dreidel

American  

[drayd-l] / ˈdreɪd l /

noun

• dreidels,
  plural
• dreidel
  plural

1. a four-sided top bearing the Hebrew letters nun, gimel, he, and shin, one on each side, used chiefly in a children's game traditionally played on the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dreidel
  plural
• dreidels
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of dreidel

1925–30; < Yiddish dreydl, equivalent to drey ( en ) to rotate, turn (< Middle High German dræ ( je ) n, dræhen; compare G. drehen ) + -dl noun suffix

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Explanation

One fun Hanukkah tradition is playing with a dreidel, a small top with Hebrew letters on each of its four sides. Dreidel is also the name of the game played with this kind of top — and winners are often rewarded with the most chocolate coins. For generations, a common prize for being the luckiest dreidel spinner has been actual money, coins referred to as Hanukkah gelt. Candy makers invented the newer tradition of chocolate versions covered in gold foil. To play with a dreidel, you spin it, and depending which side lands facing up, you either lose game pieces or take them from the pot in the center. The Yiddish root, dreyen, means "to turn."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dreidel dreidels

We would light the candles, spin the dreidel, eat the latkes, sing the songs.

From Salon ● Dec. 14, 2023

Normally the holiday is about fun for kids, with gifts and dreidel songs.

From New York Times ● Dec. 14, 2023

The arrival of Hanukkah also brought joy, with its mix of fried foods — potato latkes and doughnuts — plus candles, gifts and the spinning-top game dreidel.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 18, 2022

Other traditions that have become ubiquitous with the Festival of Lights include gift exchanges, dreidel games, chocolate coins and gelt, potato latkes and other fried foods.

From Fox News ● Nov. 28, 2021

“Let’s teach Sara how to play dreidel while Bubbe cooks.”

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

The attack on the home, which had been decorated with inflatable animals, dreidels and menorahs for Hanukkah, was captured on surveillance video.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 15, 2025

I once threw an impromptu bash on the 4th night of Chanukah, sharing latkes and dreidels with out-of-town students and other “holiday orphans.”

From Salon ● Nov. 26, 2025

Paper lanterns decorated with menorahs and dreidels hang among Star of David ornaments and paper snowflakes over the bars.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 10, 2021

Musical menorahs entered the market starting in the 1950s, soon followed by Hanukkah sticker books and gelt-filled dreidels.

From New York Times ● Nov. 26, 2021

It’s the night of the holiday concert, when we sing about Santa and dreidels and Kwanzaa.

From "Fish in a Tree" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

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