jerusalem
B2Formal, Academic, Historical, Religious
Definition
Meaning
The capital city of Israel, a historic and holy city for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
The city itself; used figuratively to refer to a heavenly or ideal city, especially in religious contexts (e.g., 'the New Jerusalem'); also appears in titles and names (e.g., 'Jerusalem artichoke').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a proper noun, it is almost always capitalised. The figurative and symbolic use ('heavenly Jerusalem') is primarily found in religious or poetic texts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Pronunciation differs slightly.
Connotations
Strong historical and religious connotations are identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency, appearing in historical, religious, political, and travel contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
PREP: in ~, to ~, from ~; VERB: visit ~, capture ~, leave ~Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the New Jerusalem (heaven or an ideal society)”
- “from here to Jerusalem (a very long way or a difficult journey)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in tourism or publishing related to the region.
Academic
Common in history, theology, archaeology, political science, and Middle Eastern studies.
Everyday
Used in news, travel, and general discussions about history, religion, or current events.
Technical
Used in historical, theological, and archaeological texts with precise geographical or historical reference.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- Jerusalem artichoke
American English
- Jerusalem artichoke
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Jerusalem is a very old city.
- I want to visit Jerusalem one day.
- The tour included a visit to Jerusalem's Old City.
- Jerusalem is important to many religions.
- The status of Jerusalem remains a contentious issue in international politics.
- Archaeological findings in Jerusalem shed new light on ancient Canaanite culture.
- The poet invoked the image of a New Jerusalem as a metaphor for social utopia.
- Scholars debate the precise boundaries of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember 'Jeru-SALEM' - think of 'sale' in a market; the city has ancient markets.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CITY IS A SACRED CENTRE (e.g., 'Jerusalem is the heart of our faith').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'Ерусалим' – the correct transliteration is 'Иерусалим' (Iyerusalim).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'Jeruselum' or 'Jerusalam'. Incorrect capitalisation: 'jerusalem'.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Jerusalem' most specifically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Israel designates Jerusalem as its capital, though this is disputed internationally. Palestine also claims East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.
It is sacred to Judaism (site of the Temple), Christianity (site of Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection), and Islam (site of the Prophet Muhammad's night journey).
It is a type of tuber, a species of sunflower, unrelated to the city. The name is believed to be a corruption of the Italian 'girasole' (sunflower).
In British English: /dʒəˈruːsələm/. In American English: /dʒəˈruːsələm/ or sometimes /dʒəˈruːsəˌlæm/.