List of English words of Hebrew origin

This is a list of English words of Hebrew origin. Transliterated pronunciations not found in Merriam-Webster or the American Heritage Dictionary follow Sephardic/Modern Israeli pronunciations as opposed to Ashkenazi pronunciations, with the major difference being that the letter taw (ת) is transliterated as a 't' as opposed to an 's'.

There is a separate list of English words of Semitic origin other than those solely of Hebrew or Arabic origin.

From Hebrew words

abacus 

from Greek ἀβαξ abax 'slab' (MW), probably from אבק 'abaq 'dust' (AHD)

agora (currency) 

from (AHD) אגורה‎ agorah 'small coin' (MW)

aliyah 

from (AHD) עלייה 'aliyah 'ascent' (MW)

almemar 

from אלממר 'almemar 'bema', from Arabic المنبر al-minbar 'pulpit' (AHD)

aloe 

from Greek ἀλόη aloe (AHD) 'dried juice' (MW), from אהלים 'ahalim 'trees of lign' (SC), perhaps from Dravidian

alphabet 

perhaps from אלוף alef 'ox', 'leader' (WNW) + from Canaanite 'alp 'ox' (AHD) + from בית bet 'house', probably from Phoenician (WNW) + from Canaanite bet 'house' (AHD)

amen 

from אמן 'amen (MW) 'certainly', 'verily' (AHD)

apron 

from Latin mappa 'cloth' (MW), probably from menafa 'fluttering banner' (WNW) + perhaps from Carthaginian (AHD)

baal 

from בעל ba'al 'lord' (AHD, MW)

babel 

from (AHD, MW) בלל balal 'confound' (SC) + in part from Akkadian 𒇷𒄿 𒀊𒁀 bāb-ilu 'gate of god' (MW)

bar mitzvah 

from (AHD) בר מצוה bar miswah 'son of the law' (MW)

bath (volume) 

from בַּת bath (MW) '10 gallons liquid measure' (AHD)

bat mitzvah 

from (AHD) בת מצוה bath miswah 'daughter of the law' (MW)

bdellium 

from Greek βδέλλιον bdellion (MW), from (AHD) בְּדֹלַח bedolach (WNW) 'pieces' (SC) + from Assyrian 𒁍𒁺𒆷𒄷 budulḥu (WNW)

behemoth 

from (MW) בהמות behemot 'beasts' (AHD)

bethel 

from (AHD) ביתאל beth'el 'house of God' (MW)

bethesda (chapel) 

(OSPD) from (AHD) Greek Bethesda 'Bethesda' (WNW), probably from bayith checed 'house of kindness' (SC)

bris 

from (WNW) ברית berith 'covenant' (MW)

brith milah 

from (WNW) berith milah 'covenant of circumcision' (MW)

brouhaha 

perhaps from barukh hab-ba 'blessed be he who comes' (WNW)

byssus 

from Greek bussos (AHD), perhaps from בוץ buts (WNW) 'linen cloth', from Semitic (MW) *b-w-tz 'to be white' (WNW)

cab (volume) 

from (MW) qab 'hollow vessel' (AHD)

cabal 

from (AHD) קַבָּלָה qabbalah 'received (lore)' (MW)

camel 

from Greek κάμηλος kamelos (AHD), from (WNW) גמל gamal 'desert animal' (MW) + from Phoenician (WNW)

camelopard 

from Greek κάμηλος kamelos (AHD), from (WNW) גמל gamal 'desert animal' (MW) + from Phoenician (WNW) + from Greek (MW) πάρδος pardos 'large cat', probably from Iranian (AHD)

cane 

from Greek κάννα kanna (AHD), from קָנֶה "qaneh" 'tube', 'reed' (WNW) + from Assyrian qanu (WNW), akin to Arabic qanah 'hollow stick', 'reed' (MW)

canella 

from Greek κάννα kanna (AHD), from קָנֶה "qaneh" 'tube', 'reed' (WNW) + from Assyrian qanu (WNW), akin to Arabic qanah 'hollow stick', 'reed' (MW)

canister 

from Greek κάννα kanna (AHD), from קָנֶה "qaneh" 'tube', 'reed' (WNW) + from Assyrian qanu (WNW), akin to Arabic qanah 'hollow stick', 'reed' (MW)

cannelloni 

from Greek κάννα kanna (AHD), from קָנֶה "qaneh" 'tube', 'reed' (WNW) + from Assyrian qanu (WNW), akin to Arabic qanah 'hollow stick', 'reed' (MW)

cannon 

from Greek κάννα kanna (AHD), from קָנֶה "qaneh" 'tube', 'reed' (WNW) + from Assyrian qanu (WNW), akin to Arabic qanah 'hollow stick', 'reed' (MW)

cannula 

from Greek κάννα kanna (AHD), from קָנֶה "qaneh" 'tube', 'reed' (WNW) + from Assyrian qanu (WNW), akin to Arabic qanah 'hollow stick', 'reed' (MW)

canon 

from Greek κάννα kanna (AHD), from קָנֶה "qaneh" 'tube', 'reed' (WNW) + from Assyrian qanu (WNW), akin to Arabic qanah 'hollow stick', 'reed' (MW)

canyon 

from Greek κάννα kanna (AHD), from קָנֶה "qaneh" 'tube', 'reed' (WNW) + from Assyrian qanu (WNW), akin to Arabic qanah 'hollow stick', 'reed' (MW)

carob-from: חרוב kharuv

challah 

from (AHD) חלה ḥallah 'egg-rich yeast-leavened bread' (MW)

chazan, hazan 

from חזן ḥazzan 'cantor' (MW) + in part from Aramaic, both from Akkadian (AHD)

cherub 

from (AHD) כרוב kerubh 'celestial hierarchy angel' (MW)

chick (pea) 

from Latin cicer (MW), from kikkar 'circle'^{[citation needed]}

chutzpah 

from (AHD) חֻצְפָּה ḥuspah 'supreme self-confidence' (MW)

cider 

from (AHD) שכר shekhar 'strong drink' (MW)

copacetic 

disputed (MW) + perhaps from כל בצדק kol betsedeq 'all with justice' (AHD)

cinnamon 

from קינמון qinnamon 'brown spice' (WNW)

cor (volume), kor (volume) 

from kor (AHD, WNW) '100 gallons capacity' (MW)

corban 

from (AHD) קָרְבָּן qorban 'offering' (MW)

cotton 

from (AHD) Arabic قطن qutun (MW), perhaps from קטן qatan 'small'^{[citation needed]}

cumin 

from Greek (AHD) κύμινον kyminon (MW), perhaps from כמן kammon 'umbel' (WNW), akin to Akkadian kamunu 'carrot family plant' (MW)

date 

from (AHD) Greek δάκτυλος daktylos (MW), probably from דֶּקֶל deqel 'palm'^{[citation needed]}

deltoid 

from Greek delta (AHD), perhaps from דלת daleth 'door' (WNW), akin to Phoenician dalt 'door' (AHD)

dybbuk 

from דיבוק dibbuq 'wandering soul' (AHD, MW)

earnest (money) 

from (MW, AHD) ערב arav 'pledge' (WNW) + from Canaanite 'irrabon 'pledge', 'surety' (AHD)

edenic 

from (WNW) עדן 'eden 'delight' (AHD)

ephah 

from (AHD) איפה epha '1/10 homer dry measure', from Egyptian (MW)

galilee 

from Latin galilaea (AHD, MW), from גליל galiyl 'circle', 'circuit' (SC)

ganef 

from (AHD) גנב gannabh 'thief' (MW)

gerah 

from (MW) גרה gera 'grain', 'bean' (AHD)

get (divorce document) 

from גט get 'document of release' (MW)

golem 

from גולם golem (AHD) 'shapeless mass' (MW)

goy 

from גוי goy 'nation' (AHD, MW)

gun moll 

from (AHD) גנב gannabh 'thief' (MW) + from מִרְיָם Miryam (AHD) 'Miriam' (MW, OED) (='rebelliously') (SC) + perhaps from Egyptian (HH)

habdalah 

from (AHD) habhdalah 'separation' (MW)

haftarah, haphtarah 

from (MW, WNW) patar 'separate', 'discharge' (AHD)

haggadah 

from (AHD, MW) heged 'a saying' (WNW)

halacha 

from הלכה halakhah 'way' (MW)

hallelujah, alleluia 

from הללויה halleluyah 'praise the Lord' (AHD, MW)

halutz 

from hlc 'be in the vanguard' (WNW)

hebraize 

from (MW) עברי 'ibri (AHD) 'region across [descendant]' (SC)

heder 

from חדר hedher 'room' (MW)

homer (volume) 

from (AHD, MW) חמר‎ hamar 'surge up', 'swell up' (WNW)

hora 

from הוֹרָה horah 'circle dance of Romania and Israel', from Romanian horă (MW), from Turkish hora, perhaps from Greek χορός khoros 'round dance' (AHD)

hosanna 

from (AHD) hoshi'ah-nna 'save please' (MW)

hyssop 

from Greek (AHD) ὕσσωπος hyssopos (MW), from אזוב ezobh 'mint herb' (WNW)

iotacism 

perhaps from yodh 'hand' (WNW) + from Phoenician (AHD)

jew (verb) 

from (WNW) יהודה yehuda (AHD) 'celebrated' (SC)

jot 

perhaps from yodh 'hand' (WNW) + from Phoenician (AHD)

jubilee 

from (AHD) יובל yobhel 'ram's horn' (MW)

judas 

from (MW) יהודה yehuda (AHD) 'celebrated' (SC)

kabbalah, cabala 

from (AHD) קַבָּלָה qabbalah 'received (lore)' (MW)

kaddish 

from (AHD, MW) kds 'sanctify' (WNW)

kashrut 

from (AHD, MW) כשר ksr 'be appropriate' (WNW)

kibbutz 

from קיבוץ qibbuṣ (MW) 'gathering' (AHD)

kibitz 

from Yiddish קיבעצן kibetsn (MW), from German gibitz 'peewit' (AHD) + in part from קבץ qabazh 'grasp', 'collect'^{[citation needed]}

kibosh 

disputed (AHD, MW) + perhaps from כבש kabash 'tread down', 'disregard'^{[citation needed]}

kiddush 

from (AHD) qiddush 'sanctification' (MW)

klezmer 

from (AHD) כלי זמר keley zemer 'musical instruments' (MW)

knesset 

(OSPD) from kanas 'assemble' (AHD, WNW)

kosher 

from (AHD, MW) כשר ksr 'be appropriate' (WNW)

lambdacism 

perhaps from lamedh 'whip, 'club' (WNW) + from Phoenician (AHD)

lambdoid 

perhaps from lamedh 'whip, 'club' (WNW) + from Phoenician (AHD)

lehayim 

(OSPD) from l'chaim 'to life' (WNW)

leviathan 

from (AHD) לויתן liwyathan 'sea monster, whale' (MW)

macabre 

from French (danse) macabre (AHD, MW), probably from Latin (Chorea) Machabaeorum, from מקבה maqqaba 'hammer' (WNW), from נקב naqab 'perforate' (SC)

madeleine 

from (NI) Greek Μαγδαλα 'Magdala' (WNW) (='tower'), perhaps from גדל gadal 'large' (SC) + from (MW) Aramaic Magdela 'Magdala' (OED) (='tower') (SC)

maftir 

(OSPD) from maphtir 'one that dismisses' (NI)

magdalen 

from (MW) Greek Μαγδαλα 'Magdala' (WNW) (='tower'), perhaps from גדל gadal 'large' (SC) + from (MW) Aramaic Magdela 'Magdala' (OED) (='tower') (SC)

mahzor 

from (AHD) hzr 'return' (WNW)

manna 

from מן man (AHD, MW) (SC)

map 

from Latin mappa 'cloth' (MW), probably from menafa 'fluttering banner' (WNW) + perhaps from Carthaginian (AHD)

matzo 

from (AHD) משה massah 'unleavened bread' (MW)

maudlin 

from (MW) Greek Μαγδαλα 'Magdala' (WNW) (='tower'), perhaps from גדל gadal 'large' (SC)

maven 

from (AHD) מבין mebhin 'one who is experienced' (MW), 'one who understands' (OED)

mazeltov 

from (WNW) mazzal tob 'good luck' (AHD)

mazuma 

from (WNW) מזומן mezumman 'fixed' (AHD)

megillah 

from (MW, WNW) galal 'roll' (AHD)

menorah 

from (AHD) מנורה menorah 'candlestick' (MW)

meshuga 

from (AHD) משוגע meshugga' 'crazy' (MW)

messiah 

from (AHD) משיח mashiah 'anointed' (MW) + in part from Aramaic (AHD) meshiha 'anointed' (MW)

mezuzah 

from מְזוּזָה ‎mezuzah 'doorpost' (AHD, MW)

midrash 

from (AHD) מדרש midhrash 'exposition', 'explanation' (MW)

mikvah 

from miqwah 'purification bath' (AHD)

minyan 

from מִנְיָן minyan 'number', 'count' (MW), from Aramaic (AHD)

mitzvah 

from (AHD) מצוה miṣwah 'commandment' (MW)

mohel 

from מוהל mohel 'person qualified to perform circumcision' (WNW)

momser 

from momser 'bastard' (WNW)

mishpachah 

from mishpahah 'family', 'clan' (NI)

moshav 

from (AHD) מוֹשָׁב moshabh 'dwelling' (MW)

nabla 

probably from nebhel 'harp' (NI)

nachas 

from nach 'rest' (WNW)

napkin 

from Latin mappa 'cloth' (MW), probably from menafa 'fluttering banner' (WNW) + perhaps from Carthaginian (AHD)

nebel 

from nebhel 'harp' (NI)

omer 

from עמר 'omer (AHD) '1/10 ephah dry capacity' (MW)

parashah 

from parashah 'explanation' (MW, WNW)

pascal 

from 'Pascal' (AHD, MW), from פסח pesah 'passover' (AHD, MW, OED)

paschal 

from פסח על pasah al 'passed over' (AHD, MW, OED)

pharaoh 

from פרעה par'oh 'ruler of ancient Egypt', from Egyptian (MW) pr-'o 'great house' (AHD)

pharisee 

from Aramaic (AHD) perisha 'separated', from (MW) פרש parash 'separate' (SC), 'cleave' (WNW)

pita 

from pita 'hollow flat bread' (WNW) + from Greek (AHD, WNW)

rabbi 

from (AHD, WNW) רב rabh 'master' (MW)

rebbe 

from (AHD, WNW) רב rabh 'master' (MW)

rebbetzin 

from (WNW) רב rabh 'master' (MW)

rhotacism 

perhaps from rosh 'head' (WNW) + from Phoenician (AHD)

sabbatical 

from (MW) שׁבת sabbat 'day of rest' (AHD)

sabra 

from (AHD) sabhar 'prickly pear' (MW)

sac 

from Greek σάκκος sakkos (MW), perhaps from שק saq 'bag', 'sackcloth' (OED), from Phoenician, akin to Akkadian saqqu (AHD)

sack 

from Greek σάκκος sakkos (MW), perhaps from שק saq 'bag', 'sackcloth' (OED), from Phoenician, akin to Akkadian saqqu (AHD)

sapphire 

from (MW) ספיר sappir 'precious stone' (AHD), perhaps from Sanskrit शनिप्रिय sanipriya 'sacred to Sani'

satanic 

from שטן satan 'adversary' (MW), 'devil' (AHD)

schmooze 

from (AHD) שמועות shemu'oth 'news', 'rumor' (MW)

schwa 

from שוא schewa' 'unstressed mid-central vowel' (MW), probably from Syriac ܥܗܘܐܝܝܐ sewayya 'equal' (AHD)

seder 

from (AHD) סדר sedher 'order' (MW)

selah 

from (AHD) סֶלָה selah (MW) 'suspension', 'pause' (SC)

seraph 

from (MW) שׂרף sarap 'celestial being' (AHD)

shadchan 

(OSPD) from shiddekh 'arrange a marriage' (NI)

shadrach 

(OSPD) from (AHD) shadrach 'captive' (WNW)

shalom 

from (AHD) שָׁלוֹם shalom 'peace' (MW)

shalom aleichem 

from (AHD) שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם shalom 'alekhem 'peace unto you' (MW)

shammes 

from (AHD) שמש shammash 'sexton' (MW)

shamus 

perhaps from (AHD) שמש shammash 'sexton' (MW)

shegetz 

from (AHD) שקץ sheqes 'blemish', 'abomination' (MW)

shekel 

from (MW) שקל saqal 'weigh', from Canaanite tql (AHD)

sheol 

(OSPD) from se'ol 'underworld' (AHD), perhaps from shaal 'dig' (WNW)

shibboleth 

from (AHD) שיבולת shibboleth 'stream' (MW), 'ear of grain' (OED)

shiksa 

from (AHD, WNW) שקץ sheqes 'blemish', 'abomination' (MW)

shivah 

from (AHD) shibh'ah 'seven' (MW)

shofar 

from shophar (MW) 'ram's horn' (AHD)

siddur 

from סידור siddur 'arrangement' (AHD), 'order' (MW)

sukkah 

from סוכה sukkah 'booth', 'shelter' (MW)

sycamine 

from (AHD, MW) שִׁקמָה shiqmah 'mulberry tree' (OED)

sycamore 

from שקמה shikma 'mulberry' (WNW) + in part from Greek (AHD, WNW) συκόμορος sykomoros 'fig tree', probably of Semitic origin (MW)

tallith 

from (MW) tillel 'cover' (AHD)

talmudism 

from (MW) lamad 'learn' (AHD)

teraph 

from (AHD) טרפים teraphim 'household god' (MW)

tom 

from (AHD) תאום t'om 'twin' (MW)

torah 

from תּוֹרָה tora 'law', 'instruction' (AHD)

tref 

from tarap 'tear' (AHD)

tsuris 

from (AHD) tsarah 'calamity' (WNW)

tush 

from (AHD) תחת tahath 'under', 'beneath' (MW)

tzitzit, zizith 

from (AHD) ציצית sisith 'fringes', 'tassels' (MW)

ulpan 

from alef 'ox', 'leader' (WNW)

yanqui 

from 'Yankee' (MW), probably from (AHD) יוחנן Yohanan 'John' (MW) (='the Lord is gracious') (HH)

yeshiva 

from (AHD) ישיבה yeshibhah 'talmudic school' (MW)

yid 

from יהודה yehuda (AHD) 'celebrated' (SC)

zaddik 

from צדיק‎ saddiq 'just', 'righteous' (MW)

From Hebrew names

abelia 

from 'Abel' (AHD, MW), from הבל Hebhel 'Abel' (='emptiness') (SC)

abelian 

from 'Abel' (AHD, MW), from הבל Hebhel 'Abel' (='emptiness') (SC)

abigail 

from (MW) אֲבִיגַיִל (SC) Avigail 'Abigail' (='father of exaltation') (HH)

adam-and-eve 

from אדם Adham 'Adam' (MW) (='earth') (HH) + from חוה Hawwah 'Eve' (MW) (='living') (HH)

bedlam 

from (AHD, MW) בית לחם Beth Lechem 'Bethlehem' (='house of bread')

bejesus 

from (AHD) יֵשׁוּעַ Yeshua' 'Jesus' (MW) (='Jehovah-saved') (SC)

benday 

from (AHD) Binyamin 'Benjamin' (MW) (='son of [the] right hand') (SC) + from Old English (AHD, MW)

davit 

from (AHD) דָּוִד Dawidh 'David' (MW) (='loving') (SC)

hamantasch 

from Haman 'Haman' (MW) (='vizier') (SC) + from Yiddish (MW)

hansom 

from 'Hansom' (MW), from 'Hans', from Yohanan 'John' (='the Lord is gracious') (HH)

jack 

1 from יוחנן Yohanan 'John' (MW) (='the Lord is gracious') (HH)
2 perhaps from יַעֲקֹב Ya'aqobh 'Jacob' (MW) (='he has protected') (AHD)

jacket 

from יַעֲקֹב Ya'aqobh 'Jacob' (MW) (='he has protected') (AHD)

jacobean 

from יַעֲקֹב Ya'aqobh 'Jacob' (MW) (='he has protected') (AHD)

jacquard 

from 'Jacquard' (AHD, MW), from יַעֲקֹב Ya'aqobh 'Jacob' (MW) (='he has protected') (AHD)

jacquerie 

from יַעֲקֹב Ya'aqobh 'Jacob' (MW) (='he has protected') (AHD)

jakes 

perhaps from יַעֲקֹב Ya'aqobh 'Jacob' (MW) (='he has protected') (AHD)

jeez 

from (AHD) יֵשׁוּעַ Yeshua' 'Jesus' (MW) (='Jehovah-saved') (SC)

jehu 

from יהוא Yehu 'Jehu' (MW) (='Jehovah [is] He') (SC)

jeremiad 

from (AHD) יִרְמְיָה Yirmeyah 'Jeremiah' (MW) (='the Lord will rise') (SC)

jeroboam 

from (AHD, MW) יָרָבְעָם Yarov'am 'Jeroboam' (='people will contend') (SC)

jesuit 

from יֵשׁוּעַ Yeshua' 'Jesus' (AHD) ('Jehovah-saved') (SC)

jezebel 

from (AHD) איזבל Izebhel 'Jezebel' (MW) (='chaste') (SC)

jimmy 

from (MW) 'James' (AHD), from יַעֲקֹב Ya'aqobh 'Jacob' (MW, OED) (='he has protected') (AHD)

jockey 

from (AHD) יוחנן Yohanan 'John' (MW) (='the Lord is gracious') (HH)

joe 

from יוֹסֵף Yoseph 'Joseph' (MW) (='he shall add') (HH)

john (washroom) 

from (AHD) יוחנן Yohanan 'John' (MW) (='the Lord is gracious') (HH)

johnny (gown) 

from (AHD) יוחנן Yohanan 'John' (MW) (='the Lord is gracious') (HH)

jorum 

perhaps from (AHD, MW) Yehoram 'Joram' (='Jehovah-raised') (SC)

joseph 

from (AHD) יוֹסֵף Yoseph 'Joseph' (MW) (='he shall add') (HH)

lazar 

from (AHD) אלעזר El'azar 'Lazarus' (MW) (='God is my help') (HH)

lazaretto 

from (AHD) אלעזר El'azar 'Lazarus' (MW) (='God is my help') (HH) + from (MW) נָצְרַת‎ natzerath 'Nazareth' (WNW)

macadam 

from 'McAdam' (MW), in part from Adham 'Adam' (='earth') (HH)

macadamia 

from 'Macadam' (MW), in part from Adham 'Adam' (='earth') (HH)

marionette 

from מִרְיָם Miryam (AHD) 'Miriam' (MW, OED) (='rebelliously') (SC) + perhaps from Egyptian (HH)

marry (interjection) 

from מִרְיָם Miryam (AHD) 'Miriam' (MW, OED) (='rebelliously') (SC) + perhaps from Egyptian (HH)

mick 

from Mikha'el 'Michael' (MW) (='who [is] like God?') (SC)

mickey (drink) 

perhaps from (AHD) Mikha'el 'Michael' (MW) (='who [is] like God?') (SC)

miquelet 

probably from Catalan Miquel (NI), from Mikha'el 'Michael' (MW) (='who [is] like God?') (SC)

moll 

from מִרְיָם Miryam (AHD) 'Miriam' (MW, OED) (='rebelliously') (SC) + perhaps from Egyptian (HH)

nance 

from 'Nancy' (MW, AHD), probably in part from חנה Channah 'Anna' (OED) (='favored') (HH, SC)

nimrod 

from (AHD) נמרוד Nimrodh 'Nimrod' (='hunter') (MW)

philistine 

1 from פלשתים Pelistim 'Philistines' 'Aegean people who settled Philistia' (AHD)
2 from (MW) פלשת Pelesheth 'Philistia' (='rolling', 'migratory') (SC)

rube 

(AHD) from רְאוּבֵן Re'ubhen 'Reuben' (MW) (='see ye a son') (SC)

samaritan 

from (AHD, MW) שֹׁמְרוֹן Shomron 'Samaria' (='watch-station') (SC)

semitist 

from שם Shem 'Shem' (MW) (='name') (SC)

simony 

from (AHD) שִׁמְעוֹן Shim'on 'Simon' (MW) (='hearing') (HH, SC)

sodom 

from (MW) סדום s'dom 'Sodom' (AHD, OED) (='burnt') (SC)

toby 

from (AHD, MW) טוביה Toviah 'Tobias' (='goodness of Jehovah') (SC)

Letter names

aleph, beth, gimel, daleth, he, waw, zayin, heth, teth, yod, kaph, lamed, mem, nun, samekh, ayin, pe, sadhe, qoph, resh, shin, taw (AHD, MW, WNW)

alpha 

from Greek Άλφα alpha, perhaps from אלוף alef 'ox', 'leader' (WNW) + from Canaanite 𐤀𐤋𐤐 'alp 'ox' (AHD)

beta 

from Greek Βήτα beta, from בית bet 'house', probably from Phoenician (WNW) + from Canaanite 𐤁𐤉𐤕 bet 'house' (AHD)

gamma 

from Greek Γάμμα gamma, perhaps from גמל gimel 'ruminant beast' (WNW) + from Phoenician 𐤋𐤌𐤀𐤂 (AHD)

delta 

from Greek Δέλτα delta (AHD), perhaps from דלת deleth 'door' (WNW) + of Semitic origin, akin to Phoenician 𐤕𐤋𐤀𐤃 dalt 'door' (AHD)

eta 

from Greek eta, perhaps from chet (WNW) 'terror' (SC) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤕𐤇 (AHD)

iota 

from Greek Ιώτα iota, perhaps from יד yodh 'hand' (WNW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤕𐤏𐤉 (AHD)

kappa 

from Greek Κάππα kappa, perhaps from כף kaph (WNW) 'palm of the hand' (MW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤅𐤀𐤊 (AHD)

lambda 

from Greek Λάμβδα lambda, perhaps from למד lamedh 'whip', 'club' (WNW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤃𐤌𐤀𐤋 (AHD)

nu 

from Greek Νυ nu, perhaps from נון nun 'fish' (WNW) + of Semitic origin (AHD)

pi 

from Greek Πι pi, perhaps from פה pe 'mouth' (WNW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤄𐤐 (AHD)

rho 

from Greek Ρω rho, perhaps from ראש rosh 'head' (WNW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤔𐤏𐤓 (AHD)

tau 

from Greek Ταυ tau, perhaps from taw (WNW) 'mark', 'cross' (MW) + from (MW) Phoenician 𐤅𐤀𐤕 (AHD)

See also

• Lists of English words of international origin
• List of English words of Yiddish origin
• Hebraism

References

• AHD: American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: 3rd or 4th edition
• HH: A Dictionary of First Names, Patrick Hanks & Flavia Hodges
• MW: Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary: 10th or 11th edition
• NI: Webster's New International Dictionary: 2nd or 3rd edition
• OED: Oxford English Dictionary: online edition
• SC: Strong's Concordance
• WNW: Webster's New World Dictionary: 3rd edition
• =: a name from a word or phrase with the meaning given