hebrew language

English - English

Definition of hebrew language in English English dictionary

Semitic language that is both a sacred language of Judaism and a modern vernacular in Israel. Like Aramaic, to which it is closely related, Hebrew has a documented history of nearly 3,000 years. The earliest fully attested stage of the language is Biblical Hebrew: the earlier parts ("Standard Biblical Hebrew") date before 500 BC and include even older poetic passages; the later parts ("Late Biblical Hebrew") were composed 500-200 BC. Post-Biblical Hebrew, variously termed Rabbinic or Mishnaic Hebrew (see Mishna), is characterized by an early period when Hebrew was still probably to some degree a vernacular and a later period, after AD 200, when Aramaic became the everyday speech of Jews in the Middle East. The 6th and 7th centuries marked a transition to Medieval Hebrew. The resurrection of Hebrew as a vernacular is closely linked with the 18th-century Haskala movement and 20th-century Zionism. Contemporary Israeli Hebrew is spoken by about five million people in Israel and abroad. See also Ashkenazi; Sephardi; Hebrew alphabet

Related Terms

Hebrew Language Academy

institution in Jerusalem considered to be the authority on the Hebrew language

Hebrew Language Committee

(formerly the Academy for the Hebrew Language) institution that works to develop proper Hebrew language

reviver of the Hebrew language

one who caused the rejuvenation of the Hebrew language, Eliezer Ben-Yehuda

the Hebrew language

language known as Hebrew which is mainly spoken in Israel, holy language; study of the language, everything that is related to the language and its grammar

Hyphenation

He·brew lan·guage

Turkish pronunciation

hibru länggwıc

Pronunciation

/ˈhēbro͞o ˈlaɴɢgwəʤ/ /ˈhiːbruː ˈlæŋɡwəʤ/