siddur: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowformal, religious
Quick answer
What does “siddur” mean?
A Jewish prayer book containing the daily and Sabbath prayer services.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Jewish prayer book containing the daily and Sabbath prayer services.
The standard liturgy used in Jewish worship, often with commentaries and instructions for observance; can also refer to a specific edition or version of the prayer book.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage between UK and US English. Both use the Hebrew-origin term.
Connotations
Conveys a formal, traditional, and specifically Jewish religious context in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, used almost exclusively within Jewish communities or academic/religious discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “siddur” in a Sentence
to follow [from] the siddurto pray [using] the siddurthe siddur [for] morning prayersVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in religious studies, theology, or Jewish history contexts to discuss liturgy.
Everyday
Used within Jewish communities when referring to prayer books for synagogue or home use.
Technical
Used in specific religious contexts to denote a particular edition (e.g., 'the Koren Siddur') or type (e.g., 'weekday siddur').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “siddur”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “siddur”
- Misspelling as 'sidder', 'siddar', or 'sidur'.
- Using it as a general term for any religious text (it is specific to prayers).
- Incorrect plural: 'siddurs' (correct: 'siddurim').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, all major Jewish denominations (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, etc.) use a siddur, though the content and language (e.g., amount of Hebrew, inclusivity of translations) may vary between editions.
A siddur contains the daily and Sabbath prayers, used year-round. A machzor is a prayer book for the High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur), containing the special liturgy for those festivals.
Typically, it is not capitalised unless it forms part of a specific title, e.g., 'The Artscroll Siddur'. As a common noun, it is written in lowercase.
Not necessarily. Many siddurim feature transliterations (Hebrew written in the Latin alphabet) and translations alongside the original Hebrew text, making them accessible to those who do not read Hebrew.
A Jewish prayer book containing the daily and Sabbath prayer services.
Siddur is usually formal, religious in register.
Siddur: in British English it is pronounced /sɪˈdʊə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪdər/ or /sɪˈdʊr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SID' (as in sitting down to pray) + 'DUR' (during the service). You sit with a SIDDUR DURing prayers.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SIDDUR IS A ROADMAP FOR WORSHIP (it guides the worshipper through the fixed path of prayers).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'siddur' primarily used for?