Glossary of Basic Vocabulary
("Ch" is pronounced like "kh"; vowels are much like Spanish, and the apostrophe stands for the "schwa", a very short, unstressed vowel.)
Adam: Human being, mankind, humanity
Adon, Adonai: Master (often a substitute for YHWH)
Am: A people (particular ethnicity/group)
Aviv: Springtime (when green ear of barley is visible)
Avodah: Service, worship, spiritual work
Bikkur: Firstborn, firstfruit
Baruch: Blessed (Barchu = bless! plural)
Basar: Flesh, meat, glad news
Bat: Daughter (suburb, hill around Jerusalem)
Ben: Son, descendant (plural B'nei=children)
Beyt, Beth: House, household, place
Beyt ha Miqdash: "House of the Sanctuary"--the Temple
Beyt Knesset: House of assembly = synagogue
B'rith: Covenant (cutting)
B'rith Chadashah: New or Renewed Covenant
B'rit Milah: Circumcision
Chai: Life, to be alive
Chag: Holy festival, dancing in a circle
Chayim: Life, Living (pl. as in Mayim Chayim)
Chodesh: Moon, a month (Chadash = make new, renew)
Echad: One (or unified, acting fully in unison)
Elohim, El: Mighty ones, judges (human or spiritual)
(Eloheynu=our El): name of YHWH emphasizing His justice
Emunah: Faith (Aman=steadfast, firm, trustworthy)
Eretz, Aretz: Land (e.g., Eretz Israel); Earth
Even: Building stone
Gam = also, even
Goyim: Nations or Gentiles
HaMotzi: "Who brings forth"; blessing over bread
HaM'vorach: The One who is to be blessed
HaShem: "The Name"-- frequent Jewish substitute for YHWH
Havdallah: Making a distinction (ceremony ending Sabbath)
Hesed: Mercy, Lovingkindness
Hineh: Behold! Here (is)!
Ish /Ishah: Man /Woman
Kavod: Glory, weight, importance, esteem
Kiddush: Sanctification (blessing over wine)
L'Olam va Ed: Forever; lit., "to the age and until..."
Lo-Ammi: "Not My people"
Lo-Ruhamah: "No Pity"
Mal'ach: Angel, Messenger
Mal'achah: Work (for our own sustenance, payment;
representing someone else; forbidden on the Sabbath)
Malchut: Kingdom (Malchuto = His reign)
Mashiach: Messiah, Anointed One
Mayim: Water(s)
Mayim Chayim: "Living"/running/flowing water
Melech: King, sovereign; Molech: the ruling one
Menorah: Lampstand; candlestick (Ner=candle)
Mevaser: One who brings glad news (besorah)
Miqdash: Sanctuary (set-apart place)
Miqveh: Ritual purification bath (immersion pool), collection
Mishkan: "Dwelling place", tabernacle
Mishnah: 2nd "Tanak" explanatory companion vol.
Mitzvah: Commandment, order, placing in charge
Mo'ed: Appointed time, proper time, set time, appointment
Nefesh: Soul, life, desire (resides in the blood), motivation
Od: Again, still, repeated
Olam: Age, Universe, World, Eternity
Or: Light (or, more basically, energy)
Oseh: One who does/makes; making; doing
Qadosh: Holy, set apart, separate, one of a kind
Qodesh: Holy One; being holy; in a separate category
Regel: Foot, leg (Regalim= pilgrim festivals)
Reshith: Beginning (B'reshith = Genesis)
Rishon: First (Yom haRishon = Sunday, etc.)
Rosh: Head (related to Reshith and Rishon)
Rosh Khodesh: New Moon/"Head of the Renewing"
Ruach: Spirit, breath, wind
Ruhamah: Compassion, Pity
Sameach: Joyful, glad (e.g., Chag Sameach!)
Sasson: Gladness
Shaliach: Sent one (shalach=send; Shiloach=sent)
Shalom: Peace, greeting, well-being, wholeness
Shamar: Observe, keep, watch over, guard
Shamayim: Heavens, sky, euphemism for YHWH
Shanah: Year (HaShanah= the year)
Sh'khinah: Dwelling presence of YHWH
Shem: Name (Shemo = His name)
Sheva: Seven or an oath; completion
Shevet: Sitting, dwelling (from Yashav)
Sh'ma: Hear, listen, hearken, obey
Shofar: A trumpet made from an animal horn
Shomer: One who keeps/guards/watches over/is observant
Simchah: Joy; simchu = be joyful (sameach)
Talmid(ah): Student
Talmud: Book of Learning, expands on the Mishnah
Tanach, Tanak: Hebrew Scriptures--An acrostic for Torah (instruction), Navi'im (prophets), and K'tuvim (writings)
Tavnit: Picture, type, stamped image, pattern, blueprint
Torah: Instruction, teaching, legal directive
Tsadiq: A righteous person, one who does the right thing
Ts'daqah: Righteousness/Charity, fine balance/restoring equity
Tsion: "Zion"--safe place; mountain at site of Jerusalem
Tsur: Rock (place of refuge)
Yachad: Together (in unity), Yachid: community (based on Echad)
Yashav: To sit, settle down, dwell (> Yeshiva)
Yerushalayim: Jerusalem ("He will see double peace")
YHWH, Yahweh/Y'hovah: The revealed name of the Creator
Yeshuah: Salvation (Yisheynu = our salvation)
Zecher: Remembrance (of a command only applicable in the Land); marked; male
FESTIVALS
Chag haMatzah: Feast of Unleavened Bread
Pesakh: Passover
Shabbat: Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, "ceasing"
Shavuoth: Pentecost or "Feast of Weeks"
Sukkoth: Feast of Booths or Tabernacles
Yom haBikkurim: Day of Firstfruits
Yom haTeruah: Day of Trumpet-blast (awakening, alarm)
Yom haKippurim: Day of Coverings
Chol haMoed: Ordinary days during a festival
OFFERIINGS:
Chata'at: Sin Offering
Korban: Drawing Near
Olah: Burnt (Ascending/Elevating) Offering
Shalem: Peace Offering
T'rumah: Lifting off/contribution ("wave offering")
Minchah: Grain/unleavened bread offering