Meaning & use
kibbutz
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Meaning
nouncountableregional
A farm or community in Israel where people live together and share work, property, and profits.
Grammar: Countable: a kibbutz, two kibbutzim. The plural is kibbutzim, from Hebrew.
Patterns
- live on a kibbutz
- a kibbutz in Israel
- join a kibbutz
She spent a summer working on a kibbutz near the Sea of Galilee.
The kibbutz grows dates and olives and sells them abroad.
Many young volunteers come to the kibbutz to help with the harvest.
Word forms
| plural | kibbutzim |
|---|
Common combinations
- on a kibbutz
- He lived on a kibbutz for three years.
- a kibbutz movement
- The kibbutz movement played an important role in the country's history.
- kibbutz members
- Kibbutz members share many of their daily responsibilities.
- work on a kibbutz
- Tourists often work on a kibbutz to experience communal life.
Synonyms and how they differ
- commune
- A general word for a shared living community; kibbutz is specific to Israel and usually has a farming base.
- collective
- A broader term for shared ownership; kibbutz refers to a particular type of Israeli community.
Word family
- kibbutznik noun
- A person who lives on a kibbutz.
Commonly confused: kibbutz or kibitz?
kibbutz vs kibitz
Kibitz means to chat or give unwanted advice, especially in a game. It sounds similar but has a completely different meaning.
Practice
What is the plural of "kibbutz"?
Choose one answer.
Kibbutz comes from Hebrew, and its plural is kibbutzim. Kibbutzes is sometimes heard but is not the standard form.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “kibbutz”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.