ENGLISH
REFERENCE

israeli

n. countable
A2 Elementary US //ˌɪzˈɹeɪɫi// is·raeli Dialect

n. a person from Israel or someone who has citizenship there.

n. a citizen or national of the state of Israel, or a person of Israeli descent.


SIMPLE

My new neighbor is an Israeli who moved here last year.

CONTEXTUAL

The conference brought together an Israeli scientist and several colleagues from across Europe to discuss water conservation.

COMPLEX

As an Israeli living abroad, she often found herself acting as an unofficial cultural ambassador, explaining the nuances of her home country's diverse traditions to her peers.

Origin

From Hebrew ישראלי (jiśrəʾēlî). By surface analysis, Israel + -i. Usage as a synonym for "Modern Israeli Hebrew" was popularized by Ghil'ad Zuckermann.

Usage

The word is capitalized in all contexts. When used as a collective noun for the people of the nation, it takes the definite article: 'the Israelis'.

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