hebrew calendar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Low frequency, specialized term)Formal, Academic, Religious/Interfaith
Quick answer
What does “hebrew calendar” mean?
The lunisolar calendar traditionally used for Jewish religious observance, determining the dates of Jewish holidays and Torah readings.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The lunisolar calendar traditionally used for Jewish religious observance, determining the dates of Jewish holidays and Torah readings.
A system for reckoning time based on lunar months with periodic solar-year adjustments via leap months, used in Judaism for religious and, historically, civil purposes. It is sometimes referenced in academic, interfaith, or cultural contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. British English may show a slight preference for 'Jewish calendar' in general contexts, while 'Hebrew calendar' is consistently the technical term in both varieties.
Connotations
Both neutral and technical. 'Hebrew calendar' emphasizes the historical and linguistic origins.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, used in similar specialized contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “hebrew calendar” in a Sentence
[determiner] + Hebrew calendarthe Hebrew calendar + [verb: dates, determines, is based on]according to + the Hebrew calendarin + [year] + on the Hebrew calendarVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hebrew calendar” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Hebrew-calendar date for Pesach was calculated by the community.
- He made a Hebrew-calendar conversion chart.
American English
- The Hebrew-calendar date for Passover was calculated by the community.
- He made a Hebrew-calendar conversion chart.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in context of international scheduling for Jewish holidays.
Academic
Common in religious studies, theology, history, and comparative calendar studies.
Everyday
Used in interfaith discussions, by Jewish communities planning holidays, or in educational contexts.
Technical
The precise term in theology, historiography, and liturgical studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hebrew calendar”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hebrew calendar”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hebrew calendar”
- Misspelling as 'Hebrewh calendar' or 'Hebrew calender'.
- Using it as a synonym for the modern Israeli national calendar.
- Incorrect capitalisation (e.g., 'hebrew Calendar').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Hebrew (or Jewish) calendar is used for religious purposes. The State of Israel uses the Gregorian calendar for civil, official, and business affairs, just like most of the world.
Because the Hebrew calendar is lunisolar (based on moon cycles adjusted to the solar year), its year length differs from the purely solar Gregorian calendar. Therefore, the correspondence between dates shifts each year.
As of 2023-2024 CE on the Gregorian calendar, it is the year 5784 AM (Anno Mundi, 'Year of the World') in the Hebrew calendar.
A standard Hebrew calendar year has 12 lunar months, but a leap year, occurring 7 times in a 19-year cycle, has an added 13th month (Adar II) to realign with the solar seasons.
The lunisolar calendar traditionally used for Jewish religious observance, determining the dates of Jewish holidays and Torah readings.
Hebrew calendar is usually formal, academic, religious/interfaith in register.
Hebrew calendar: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhiːbruː ˈkælɪndə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhibru ˈkæləndər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HEBREW' for the people and language it's connected to, 'CALENDAR' for tracking time. It's the Jewish system for holy days.
Conceptual Metaphor
CALENDAR AS A CYCLICAL MAP OF SACRED TIME.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of the Hebrew calendar today?