matthew: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
High (as a proper noun)Neutral, Formal (in religious contexts)
Quick answer
What does “matthew” mean?
A male given name of Hebrew origin.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A male given name of Hebrew origin.
Commonly refers to a person bearing that name; also the name of the first Gospel in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Pronunciation may vary slightly.
Connotations
Similar across both variants. Connotes traditional, biblical heritage.
Frequency
Consistently a common given name in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “matthew” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] (no valency)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used as a colleague's or client's name (e.g., 'I'll forward that to Matthew').
Academic
Referenced in theological, historical, or literary studies (e.g., 'The Gospel of Matthew was written in Greek.').
Everyday
Used to address or refer to a person (e.g., 'Matthew is coming to the party.').
Technical
Not used in technical contexts unless as a variable or placeholder name in computing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “matthew”
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “matthew”
- Misspelling as 'Mathew' (missing the second 't').
- Using lowercase ('matthew') when it should be capitalized.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it has been consistently among the top male given names in English-speaking countries for decades.
Common nicknames include Matt and Matty.
Extremely rarely. The female equivalent is typically 'Matilda' or 'Martha'.
It is pronounced as a voiceless dental fricative /θ/, like the 'th' in 'think'.
A male given name of Hebrew origin.
Matthew is usually neutral, formal (in religious contexts) in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'mat' and 'the' letter 'w' - 'Mat-the-w' is a person's name.
Conceptual Metaphor
NAME IS A CONTAINER FOR IDENTITY (e.g., 'He carries the name Matthew well.').
Practice
Quiz
What is the origin of the name 'Matthew'?