# List of English words of Hebrew origin

This is a list of English words of Hebrew origin. Transliterated pronunciations not found in Merriam-Webster or the American Heritage Dictionary follow Sephardic/Modern Israeli pronunciations as opposed to Ashkenazi pronunciations, with the major difference being that the letter taw (ת‎) is transliterated as a 't' as opposed to an 's'.
There is a separate list of English words of Semitic origin other than those solely of Hebrew or Arabic origin.

## From Hebrew words
### abacus

    from אבק 'avaq 'dust' (AHD), probably from Greek ἄβαξ abax 'slab' (MW)

### agora (currency)

    from (AHD) אגורה agorah 'small coin' (MW), from Greek agora "an assembly of the People" from ageirein "to assemble

### aliyah

    from (AHD) עלייה 'aliyah 'ascent' (MW)

### almemar

    from אלממר 'almemar 'bema', from Arabic المنبر al-minbar 'pulpit' (AHD)

### amen

    from אמן 'amen (MW) 'certainly', 'verily' (AHD)

### armageddon

    from הר מגידו har megido 'mount megido' (AHD)

### baal

    from בעל ba'al 'lord' (AHD, MW)

### babel

    from (AHD, MW) בלל balal 'confound' (SC) + in part from Akkadian 𒇷𒄿 𒀊𒁀 bāb-ilu 'gate of god' (MW)

### bar mitzvah

    from (AHD) בר מצוה bar miṣwah 'son of the commandment' (MW)

### bath (volume)

    from בַּת bath (MW) '10 gallons liquid measure' (AHD) from Greek βαθύς (bathus), "deep",

### bat mitzvah

    from (AHD) בת מצוה bath miṣwah 'daughter of the commandment' (MW)

### behemoth

    from (MW) בהמות behemoth 'beasts' (AHD)

### bethel

    from (AHD) ביתאל beth'el 'house of God' (MW)

### bethesda (chapel)

    (OSPD) from (AHD) Greek Bethesda 'Bethesda' (WNW), probably from bayith chesed 'house of kindness' (SC)

### bris

    from (WNW) ברית b'rith 'covenant' (MW)

### brith milah

    from (WNW) בְּרִית מִילָה b'rith milah 'covenant of circumcision' (MW)

### brouhaha

    perhaps from barukh hab-ba 'blessed be he who comes' (WNW)

### cab (volume)

    from (MW) qab 'hollow vessel' (AHD)

### cabal

    from (AHD) קַבָּלָה qabbalah 'received (lore)' (MW)

### challah

    from (AHD) חלה ḥallah 'egg-rich yeast-leavened bread' (MW)

### chazan, hazan

    from חזן ḥazzan 'cantor' (MW) + in part from Aramaic, both from Akkadian (AHD)

### cherub

    from (AHD) כרוב kerubh 'celestial hierarchy angel' (MW)

### chutzpah

    from (AHD) חֻצְפָּה ḥuṣpah 'supreme self-confidence' (MW)

### cider

    from (AHD) שכר shekhar 'strong drink' (MW)

### copacetic

    disputed (MW) + perhaps from כל בצדק kol beṣedeq 'all with justice' (AHD), or כל בסדר kol beseder ‘all is in order’ (MW)

### cor (volume), kor (volume)

    from kor (AHD, WNW) '100 gallons capacity' (MW)

### corban

    from (AHD) קָרְבָּן qorban 'offering' (MW)

### dybbuk

    from דיבוק dibbuq 'wandering soul' (AHD, MW)

### edenic

    from (WNW) עדן 'eden 'delight' (AHD)

### ephah

    from (AHD) איפה ephah '1/10 homer dry measure', from Egyptian (MW)

### galilee

    from Latin galilaea (AHD, MW), from גליל galiyl 'circle', 'circuit' (SC)

### ganef

    from (AHD) גנב gannabh 'thief' (MW)

### gerah

    from (MW) גרה gerah 'grain', 'bean' (AHD)

### get (divorce document)

    from גט get 'document of release' (MW)

### golem

    from גולם golem (AHD) 'shapeless mass' (MW)

### goy

    from גוי goy 'nation' (AHD, MW)

### gun moll

    from (AHD) גנב gannabh 'thief' (MW) + from מִרְיָם Miryam (AHD) 'Miriam' (MW, OED) (='rebelliously') (SC) + perhaps from Egyptian (HH)

### habdalah

    from (AHD) habhdalah 'separation' (MW)

### haftarah, haphtarah

    from (MW, WNW) patar 'separate', 'discharge' (AHD)

### haggadah

    from (AHD, MW) heged 'a saying' (WNW)

### halacha

    from הלכה halakhah 'way' (MW)

### hallelujah, alleluia

    from הללויה halleluyah 'praise the LORD' (AHD, MW)

### halutz

    from hlṣ 'be in the vanguard' (WNW)

### hebraize

    from (MW) עברי 'ibhri (AHD) 'region across [descendant]' (SC)

### heder

    from חדר heder 'room' (MW)

### homer (volume)

    from (AHD, MW) חמר hamar 'surge up', 'swell up' (WNW), Greek ὅμηρος (hómēros), "hostage"

### hosanna

    from (AHD) hoshi'ah-nna 'save please' (MW)

### jubilee

    from (AHD) יובל yobhel 'ram's horn' (MW)

### judas

    from (MW) יהודה yehuda (AHD) 'celebrated' (SC)

### kabbalah, cabala

    from (AHD) קַבָּלָה qabbalah 'received (lore)' (MW)

### kaddish

    from (AHD, MW) qds 'sanctify' (WNW)

### kashrut

    from (AHD, MW) כשר ksr 'be appropriate' (WNW)

### kibbutz

    from קיבוץ qibbuṣ (MW) 'gathering' (AHD)

### kibosh

    disputed (AHD, MW) + perhaps from כבש kabash 'tread down', 'disregard'

### kiddush

    from (AHD) qiddush 'sanctification' (MW)

### klezmer

    from (AHD) כלי זמר k'ley zemer 'musical instruments' (MW)

### knesset

    (OSPD) from kanas 'assemble' (AHD, WNW)

### kosher

    from (AHD, MW) כשר ksr 'be appropriate' (WNW)

### chayyim

    (OSPD) from ḥaim 'to life' (WNW)

### leviathan

    from (AHD) לויתן liwyathan 'sea monster, whale' (MW)

### macabre

    from French (danse) macabre (AHD, MW), probably from Latin (Chorea) Machabaeorum, from מקבת maqqebet 'hammer' (WNW), from נקב naqab 'perforate' (SC)

### maftir

    (OSPD) from maphtir 'one that dismisses' (NI)

### mahzor

    from (AHD) ḥzr 'return' (WNW)

### manna

    from מן man (AHD, MW) (SC)

### matzo

    from (AHD) מצה maṣah 'unleavened bread' (MW)

### maven

    from (AHD) מבין mebhin 'one who is experienced' (MW), 'one who understands' (OED)

### mazeltov

    from (WNW) מזל טוב mazzal tob 'good luck' (AHD)

### mazuma

    from (WNW) מזומן mezumman 'fixed' (AHD)

### megillah

    from (MW, WNW) galal 'roll' (AHD)

### menorah

    from (AHD) מנורה menorah 'candlestick' (MW)

### meshuga

    from (AHD) משוגע meshugga 'crazy' (MW).

### messiah

    from (AHD) משיח mashiaḥ 'anointed' (MW) + in part from Aramaic (AHD) meshiha 'anointed' (MW)

### mezuzah

    from מְזוּזָה mezuzah 'doorpost' (AHD, MW)

### midrash

    from (AHD) מדרש midrash 'exposition', 'explanation' (MW)

### mikvah

    from miqwah 'purification bath' (AHD)

### minyan

    from מִנְיָן minyan 'number', 'count' (MW), from Aramaic (AHD)

### mitzvah

    from (AHD) מצוה miṣwah 'commandment' (MW)

### mohel

    from מוהל mohel 'person qualified to perform circumcision' (WNW)

### momser

    from momser 'bastard' (WNW)

### mishpachah

    from mishpahah 'family', 'clan' (NI)

### moshav

    from (AHD) מוֹשָׁב moshabh 'dwelling' (MW)

### nabla

    probably from nebhel 'harp' (NI)

### nachas

    pleasure, satisfaction, delight; proud enjoyment (usage: I have nachas from you) (from Hebrew נחת pronounced 'nachat') (WNW)

### nebel

    from nebhel 'harp' (NI)

### omer

    from עמר 'omer (AHD) '1/10 ephah dry capacity' (MW)

### parashah

    from parashah 'explanation' (MW, WNW)

### pascal

    from 'Pascal' (AHD, MW), from פסח pesah 'passover' (AHD, MW, OED)

### paschal

    from פסח על pasah al 'passed over' (AHD, MW, OED)

### pharaoh

    from פרעה par'oh 'ruler of ancient Egypt', from Egyptian (MW) pr-'o 'great house' (AHD)

### pharisee

    from Aramaic (AHD) perisha 'separated', from (MW) פרש parash 'separate' (SC), 'cleave' (WNW)

### rabbi

    from (AHD, WNW) רב rabh 'master' (MW)

### rebbe

    from (AHD, WNW) רב rabh 'master' (MW)

### rebbetzin

    from (WNW) רב rabh 'master' (MW)

### sabbatical

    from (MW) שׁבת shabbat 'day of rest' (AHD)

### sabra

    from (AHD) ṣabar 'prickly pear' (MW)

### satanic

    from שטן satan 'adversary' (MW), 'devil' (AHD)

### schmooze

    from (AHD) שמועות shemu'oth 'news', 'rumor' (MW)

### schwa

    from שוא schewa' 'unstressed mid-central vowel' (MW), probably from Syriac ܥܗܘܐܝܝܐ sewayya 'equal' (AHD)

### seder

    from (AHD) סדר seder 'order' (MW)

### selah

    from (AHD) סֶלָה selah (MW) 'suspension', 'pause' (SC)

### seraph

    from (MW) שׂרף saraph 'celestial being' (AHD)

### shadchan

    (OSPD) from shiddekh 'arrange a marriage' (NI)

### shadrach

    (OSPD) from (AHD) shadrach 'captive' (WNW)

### shalom

    from (AHD) שָׁלוֹם shalom 'peace' (MW)

### shalom aleichem

    from (AHD) שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם shalom 'alekhem 'peace unto you' (MW)

### shammes

    from (AHD) שמש shammash 'sexton' (MW)

### shamus

    perhaps from (AHD) שמש shammash 'sexton' (MW)

### shegetz

    from (AHD) שקץ sheqes 'blemish', 'abomination' (MW)

### shekel

    from (MW) שקל saqal 'weigh', from Canaanite tql (AHD)

### sheol

    (OSPD) from se'ol 'underworld' (AHD), perhaps from shaal 'dig' (WNW)

### shibboleth

    from (AHD) שיבולת shibboleth 'stream' (MW), 'ear of grain' (OED)

### shiksa

    from (AHD, WNW) שקץ sheqes 'blemish', 'abomination' (MW)

### shivah

    from (AHD) shibh'ah 'seven' (MW)

### shofar

    from shophar (MW) 'ram's horn' (AHD)

### siddur

    from סידור siddur 'arrangement' (AHD), 'order' (MW)

### sukkah

    from סוכה sukkah 'booth', 'shelter' (MW)

### sycamine

    from (AHD, MW) שִׁקמָה shiqmah 'mulberry tree' (OED)

### tallith

    from (MW) tillel 'cover' (AHD)

### talmudism

    from (MW) lamad 'learn' (AHD)

### teraph

    from (AHD) תרפים teraphim 'household god' (MW)

### torah

    from תּוֹרָה tora 'law', 'instruction' (AHD)

### tref

    from taraph 'tear' (AHD)

### tsuris

    from (AHD) ṣarah 'calamity' (WNW)

### tush, toches

    from (AHD) תחת tahath 'under', 'beneath' (MW)

### tzitzit, zizith

    from (AHD) ציצית ṣiṣith 'fringes', 'tassels' (MW)

### ulpan

    from aleph 'ox', 'leader' (WNW)

### yeshiva

    from (AHD) ישיבה yeshibhah 'talmudic school' (MW)

### yid

    from יהודה yehudah (AHD) 'celebrated' (SC)

### zaddik

    from צדיק ṣaddiq 'just', 'righteous' (MW)

## From Hebrew names
### abelia

    from 'Abel' (AHD, MW), from הבל Hebhel 'Abel' (='emptiness') (SC)

### abelian

    from 'Abel' (AHD, MW), from הבל Hebhel 'Abel' (='emptiness') (SC)

### abigail

    from (MW) אֲבִיגַיִל (SC) Avigail 'Abigail' (='father of exaltation') (HH)

### adam-and-eve

    from אדם Adam 'Adam' (MW) (='earth') (HH) + from חוה Hawwah 'Eve' (MW) (='living') (HH)

### ammonite

    from עַמּוֹן Ammon, Biblical tribe

### bedlam

    from (AHD, MW) בית לחם Beth Leḥem 'Bethlehem' (='house of bread')

### bejesus

    from (AHD) יֵשׁוּעַ Yeshu'a 'Jesus' (MW) (='Jehovah-saved') (SC)

### benday

    from (AHD) Binyamin 'Benjamin' (MW) (='son of [the] right hand') (SC) + from Old English (AHD, MW)

### cassia

    from קסיה qəṣi`â

### davit

    from (AHD) דָּוִד Dawid 'David' (MW) (='loving') (SC)

### hamantasch

    from Haman, a biblical villain (MW) + tash, multiple etimologies; from Yiddish (MW)

### hansom

    from 'Hansom' (MW), from 'Hans', from Yohanan 'John' (='the LORD is gracious') (HH)

### jack

    1 from יוחנן Yohanan 'John' (MW) (='the LORD is gracious') (HH) 2 perhaps from יַעֲקֹב Ya'aqobh 'Jacob' (MW) (='he has protected') (AHD)

### jacket

    from יַעֲקֹב Ya'aqobh 'Jacob' (MW) (='he has protected') (AHD)

### jacobean

    from יַעֲקֹב Ya'aqobh 'Jacob' (MW) (='he has protected') (AHD)

### jacquard

    from 'Jacquard' (AHD, MW), from יַעֲקֹב Ya'aqobh 'Jacob' (MW) (='he has protected') (AHD)

### jacquerie

    from יַעֲקֹב Ya'aqobh 'Jacob' (MW) (='he has protected') (AHD)

### jakes

    perhaps from יַעֲקֹב Ya'aqobh 'Jacob' (MW) (='he has protected') (AHD)

### jeez

    from (AHD) יֵשׁוּעַ Yeshu'a 'Jesus' (MW) (='Jehovah-saved') (SC)

### jehu

    from יהוא Yehu 'Jehu' (MW) (='Jehovah [is] He') (SC)

### jeremiad

    from (AHD) יִרְמְיָה Yirmeyah 'Jeremiah' (MW) (='the LORD will rise') (SC)

### jeroboam

    from (AHD, MW) יָרָבְעָם Yarobh'am 'Jeroboam' (='people will contend') (SC)

### jesuit

    from יֵשׁוּעַ Yeshu'a 'Jesus' (AHD) ('Jehovah-saved') (SC)

### jezebel

    from (AHD) איזבל Izebhel 'Jezebel' (MW) (='chaste') (SC)

### jimmy

    from (MW) 'James' (AHD), from יַעֲקֹב Ya'aqobh 'Jacob' (MW, OED) (='he has protected') (AHD)

### jockey

    from (AHD) יוחנן Yohanan 'John' (MW) (='the LORD is gracious') (HH)

### joe

    from יוֹסֵף Yoseph 'Joseph' (MW) (='he shall add') (HH)

### john (washroom)

    from (AHD) יוחנן Yohanan 'John' (MW) (='the LORD is gracious') (HH)

### johnny (gown)

    from (AHD) יוחנן Yohanan 'John' (MW) (='the LORD is gracious') (HH)

### jorum

    perhaps from (AHD, MW) Yehoram 'Joram' (='Jehovah-raised') (SC)

### joseph

    from (AHD) יוֹסֵף Yoseph 'Joseph' (MW) (='he shall add') (HH)

### lazar

    from (AHD) אלעזר El'azar 'Lazarus' (MW) (='God is my help') (HH)

### lazaretto

    from (AHD) אלעזר El'azar 'Lazarus' (MW) (='God is my help') (HH) + from (MW) נָצְרַת natzerath 'Nazareth' (WNW)

### macadam

    from 'McAdam' (MW), in part from Adham 'Adam' (='earth') (HH)

### macadamia

    from 'Macadam' (MW), in part from Adham 'Adam' (='earth') (HH)

### marionette

    from מִרְיָם Miryam (AHD) 'Miriam' (MW, OED) (='rebelliously') (SC) + perhaps from Egyptian (HH)

### marry (interjection)

    from מִרְיָם Miryam (AHD) 'Miriam' (MW, OED) (='rebelliously') (SC) + perhaps from Egyptian (HH)

### mick

    from Mikha'el 'Michael' (MW) (='who [is] like God?') (SC)

### mickey (drink)

    perhaps from (AHD) Mikha'el 'Michael' (MW) (='who [is] like God?') (SC)

### miquelet

    probably from Catalan Miquel (NI), from Mikha'el 'Michael' (MW) (='who [is] like God?') (SC)

### moll

    from מִרְיָם Miryam (AHD) 'Miriam' (MW, OED) (='rebelliously') (SC) + perhaps from Egyptian (HH)

### nance

    from 'Nancy' (MW, AHD), probably in part from חנה Ḥannah 'Anna' (OED) (='favored') (HH, SC)

### nimrod

    from (AHD) נמרוד Nimrodh 'Nimrod' (='hunter') (MW)

### philistine

    1 from פלשתים Pelistim 'Philistines' 'Aegean people who settled Philistia' (AHD) 2 from (MW) פלשת Pelesheth 'Philistia' (='rolling', 'migratory') (SC)

### rube

    (AHD) from רְאוּבֵן Re'ubhen 'Reuben' (MW) (='see ye a son') (SC)

### samaritan

    from (AHD, MW) שֹׁמְרוֹן Shomron 'Samaria' (='watch-station') (SC)

### semitist

    from שם Shem 'Shem' (MW) (='name') (SC)

### simony

    from (AHD) שִׁמְעוֹן Shim'on 'Simon' (MW) (='hearing') (HH, SC)

### sodom

    from (MW) סדום s'dom 'Sodom' (AHD, OED) (='burnt') (SC)

### toby

    from (AHD, MW) טוביה Toviah 'Tobias' (='goodness of Jehovah') (SC)

### yankee

    probably from (AHD) יוחנן Yohanan 'John' (MW) (='the LORD is gracious') (HH)

## Letter names

aleph, beth, gimel, daleth, he, waw, zayin, heth, teth, yod, kaph, lamed, mem, nun, samekh, ayin, pe, sadhe, qoph, resh, shin, taw (AHD, MW, WNW)

### alpha

    from Greek Άλφα alpha, perhaps from אלף aleph 'ox', 'leader' (WNW) + from Canaanite 𐤀𐤋𐤐 'alp 'ox' (AHD)

### beta

    from Greek Βήτα beta, from בית bet 'house', probably from Phoenician (WNW) + from Canaanite 𐤁𐤉𐤕 bet 'house' (AHD)

### gamma

    from Greek Γάμμα gamma, perhaps from גמל gimel 'ruminant beast' (WNW) + from Phoenician 𐤋𐤌𐤀𐤂 (AHD)

### delta

    from Greek Δέλτα delta (AHD), perhaps from דלת deleth 'door' (WNW) + of Semitic origin, akin to Phoenician 𐤃𐤀𐤋𐤕 dalt 'door' (AHD)

### eta

    from Greek eta, perhaps from chet (WNW) 'terror' (SC) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤇𐤕 (AHD)

### iota

    from Greek Ιώτα iota, perhaps from יד yodh 'hand' (WNW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤉𐤏𐤕 (AHD)

### kappa

    from Greek Κάππα kappa, perhaps from כף kaph (WNW) 'palm of the hand' (MW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤊𐤀𐤅 (AHD)

### lambda

    from Greek Λάμβδα lambda, perhaps from למד lamedh 'whip', 'club' (WNW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤋𐤀𐤌𐤃 (AHD)

### nu

    from Greek Νυ nu, perhaps from נון nun 'fish' (WNW) + of Semitic origin (AHD)

### pi

    from Greek Πι pi, perhaps from פה pe 'mouth' (WNW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤐𐤄 (AHD)

### rho

    from Greek Ρω rho, perhaps from ראש rosh 'head' (WNW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤓𐤏𐤔 (AHD)

### tau

    from Greek Ταυ tau, perhaps from taw (WNW) 'mark', 'cross' (MW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤕𐤀𐤅 (AHD)