marcheshvan
Very LowFormal / Religious
Definition
Meaning
The second month of the civil year and the eighth month of the ecclesiastical year in the Hebrew calendar.
A month in the Jewish calendar, corresponding approximately to October–November, known as a month without major festivals.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often referred to simply as 'Cheshvan' (its more common name) to avoid the negative connotations of the prefix 'Mar-' (meaning 'bitter'), as it has no festivals or fasts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference; term is specific to Jewish religious/cultural context.
Connotations
None beyond the religious/cultural sphere.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, confined to specific religious or historical discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Event] occurs in Marcheshvan.Marcheshvan follows [Tishrei].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bitter as Marcheshvan (rare, referencing the 'Mar-' prefix)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in religious studies, theology, or historical texts discussing the Hebrew calendar.
Everyday
Virtually never used in general conversation outside Jewish communities observing the calendar.
Technical
Used in precise discussions of the Hebrew calendar, sometimes in intercalation or chronology.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This year, my birthday is in Marcheshvan.
- The holiday season ends, and Marcheshvan is a quiet month.
- According to the Hebrew calendar, the Flood began on the seventeenth day of Marcheshvan.
- The appellation 'Marcheshvan' is thought to derive from the Akkadian 'wahrāḥ šamnu', meaning 'eighth month'.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'March' is not the month; it's 'Mar-Cheshvan' – the 'bitter' Cheshvan because it has no holidays to sweeten it.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CYCLE (specific to a cultural/religious calendar).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "март" (March). It is not related to any month in the Gregorian or Russian calendar by name.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'Marchesvan' or 'MarHeshvan'.
- Pronouncing the 'ch' as in 'church' instead of the voiceless uvular fricative /x/ (like 'loch').
- Using it in a secular date context.
Practice
Quiz
What is the more common, shortened name for Marcheshvan?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a specialised term from the Hebrew calendar, used primarily in Jewish religious or cultural contexts.
The prefix 'Mar-' can mean 'bitter' in Hebrew. As the month has no festivals, it was humorously or sadly called 'bitter Cheshvan'.
It is pronounced like the 'ch' in the Scottish 'loch' or the German 'Bach' (a voiceless velar or uvular fricative /x/).
It typically overlaps with October and November, but its start and end dates shift slightly each year relative to the Gregorian calendar.