amidah: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Specialized term within religious contexts)Formal, Religious (Judaism), Academic (Religious Studies)
Quick answer
What does “amidah” mean?
The central standing prayer of Jewish liturgy, recited silently while facing Jerusalem.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The central standing prayer of Jewish liturgy, recited silently while facing Jerusalem.
The series of blessings forming the core of Jewish prayer services (Shacharit, Mincha, Maariv), known as the 'Standing Prayer'. It refers more broadly to the structure and posture of devotion in Jewish worship.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or pronunciation differences. Usage is identical, confined to Jewish religious communities and academic study.
Connotations
Purely religious/ritual connotations in both regions.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside of Jewish communities or academic religious texts in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “amidah” in a Sentence
to daven the Amidahto recite the Amidah silentlyto stand for the AmidahVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in Religious Studies, Theology, and Jewish History contexts to describe liturgical practice.
Everyday
Not used in general everyday English. Used within everyday speech of observant Jewish communities.
Technical
Specific term in Jewish liturgy and halakha (Jewish law).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “amidah”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “amidah”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “amidah”
- Pronouncing it as /ˈæmɪdɑː/ (wrong stress). Using it as a verb (e.g., 'I will amidah'). Using it in a non-Jewish context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a specialized term used almost exclusively within Jewish religious contexts or academic study of religion.
They refer to the same prayer. 'Shemoneh Esrei' (meaning 'eighteen') is an older name for the weekday Amidah, which originally had eighteen blessings. 'Amidah' (meaning 'standing') refers to the posture and is now the more common term.
No, it is strictly a noun. The action is 'to recite' or 'to daven' the Amidah.
When treated as a proper name for the specific prayer, it is often capitalized (the Amidah). When referring more generally to the act of standing prayer, it may be lowercased. Both are accepted.
The central standing prayer of Jewish liturgy, recited silently while facing Jerusalem.
Amidah is usually formal, religious (judaism), academic (religious studies) in register.
Amidah: in British English it is pronounced /əˈmiːdə/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈmidə/ or /ɑːˈmidɑː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"Lost in his Amidah" (deeply absorbed in prayer/contemplation - niche usage)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: "A MIdday DAvening requires the Amidah." (Mincha is the afternoon prayer).
Conceptual Metaphor
PRAYER IS A STRUCTURED JOURNEY / PRAYER IS STANDING BEFORE AUTHORITY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the word 'Amidah'?