dibbuk: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowLiterary / Specialized / Academic
Quick answer
What does “dibbuk” mean?
In Jewish folklore, a malicious, restless spirit of a dead person that can possess a living person.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In Jewish folklore, a malicious, restless spirit of a dead person that can possess a living person.
By extension, any harmful or obsessive influence, possession, or attachment from which one cannot free oneself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling, pronunciation, or usage differences. The word is equally rare and specialized in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries strong connotations of Jewish mysticism, historical persecution (pogroms), and psychological torment.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties. Encountered almost solely in literature, academic texts on folklore or Jewish studies, and metaphorical use in high-register writing.
Grammar
How to Use “dibbuk” in a Sentence
[Subject: person] was possessed by a dibbuk.The rabbi exorcised the dibbuk from [Object: person].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dibbuk” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not used as a verb)
American English
- (Not used as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- (Not used as a standard adjective. Attributive use possible: 'a dibbuk story')
American English
- (Not used as a standard adjective. Attributive use possible: 'a dybbuk tale')
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in folklore, religious studies, Jewish history, and literary criticism contexts.
Everyday
Almost never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
A technical term within Jewish mysticism and folklore studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dibbuk”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dibbuk”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dibbuk”
- Misspelling: 'dybuk', 'dibuk'. The standard variants are 'dibbuk' or 'dybbuk'.
- Misuse: Using it as a general synonym for 'ghost' without the specific context of possession.
- Capitalisation: It is not a proper noun and should not be capitalised unless starting a sentence.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A demon is typically considered a non-human, malevolent supernatural being. A dibbuk is specifically the displaced soul or spirit of a deceased human being, often one who was a sinner or died tragically, that possesses a living person.
In folklore, exorcism (a 'dibbuk- expulsion') is performed by a rabbi or a Baal Shem (master of the Name) through religious rites, prayers, commands in the name of God, and sometimes the use of amulets (kame'ot).
No. 'Dybbuk' (from Yiddish 'דיבוק' - dibuk) is a common and accepted alternate spelling of the Hebrew-derived word 'dibbuk' (דיבוק). Both are correct.
Yes, but only metaphorically. For example: 'His obsession with the past was like a dibbuk he couldn't exorcise.' It is used to describe a pervasive, negative psychological fixation.
In Jewish folklore, a malicious, restless spirit of a dead person that can possess a living person.
Dibbuk is usually literary / specialized / academic in register.
Dibbuk: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɪbʊk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɪbək/ (also /ˈdɪbʊk/). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(to have) a dibbuk on one's shoulder (rare, metaphorical) = to be plagued by a persistent, harmful obsession.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'DIB' (as in dibs, a claim) + 'BUK' (like book). A dibbuk is a dead spirit making a claim or booking a place in a living person.
Conceptual Metaphor
A HARMFUL INFLUENCE IS A POSSESSING SPIRIT / AN OBSESSION IS A GHOST.
Practice
Quiz
In which field of study would you most likely encounter the term 'dibbuk' as a technical term?