tashlikh: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal, Religious
Quick answer
What does “tashlikh” mean?
A Jewish ritual performed on Rosh Hashanah, involving casting bread crumbs or small stones into a body of flowing water to symbolically cast away one's sins.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Jewish ritual performed on Rosh Hashanah, involving casting bread crumbs or small stones into a body of flowing water to symbolically cast away one's sins.
The ceremony itself, often performed communally; metaphorically, any act of symbolic cleansing or ridding oneself of guilt or unwanted aspects.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. The word is used within the same specific religious context in both varieties.
Connotations
Purely religious/cultural connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general English, used almost exclusively within Jewish communities or in discussions of Jewish customs.
Grammar
How to Use “tashlikh” in a Sentence
[congregation/group/family] performed tashlikh [by/at/near] the river.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tashlikh” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The community will tashlikh by the Thames this afternoon.
American English
- We plan to tashlikh at the lake after services.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in academic texts on religion, theology, or cultural studies.
Everyday
Very rare outside of specific religious communities.
Technical
Not used in general technical contexts; a technical term within Jewish liturgical practice.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tashlikh”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tashlikh”
- Incorrect spelling: 'tashlich', 'tashlik', 'tashlichh'.
- Using it as a general verb (e.g., 'I tashlikhed my worries' is non-standard).
- Pronouncing the final 'kh' as /k/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a loanword from Hebrew (תשליך) that has entered English dictionaries through its use in describing Jewish religious practice.
In informal religious contexts, it is sometimes used as a verb (e.g., 'Let's go tashlikh'), but formally it is primarily a noun referring to the ceremony.
Traditionally, pieces of bread or small stones are used to symbolically represent one's sins or shortcomings.
No, but its usage is almost entirely confined to discussions of Judaism. In general English, it is a very low-frequency, culturally specific term.
A Jewish ritual performed on Rosh Hashanah, involving casting bread crumbs or small stones into a body of flowing water to symbolically cast away one's sins.
Tashlikh is usually formal, religious in register.
Tashlikh: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɑːʃlɪx/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɑːʃlɪx/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'TASH' (like tossing trash) and 'LIKH' (like 'lick' – to clean). You toss your symbolic 'trash' (sins) into the water to clean your soul.
Conceptual Metaphor
SINS ARE OBJECTS THAT CAN BE DISCARDED; MORAL CLEANSING IS PHYSICAL CLEANSING.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary symbolic action in the ritual of tashlikh?