israeli
C1Formal, neutral, journalistic
Definition
Meaning
A person from the modern state of Israel, or pertaining to Israel as a nation.
Of or relating to the culture, politics, language (Modern Hebrew), or geography of the State of Israel.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Specifically refers to the modern nation-state of Israel and its citizens, established in 1948. Does not refer to the ancient Israelites, for which the term "Israelite" is used. Can be used as a noun or adjective.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or grammatical differences. Differences mainly arise from varying regional news focus, political contexts, or collocational frequency (e.g., "Israeli settlements" might appear more frequently in certain media contexts).
Connotations
The word can carry significant political connotations depending on context and the speaker's/viewer's perspective. In both varieties, it is the standard, neutral demonym.
Frequency
Higher frequency in international news contexts. Frequency is context-dependent, not region-dependent.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Israeli + Noun (e.g., Israeli policy)the + Israeli + plural noun (e.g., the Israelis)be + Israeli (nationality adjective)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The Israeli mentality”
- “Sabra (colloquial for a native-born Israeli)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The Israeli tech sector has seen massive growth."
Academic
"The paper analyses post-1967 Israeli settlement policy."
Everyday
"My neighbour is Israeli." "We're planning a trip to the Israeli coast."
Technical
"The patient cohort included 150 Israeli subjects."
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The Israeli ambassador gave a statement to the press.
- She specialises in Israeli contemporary dance.
American English
- The Israeli tech startup secured major funding.
- He studies Israeli foreign policy.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He is Israeli.
- I like Israeli food.
- Many Israeli tourists visit Greece in the summer.
- The company signed a deal with an Israeli partner.
- The film offers a nuanced portrait of Israeli society.
- Israeli and Jordanian officials met for talks.
- The architect's work is influenced by both Bauhaus principles and Israeli vernacular styles.
- The debate centred on the long-term viability of the current Israeli political model.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: IS RAELI (Is Ra-Eli). "Is Ra-Eli from there? Yes, he is ISRAELI."
Conceptual Metaphor
Often framed in geopolitical metaphors: 'player', 'actor', 'partner', 'adversary' on the world stage.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with "еврей" (Jew). "Israeli" is a nationality; "Jew" is an ethnicity/religion. Not all Israelis are Jewish, and not all Jews are Israeli.
- Do not translate as "израильтянин" for ancient contexts; use "Israelite".
Common Mistakes
- Using 'Israelian' (incorrect).
- Confusing 'Israeli' (modern) with 'Israelite' (biblical/ancient).
- Capitalisation error: 'israeli' instead of 'Israeli'.
Practice
Quiz
Which term refers specifically to a citizen of the modern state of Israel?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. As a noun: 'He is an Israeli.' As an adjective: 'Israeli music'.
'Israeli' refers to the modern state (post-1948). 'Israelite' refers to the ancient people, particularly of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, featured in the Hebrew Bible.
No, 'Israelian' is not standard English. The correct demonym is 'Israeli'.
No. While Israel defines itself as a Jewish state and the majority of its citizens are Jewish, it also has significant Arab (Muslim and Christian), Druze, and other non-Jewish populations who are also Israeli citizens.