Hebrew

[/ˈhiːbruː/]
noun, adjectivemasculine (noun)pl: Hebrews
hebraico, hebreu
1. A member of a Semitic people inhabiting ancient Palestine and its descendants; a Jewish person
The Hebrews were enslaved in Egypt according to biblical accounts.
Os hebreus foram escravizados no Egito de acordo com relatos bíblicos.
2. The Semitic language spoken by Hebrew people, both ancient and modern, especially the official language of Israel
She is learning to read Hebrew to understand the Torah in its original language.
Ela está aprendendo a ler hebraico para entender a Torá em sua língua original.
3. Of or relating to the Hebrew people, their language, or culture
Hebrew literature dates back thousands of years.
A literatura hebraica remonta a milhares de anos.
In Brazil, Hebrew is primarily associated with Jewish communities and religious or academic contexts. The word 'hebraico' is used as an adjective (língua hebraica = Hebrew language), while 'hebreu' functions as both noun and adjective. In the USA, especially in areas with significant Jewish populations like New York, the term is commonly used in educational and religious institutions. The resurgence of Modern Hebrew as a living language since the establishment of Israel in 1948 has made it increasingly studied worldwide.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
JewishIsraeliteSemitic
Antonyms / Antônimos
Gentilenon-Jewish

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
hebraico (adjective), hebreu (noun)
Standard usage in media and education
Rio de Janeiro
hebraico, hebreu
No significant regional variation
São Paulo
hebraico, hebreu
No significant regional variation
Portugal
hebraico, hebraeu
Variant spelling 'hebraeu' occasionally used; generally consistent with Brazilian usage

Related Words

JudaismIsraelTorahYiddishSemiticPalestineJewish

Related Idioms & Phrases

Hebrew school
Modern Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew
to speak Hebrew
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