Meaning & use
synagogue
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Meanings
nouncountable
A building where Jewish people gather for worship and community activities.
Grammar: Countable; use 'a synagogue' or 'the synagogue' when referring to a specific one.
Patterns
- go to synagogue
- at the synagogue
- a synagogue service
They attend synagogue every Saturday morning.
The old synagogue is a famous landmark in the city.
She was married in the same synagogue as her parents.
nouncountable
A Jewish congregation or community that meets for worship.
Grammar: Can refer to the people rather than the building.
Patterns
- the local synagogue
- join a synagogue
The whole synagogue came together to celebrate the festival.
He is an active member of his synagogue.
Word forms
| plural | synagogues |
|---|
Common combinations
- go to synagogue
- Many families go to synagogue on Friday evenings.
- attend synagogue
- He attends synagogue regularly.
- the local synagogue
- The local synagogue offers classes for children.
- synagogue service
- The synagogue service was beautiful.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- synagogal adjective
- Relating to a synagogue.
Commonly confused: synagogue or church? synagogue or mosque?
synagogue vs church
A church is a Christian place of worship; a synagogue is Jewish.
synagogue vs mosque
A mosque is a Muslim place of worship; a synagogue is Jewish.
Practice
On Saturdays, many Jewish people go to ______.
Choose one answer.
The sentence refers to Jewish worship, so 'synagogue' is correct. 'Church' is Christian, 'mosque' is Muslim. 'Temple' can be used by some Jewish groups but is less specific and also refers to other religions.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “synagogue”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.