cholent: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowSpecialized / Cultural
Quick answer
What does “cholent” mean?
A traditional Jewish Sabbath stew of beans, barley, and meat, cooked slowly overnight.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A traditional Jewish Sabbath stew of beans, barley, and meat, cooked slowly overnight.
Any slow-cooked, savory bean-and-meat stew, particularly one prepared for communal or ritual meals; a symbol of Jewish culinary heritage and Sabbath observance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both variants, though spelling 'cholent' is standard. The word is known almost exclusively within Jewish communities or food enthusiasts in both countries.
Connotations
Cultural, religious, traditional, hearty, familial.
Frequency
Equally rare in general English in both the UK and US, but familiar within similar cultural and religious contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “cholent” in a Sentence
[Subject] makes/serves/eats cholent.[Subject] puts the cholent in the oven.Cholent [Verb: simmers/cooks] overnight.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cholent” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We cholent the beef with barley and beans for the Sabbath.
American English
- I'm going to cholent a big pot for the weekend gathering.
adjective
British English
- The cholent pot sat warming in the low oven.
American English
- He brought a cholent-style bean casserole to the potluck.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in cultural studies, anthropology, or food history papers discussing Jewish traditions.
Everyday
Used within Jewish families and communities, especially around Sabbath preparation.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cholent”
- Spelling: 'chulent', 'cholint'. Pronunciation: Misplacing stress on the second syllable.
- Using it as a countable noun ('a cholent') is less common than the mass noun usage ('some cholent').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally yes, often beef, but vegetarian versions using potatoes and beans are common.
It likely comes from Old French 'chaud' (hot) and 'lent' (slow), via Yiddish.
Yes, it is a dish that can be enjoyed anytime, though its preparation is specifically designed for the Sabbath rules.
They refer to the same basic concept of a Sabbath stew. 'Cholent' is the Ashkenazi (Eastern European Jewish) term, while 'hamin' (or 'dafina' etc.) is used by Sephardic (Spanish, North African, Middle Eastern Jewish) communities.
A traditional Jewish Sabbath stew of beans, barley, and meat, cooked slowly overnight.
Cholent is usually specialized / cultural in register.
Cholent: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɒlənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɔːlənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A watched cholent never boils.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'CHOL' (like 'cholesterol' - hearty, fatty food) + 'ENT' (as in 'scent' - something that smells delicious cooking for hours).
Conceptual Metaphor
CHOLENT IS TRADITION (a vessel for cultural continuity and family memory).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of cholent?