Englewood, NJ Guide to Hebrew Holiday Words and Phrases

Hebrew holiday vocabulary can make Jewish celebrations easier to understand, whether a family is learning the names of holidays, following a service, reading a children’s book, or participating in a community gathering. Many familiar terms are Hebrew words, while others come from Aramaic or Yiddish. Pronunciation may also vary by family and tradition.

For residents of Englewood, NJ, a small working vocabulary can be especially useful during the holiday season, when households may move between English conversation, Hebrew prayers, holiday songs, and traditional foods. The guide below explains common terms in plain language.

What are the most useful Hebrew holiday words to learn first?

The most useful starting words describe the calendar, religious observance, food, prayer, and greetings.

• Chag — holiday or festival. It is often used in the phrase Chag sameach, meaning “happy holiday.”
• Mo’adim — appointed times or festivals. The longer greeting Mo’adim l’simcha means “may your festivals be joyful.”
• Yom Tov — literally “good day,” referring to a major Jewish festival or holy day.
• Shabbat — the weekly Sabbath, observed from Friday evening until Saturday evening.
• Kodesh — holy or sacred.
• Kiddush — a blessing recited over wine or grape juice, commonly at the beginning of Shabbat or a festival meal.
• Hamotzi — the blessing over bread.
• Birkat Hamazon — the Grace After Meals, traditionally recited after eating bread.
• Tefillah — prayer.
• Machzor — a prayer book used especially for the High Holidays and certain festivals.
• Siddur — the regular Jewish prayer book used throughout the year.

The word chag is pronounced with a throaty “ch” sound in many Hebrew traditions. English speakers may approximate it as “khag,” although pronunciation differs among families and communities.

What are the Hebrew names for the major holidays?

Many holidays have Hebrew names that are commonly used in both religious and cultural settings.

• Rosh Hashanah — the Jewish New Year. The name literally means “head of the year.”
• Yom Kippur — the Day of Atonement, traditionally associated with fasting, prayer, reflection, and seeking forgiveness.
• Sukkot — the Festival of Booths, named for the temporary outdoor structure called a sukkah.
• Shemini Atzeret — a separate concluding festival connected with the end of Sukkot.
• Simchat Torah — a celebration marking the completion and restarting of the annual Torah-reading cycle.
• Chanukah or Hanukkah — the Festival of Lights. Hebrew spelling varies because the original pronunciation includes a sound that does not have an exact English equivalent.
• Tu BiShvat — a date associated with trees and the natural world. The “Tu” represents the Hebrew number 15, and “BiShvat” means “of Shevat,” the Hebrew month.
• Purim — a joyful holiday associated with the Book of Esther.
• Pesach — Passover, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt.
• Shavuot — the Festival of Weeks, traditionally associated with receiving the Torah.
• Tisha B’Av — a day of mourning connected with the destruction of the ancient Temples and other tragedies in Jewish history.

The term Yom Tov is used most often for the major festival days on which traditional Jewish law places restrictions similar to, but not identical with, Shabbat. The exact practices depend on the holiday and the household’s tradition.

Which words are connected with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur?

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are known together as the Yamim Nora’im, meaning “Days of Awe” or “Days of Reverence.” They are also often called the High Holidays in English.

Important vocabulary includes:

• Shofar — a ram’s horn sounded during Rosh Hashanah services and at the end of Yom Kippur.
• Teshuvah — returning, often understood as repentance or a renewed commitment to better choices.
• Selichot — prayers asking for forgiveness.
• Vidui — confession or acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
• Tzedakah — charitable giving or acts of justice.
• G’mar chatimah tovah — “may you be sealed for a good year.” This greeting is commonly used during the High Holiday season.
• Shanah tovah — “good year,” a widely used Rosh Hashanah greeting.
• Tzom kal — “an easy fast,” often said before or during Yom Kippur.

A common misconception is that shanah tovah is limited to the first day of Rosh Hashanah. It may be used throughout the holiday period, while g’mar chatimah tovah is more closely associated with the days leading up to and including Yom Kippur.

What Hebrew vocabulary is used during Sukkot?

The central word for Sukkot is sukkah, a temporary structure where many families eat meals or spend time during the holiday. The plural is sukkot, which is also the name of the festival.

Other useful terms include:

• Arba minim — the “four species” used during Sukkot.
• Lulav — a bundle containing palm, myrtle, and willow branches.
• Etrog — a citron fruit used with the lulav.
• Schach — the natural covering placed on top of a sukkah.
• Ushpizin — symbolic or spiritual guests traditionally welcomed into the sukkah.

Because autumn weather can shift quickly, households may adapt how they use a sukkah. In a dense residential setting, the structure may be placed in a yard, driveway area, patio, or another permitted outdoor space. The vocabulary remains the same even when the physical setup differs.

Which words are associated with Chanukah?

Chanukah vocabulary often appears in songs, games, children’s activities, and family meals.

• Nes — miracle.
• Nissim — miracles.
• Nes gadol hayah sham — “a great miracle happened there,” a phrase associated with the traditional dreidel game.
• Dreidel — the spinning top used during Chanukah. In Hebrew, it is called a sevivon.



• Sufganiyah — a jelly-filled doughnut commonly eaten during Chanukah.
• Levivot — potato pancakes, also called latkes in English.
• Ner — candle.
• Chanukiah — the nine-branched lamp used during Chanukah. It is often called a menorah in everyday English.
• Shamash — the service candle used to light the other Chanukah candles.

The phrase Chag Chanukah sameach means “happy Chanukah holiday,” although simply saying Chag sameach is also understandable.

What Hebrew terms are useful for Purim, Pesach, and Shavuot?

Each spring festival has its own vocabulary.
For Purim:

• Megillat Esther — the Scroll of Esther.
• Megillah — the scroll itself, often referring specifically to Esther’s story during Purim.
• Mishloach manot — gifts of food sent to friends.
• Matanot la’evyonim — gifts to people in need.
• Hamantaschen — a triangular pastry commonly associated with Purim.

For Pesach:

• Haggadah — the book used during the Passover Seder.
• Seder — the structured ritual meal and service held on the first nights of Passover.
• Matzah — unleavened bread.
• Maror — bitter herbs.
• Charoset — a sweet mixture representing mortar used by the Israelites in Egypt.
• Afikoman — a piece of matzah eaten near the end of the Seder.
• Chametz — food made from grain that has fermented or risen and is restricted during Passover.

For Shavuot:

• Matan Torah — the giving of the Torah.
• Tikkun Leil Shavuot — an all-night or extended study session held on the first night of Shavuot in some traditions.
• Megillat Ruth — the Scroll of Ruth, traditionally read on Shavuot.

How can families practice holiday Hebrew at home?

Short, repeated practice is usually more effective than memorizing a long vocabulary list. Children and adults can label holiday objects, match Hebrew words with pictures, or use one phrase during a meal.
A simple practice routine might include:

• Saying Shanah tovah during Rosh Hashanah.
• Identifying the shofar, machzor, and kiddush cup.
• Naming the sukkah, lulav, and etrog during Sukkot.
• Practicing the names of the Chanukah candles and the shamash.
• Finding matzah, maror, and charoset during a Seder.
• Using Chag sameach as a general holiday greeting.

Learning the meaning behind each word makes pronunciation easier to remember. It also helps learners recognize that holiday Hebrew is not only a set of religious terms; it is a practical language of greetings, stories, meals, songs, and shared family traditions.