immanuel
LowFormal, Religious, Literary
Definition
Meaning
A masculine given name of Hebrew origin meaning 'God is with us'.
Primarily a proper noun referring to a person's name. In Christian theology, it is a prophetic name for Jesus Christ, signifying divine presence among humanity.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a proper noun (name). Its use outside of naming individuals is almost exclusively within religious (particularly Christian) contexts, referencing the prophecy in the Book of Isaiah and its fulfillment in the Gospel of Matthew.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The name is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries strong biblical and theological connotations in both cultures. May be perceived as a traditional or religious name.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both dialects, occurring mainly in religious discourse, theological writing, or as a personal name.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
PROPER NOUN (subject/object)Referent of (the name) ImmanuelVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in theological, philosophical (referring to Immanuel Kant), and religious studies contexts.
Everyday
Used almost exclusively as a personal first name.
Technical
Not used in technical fields.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His name is Immanuel.
- We read about Immanuel in the Bible story.
- The priest explained the meaning of the name Immanuel.
- Immanuel is a popular name in some Christian communities.
- The prophecy concerning Immanuel is found in the book of Isaiah.
- Philosopher Immanuel Kant wrote extensively about ethics and reason.
- Theological debates often centre on the interpretation of 'Immanuel' as a Christological title.
- Kant's transcendental idealism, developed by Immanuel Kant, revolutionised Western philosophy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a man you trust saying, 'I'm with you, pal.' This sounds like 'Immanu-el,' meaning 'God is with us.'
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the common Russian name 'Михаил' (Mikhail/Michael).
- The spelling 'Immanuel' may be transliterated as 'Иммануил', which is direct and correct.
- Avoid associating it with the English word 'manual'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'Emmanual' or 'Imannuel'.
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'an immanuel').
- Mispronouncing the second syllable with a long 'a' (/eɪ/) instead of a short 'a' (/æ/).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'Immanuel' MOST likely to be used as a common reference (not a person's name)?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While its most famous usage is in Christian theology, it originates from Hebrew and is used as a given name by people of various backgrounds, though it remains strongly associated with the Biblical figure.
They are variant spellings of the same Hebrew name. 'Immanuel' is a direct transliteration from Hebrew, while 'Emmanuel' is the more common Greek/Latin transliteration. Usage is often interchangeable, though specific translations of the Bible may use one or the other.
No, 'Immanuel' is exclusively a proper noun (a name). It does not have standard verb or adjective forms in English.
In British English, it is /ɪˈmanjʊəl/ (ih-MAN-yoo-uhl). In American English, it is /ɪˈmænjuəl/ (ih-MAN-yoo-uhl). The primary difference is the vowel in the stressed second syllable: /a/ in British vs. /æ/ in American.