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)
 * 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) 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 Yahweh' (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 'Haman' (MW) (='vizier') (SC) + from Yiddish (MW)
 * hansom : from 'Hansom' (MW), from 'Hans', from Yohanan 'John' (='the Yahweh is gracious') (HH)
 * jack : 1 from יוחנן Yohanan 'John' (MW) (='the 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 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 is gracious') (HH)
 * joe : from יוֹסֵף Yoseph 'Joseph' (MW) (='he shall add') (HH)
 * john (washroom) : from (AHD) יוחנן Yohanan 'John' (MW) (='the is gracious') (HH)
 * johnny (gown) : from (AHD) יוחנן Yohanan 'John' (MW) (='the 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 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 𐤕𐤋𐤀𐤃 dalt 'door' (AHD)
 * eta : from Greek eta, perhaps from chet (WNW) 'terror' (SC) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤕𐤇 (AHD)
 * iota : from Greek Ιώτα iota, perhaps from יד yodh 'hand' (WNW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤕𐤏𐤉 (AHD)
 * kappa : from Greek Κάππα kappa, perhaps from כף kaph (WNW) 'palm of the hand' (MW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤅𐤀𐤊 (AHD)
 * lambda : from Greek Λάμβδα lambda, perhaps from למד lamedh 'whip', 'club' (WNW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤃𐤌𐤀𐤋 (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 𐤄𐤐 (AHD)
 * rho : from Greek Ρω rho, perhaps from ראש rosh 'head' (WNW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤔𐤏𐤓 (AHD)
 * tau : from Greek Ταυ tau, perhaps from taw (WNW) 'mark', 'cross' (MW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤅𐤀𐤕 (AHD)