Jewish

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparable

   Relating to Jews, their religion, culture, or people.

   Grammar: Used before a noun (Jewish holidays) or after a linking verb (She is Jewish); it is not usually compared.

   Patterns

   • Jewish people
   • Jewish holidays
   • be Jewish

   My neighbor comes from a Jewish family in Toronto.

   The museum has a gallery devoted to Jewish art.

   Both of his parents are Jewish.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Belonging to or connected with Judaism as a religion.

   Grammar: Often used with nouns like faith, law, tradition, and community to talk about the religion itself.

   Patterns

   • the Jewish faith
   • Jewish law
   • Jewish tradition

   She studies Jewish law at university.

   The Jewish faith has many branches and traditions.

   He wrote a book about Jewish customs in Eastern Europe.

Common combinations

Jewish community

The city has a small but active Jewish community.

Jewish holiday

Our office closes for several Jewish holidays.

Jewish New Year

Jewish New Year is celebrated in the early fall.

of Jewish descent

Her grandmother was of Jewish descent.

Jewish history

He teaches Jewish history at the university.

Synonyms and how they differ

Hebrew

Refers mainly to the language or the ancient people; use 'Jewish' for religion and culture in general.

Judaic

A formal, technical word for things connected with Judaism as a religion; 'Jewish' is far more common in everyday speech.

Word family

Jew noun

A person who is Jewish.

Judaism noun

The religion of Jewish people.

Jewishness noun

The quality or state of being Jewish.

Commonly confused: Jewish or Israeli? Jewish or Hebrew?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “Jewish”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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