˈhiːbruː)
adj
希伯来(來)的 (Xībólái de)
n(u)
(= language) 希伯来(來)语(語) (Xībóláiyǔ)
related words
Related adjectiveHebraicHebraical
language note:
Many of the words which have come into English from Hebrew have their origins in the bible, and were part of the Jewish and Christian religions. A noticeable trend with religious words is that they spread into secular language as well. Two examples are amen and hallelujah. The literal meaning of amen is `certainly', and it is used at the end of prayers as a concluding formula. However, it has also passed outside the religious sphere to be used as an expression of agreement to a previous utterance. It is similar in function to `hear, hear' meaning `I agree'. Hallelujah, literally `praise the Lord', is an interjection used by atheists as well as believers as a general exclamation of relief. Another biblical word is behemoth, from the Hebrew for `beasts', which was used in the Old Testament with specific reference but has now become more generalised. The behemoth was a gigantic beast, possibly a hippopotamus. Its modern figurative meaning is that of any huge or monstrous thing. It is often applied to corporations or industries of the modern world in the same way as its synonym `giant', in expressions like the software/corporate/steel/banking behemoth. It retains the slightly negative connotation of its original meaning of `beast'.