matzoh: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Religious, Culinary
Quick answer
What does “matzoh” mean?
A thin, crisp, unleavened bread, traditionally eaten during the Jewish festival of Passover.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thin, crisp, unleavened bread, traditionally eaten during the Jewish festival of Passover.
Can refer broadly to unleavened bread products consumed during Passover, or used metaphorically to denote something austere, simple, or lacking richness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is equally understood in both dialects due to its specific cultural origin. Spelling variation (matzoh/matzah) is not regionally determined but a matter of individual or publishing preference.
Connotations
No difference in connotation. In both regions, it strongly connotes Jewish tradition and Passover.
Frequency
Frequency is similarly low in both regions, increasing slightly in areas with larger Jewish communities or around Passover.
Grammar
How to Use “matzoh” in a Sentence
[Verb] matzoh (e.g., eat, break, bake)matzoh [Verb] (e.g., matzoh crumbles)[Adjective] matzoh (e.g., unleavened, crisp, broken)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “matzoh” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The family will matzoh the dough for precisely eighteen minutes to prevent leavening.
American English
- We need to matzoh the flour according to the rabbi's instructions.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts of food import/export or kosher food industry.
Academic
Used in religious studies, anthropology, and culinary history contexts.
Everyday
Used within Jewish communities, especially around Passover; general knowledge term for others.
Technical
Used in rabbinical literature regarding Passover dietary laws (kashrut).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “matzoh”
- Misspelling as 'matzo', 'matza', or 'matzah' (all are common variants, but consistency is key). Incorrect plural: 'matzohs' (correct: 'matzoh' or 'matzot' /ˈmɑːtsəʊt/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are different English transliterations of the same Hebrew word. 'Matzoh' and 'matzah' are both common and correct.
While it can be eaten anytime, it is strongly associated with the Passover holiday, when eating leavened bread is forbidden. Many Jews primarily consume it during that period.
A traditional Ashkenazi Jewish soup consisting of dumplings (matzoh balls) made from matzoh meal, eggs, water, and fat, served in chicken broth.
It commemorates the haste with which the Israelites fled Egypt, as recounted in the Book of Exodus, leaving no time for their bread dough to rise.
A thin, crisp, unleavened bread, traditionally eaten during the Jewish festival of Passover.
Matzoh is usually formal, religious, culinary in register.
Matzoh: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːtsə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːtsə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"The bread of affliction" (a traditional phrase for matzoh)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Matzoh has ZERO yeast, just like the number '0' in 'matzOH'.
Conceptual Metaphor
SIMPLICITY IS MATZOH (e.g., 'His prose was as plain as matzoh').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of matzoh?