Ashkenazi

American  

[ahsh-kuh-nah-zee] / ˌɑʃ kəˈnɑ zi /

noun

Ashkenazim plural

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.

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adjective

1. Also Ashkenazic 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 British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• Ashkenazim
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Ashkenazi

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

Example Sentences

Anat Ashkenazi, Alphabet’s finance chief, acknowledged on a call with analysts Wednesday that depreciation would put pressure on profits.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

"The more capital we can free up within the organisation to invest, the better we can turn this flywheel of making investments to drive future growth," chief financial officer Anat Ashkenazi said.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

That was due in part to assimilation of the Ashkenazi population -- forced and otherwise -- in the Soviet Union, the United States and Israel, where Hebrew is the official language.

From Barron's • Oct. 26, 2025

USC’s Jewish community is hardly a monolith, including Jews who are Persian, Israeli, Latino and Ashkenazi, who have more European roots.

From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2024

His dad’s family is Ashkenazi, and on his mom’s side are Jewish refugees from Yemen.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed