Ashkenazi

[ ahsh-kuh-nah-zee ]

noun

, plural Ash·ke·naz·im [ahsh-k, uh, -, nah, -zim].

1. a member of the diasporic Jewish population that settled in central and eastern Europe, distinguished from the Sephardim chiefly by liturgy, religious customs, and pronunciation of Hebrew:

   For the benefit of Ashkenazim using the book, variations are included where they are significantly different.

adjective

1. Also Ash·ke·naz·ic []. of or relating to the diasporic Jewish population that settled in central and eastern Europe, or to the culture, liturgy, or variety of Hebrew used by these Jews:

   The melody is an adaptation of a South German chant sung in Ashkenazi synagogues during High Holy Days.

   Ashkenazi styles of cooking have influenced many other cuisines.

Ashkenazi

/ ˌæʃkəˈnɑːzɪ /

noun

1. modifier of or relating to the Jews of Germany and E Europe
2. a Jew of German or E European descent
3. the pronunciation of Hebrew used by these Jews

Word History and Origins

Origin of Ashkenazi¹

First recorded in 1830–40; from post-Biblical Hebrew ashkənazzīm, plural of ashkənazzī, equivalent to ashkənaz + -ī a suffix indicating relationship or origin; Ashkenaz

Word History and Origins

Origin of Ashkenazi¹

C19: Late Hebrew, from Hebrew Ashkenaz, the son of Gomer (Genesis 10:3; I Chronicles 1:6), a descendant of Noah through Japheth, and hence taken to be identified with the ancient Ascanians of Phrygia and, in the medieval period, the Germans