emmanuel
LowFormal
Definition
Meaning
A masculine given name, of Hebrew origin, meaning 'God is with us'.
A proper noun referring specifically to a person with this name, often with Christian biblical connotations due to its appearance in the Book of Isaiah and the Gospel of Matthew as a name for the prophesied Messiah.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Functionally a proper noun; almost exclusively used as a personal name with no generic or abstract meaning. Capitalization is mandatory.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily a difference in spelling frequency. The variant 'Immanuel' is equally or more common in some British religious/academic contexts, while 'Emmanuel' is the dominant form in American English for both the name and place names (e.g., Emmanuel College).
Connotations
In both varieties, strong biblical/theological connotations. In the UK, may also be strongly associated with specific institutions (e.g., Emmanuel College, Cambridge).
Frequency
Uncommon as a given name in both regions, though not rare. Usage is stable but not trending.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N/A (Proper Noun)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; only if referring to a person or company with that name.
Academic
Used in theological, religious studies, and historical contexts. Also refers to educational institutions (e.g., 'He studied at Emmanuel').
Everyday
Used primarily to refer to a specific person known by that name.
Technical
N/A
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is my friend, Emmanuel.
- Emmanuel is from London.
- I met Emmanuel at the university library yesterday.
- Emmanuel's family comes from Ghana.
- The sermon focused on the prophecy of Emmanuel in the Book of Isaiah.
- Professor Emmanuel will be giving the keynote lecture.
- The theological implications of the name 'Emmanuel' were debated at the council.
- Emmanuel College, founded in 1584, has a rich architectural history.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'EMMAnuel' starts like 'emma', and 'MANuel' ends like the name Manuel; together they form the name meaning 'God is with us'.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A (Proper Noun).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate it as 'с нами Бог' (which is the phrase's meaning). It is a transliterated name: Эммануэль or Иммануил.
- Do not confuse with the similar-sounding Russian name 'Емельян'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrectly using lowercase ('emmanuel').
- Confusing with the common noun 'manual'.
- Misspelling as 'Emanuel' (missing one 'm').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary linguistic function of the word 'Emmanuel'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is relatively uncommon but stable, often chosen for its religious significance.
They are spelling variants of the same name, derived from different transliterations of the Hebrew original. 'Immanuel' is closer to the original Hebrew, while 'Emmanuel' is the more common English form.
No, it functions almost exclusively as a proper noun (a personal or place name).
In American English, the 'a' is pronounced as /æ/ (like in 'man'), whereas in British English it is /a/ (like in 'father').