Reuben

American  

[roo-buhn] / ˈru bən /

noun

1. the eldest son of Jacob and Leah. Genesis 29, 30.

2. one of the 12 tribes of Israel, the tribe traditionally descended from him.

3. Reuben sandwich.

4. a male given name.

---

Reuben British  

/ ˈruːbɪn /

noun

1. the eldest son of Jacob and Leah: one of the 12 patriarchs of Israel (Genesis 29:30)

2. the Israelite tribe descended from him

3. the territory of this tribe, lying to the northeast of the Dead Sea

---

Etymology

Origin of Reuben

From Late Latin Ruben, from Greek Rhoubḗn, from Hebrew Rĕʾūbhēn, of uncertain origin, but traditionally translated as “Behold, a son!” and associated with Rāʾāh bĕʿōnī “He (God) has looked upon my affliction” (by granting Leah a son)

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Reuben

Langer’s No. 44 is a hot pastrami Reuben sandwich with sauerkraut and nippy cheese on grilled rye bread.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

Twelve years ago, wee Reuben Ward watched wide-eyed as Dan Keatings won gymnastics gold for Scotland in Glasgow.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

Some—like the Shakespeare-reading New Hampshire farmer John Ordway and the Kentucky woodsmen Joseph and Reuben Field—were poor and bored and ready for adventure.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026

The previous ambassador, Reuben Brigety, resigned in November 2024, just before Trump took office.

From Barron's ● Feb. 17, 2026

Natalie knew that Hurricane Reuben had already brushed Puerto Rico, where Natalie’s mother had been born and Natalie’s father still lived, and made a devastating landfall in the Dominican Republic.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---