English Reference

Word

elizabeth

Phoneticseliz·a·beth

/ɪˈɫɪzəbəθ/

Definition

n. a popular first name for women.

n. A common female given name, derived from the Hebrew 'Elisheva', meaning 'my God is an oath'.

Examples

“Elizabeth is the name of my new manager.”

“The history teacher explained that Elizabeth was a very popular name during the Tudor period in England.”

“While the name Elizabeth remains a perennial favorite for its traditional appeal, many parents today choose it specifically for the wide variety of nicknames it offers to a child.”

Examples

simple

“Elizabeth is the name of my new manager.”

contextual

“The history teacher explained that Elizabeth was a very popular name during the Tudor period in England.”

complex

“While the name Elizabeth remains a perennial favorite for its traditional appeal, many parents today choose it specifically for the wide variety of nicknames it offers to a child.”

Usage

Often shortened to Liz, Beth, Bess, or Eliza in informal contexts.

Teaching tip

Learners should be aware that this name has many common nicknames, and the choice of nickname often depends on the person's age or preference.

Etymology

From Middle English Elizabeth, from the Ancient Greek Ἐλισάβετ (Elisábet), a transliteration of the Old Testament Biblical Hebrew אלישבע (ʔĕlîšeḇaʕ, “my God is an oath”). See El and שבועה. Doublet of Elisheba and Isabel.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
A1 · Beginner
Frequency
Common
Updated

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English Reference