Etymology Explorer › Ecclesiastical Latin

Where does “rabbi” come from?

rabbi (Ecclesiastical Latin) comes from Ancient Greek ῥαββί, from Hebrew רבי, from Hebrew רַב, from Proto-Semitic rabb- — to expand, to extend; lord, owner, chief;...

Ancestry of “rabbi”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient GreekῥαββίO my Master
2Hebrewרביrabbi, spiritual teacher
3Hebrewרַבmaster, teacher, rabbi; master; master, rabbi
4Proto-Semiticrabb-to expand, to extend; lord, owner, chief;...

Words derived from “rabbi”

  • rabbi
  • rabbinical
  • rabbinate
  • nonrabbinical
  • antirabbinical
  • rabbinat
  • rabbin
  • rabbinique
Every word from Proto-Semitic rabb- →