sophar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Specialised religious/technical
Quick answer
What does “sophar” mean?
In Jewish liturgical tradition, a ram's horn blown as a wind instrument, especially on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In Jewish liturgical tradition, a ram's horn blown as a wind instrument, especially on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
A ceremonial wind instrument, often made from a ram's horn, with a loud, penetrating tone used for religious proclamations and calls to worship.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional differences in usage, as the term belongs to a specialised religious lexicon.
Connotations
Identical connotations of religious solemnity and tradition in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general corpora. More likely to be encountered in theological or cultural texts.
Grammar
How to Use “sophar” in a Sentence
The rabbi blew [the sophar].They heard [the sophar] from the synagogue.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sophar” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The congregation will gather to hear him sophar the call to prayer.
- He has been practising for months to properly sophar the traditional notes.
American English
- The cantor will shofar at the conclusion of the service.
- He learned how to shofar from his grandfather.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The sophar blast echoed through the hall. (noun used attributively)
- They followed the sophar liturgy precisely.
American English
- The shofar sound marked the new year. (noun used attributively)
- He studied the shofar-blowing technique.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in religious studies, theology, anthropology, and Jewish history texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation outside specific religious communities.
Technical
Terminology within liturgical musicology and Judaic studies.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sophar”
- Misspelling as 'sofa', 'sophist', or 'so far'.
- Using it as a general term for any horn or trumpet.
- Incorrect pluralisation (sophars). The Hebrew plural 'shofrot' or Anglicised 'shofars/sophars' may be used.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'sophar' is a less common English transliteration variant of the Hebrew word more frequently written as 'shofar'.
Halakha (Jewish law) specifies that a kosher shofar/sophar is typically made from the horn of a ram or other kosher animal, excluding bovine horns.
Its primary use is during the month of Elul leading up to, and during, the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is also blown to mark the end of Yom Kippur.
No, it is a highly specialised term. For general purposes, describing it as a 'Jewish ceremonial ram's horn' is sufficient.
In Jewish liturgical tradition, a ram's horn blown as a wind instrument, especially on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Sophar is usually specialised religious/technical in register.
Sophar: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃəʊ.fɑː(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃoʊ.fɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None standard in English. The action is captured in phrases like 'blowing the sophar'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SOund the Pious Horn At Rosh Hashanah (SOPHAR).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE VOICE OF GOD (the sophar's blast is interpreted as a divine call or proclamation).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'sophar' primarily used for?