Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Jew” come from?

Jew comes from Middle English Giw, from Old French juiu, from Latin iudaeus, from Ancient Greek Ἰουδαῖος, from Hebrew יְהוּדִי, ultimately from the Hebrew root יָדָה meaning to praise.

Jew (English): An adherent of Judaism; A member or descendent of...

Definitions

  1. An adherent of Judaism; A member or descendent of...

Ancestry of “Jew”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishJewJew; Israelite
2Old FrenchjuiuAlternative form of Giu
3LatinIūdaeus—
4Ancient GreekἸουδαῖοςJew or Judean
5Ancient GreekἸουδάJudah
6HebrewיְהוּדָהJudas; Judah, Judas

Words derived from “Jew”

  • Jewish
  • Jewishness
  • jew
  • Jewishly
  • Jewification
  • Jewy
  • Jewman
  • Jewless
  • Jewify
  • Jewdom
  • Jewland
  • Jewishish
  • Jewiness
  • Jewlike
  • anti-Jewish
  • anti-Jewishness
  • anti-Jewism
  • Jewlessness
  • Jewdar
  • anti-Jew
  • Jewsploitation
  • Jew-free
  • Jewfucker
  • jewbush
Every word from Hebrew יְהוּדָה →