Hebrew

noun

He·​brew ˈhē-(ˌ)brü 

1

a

: the Semitic language of the ancient Hebrews

b

: any of various later forms of this language

2

: a member of or descendant from one of a group of northern Semitic peoples including the Israelites

especially : israelite

Hebrew adjective

Examples of Hebrew in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cohen and Greenfield — who grew up attending Hebrew school together on Long Island — sold the company to Unilever decades ago and no longer control it, though recently Cohen was reportedly planning a buyback. —Ben Sales, Sun Sentinel, 12 May 2025

Following a similar antisemitic rant in 2022, which raised concerns for West’s mental wellbeing, the artist released an apology in Hebrew the next year. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 10 May 2025

Threading them all together is Nathan’s exhaustive research, drawing on time spent in Jewish kitchens from Israel to India, digging through archives, and reading the countless books in English, Hebrew, and French, many of them now out of print, that line the shelves of her home. —Devra Ferst, Saveur, 7 May 2025

Having lived almost his entire adult life in Jerusalem, with a PhD from the Hebrew University under his belt, Pizzaballa can genially hold his own in a theological discussion on YouTube, in fluid Hebrew, with an Israeli orthodox rabbi, sounding for all the world like two old neighbors at a cafe. —Noga Tarnopolsky, CNN Money, 6 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English Ebreu, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin Hebraeus, from Latin, adjective, from Greek Hebraios, from Aramaic ʽEbrai

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing Hebrew

• Late Hebrew
• Modern Hebrew
• Rabbinic Hebrew

Kids Definition

Hebrew

noun

He·​brew ˈhē-(ˌ)brü 

1

: a member of one of a group of northern Semitic peoples including the Israelites

especially : israelite

2

: the Semitic language of the Hebrews

Hebraic

hi-ˈbrā-ik

adjective

Hebrew adjective