# Israeli

/ˌɪzˈɹeɪɫi/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/israeli
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. origin or relation

adjective · CEFR A2

coming from or related to the country of Israel.

For teachers: relating to the modern State of Israel, its inhabitants, or its culture.

- We went to a local restaurant to try some traditional Israeli food.
- The Israeli tech sector has seen significant growth over the last decade, attracting substantial venture capital from international investors.

### 2. a person

noun · CEFR A2

a person who comes from Israel.

For teachers: a citizen or inhabitant of the modern State of Israel, or a person of Israeli descent.

- My new neighbour is an Israeli who moved here to study engineering.
- The conference brought together Israelis and Palestinians to discuss regional water management and environmental cooperation.

### 3. the language

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a name sometimes used for the modern Hebrew language spoken in Israel.

For teachers: a term occasionally used in linguistics to distinguish Modern Hebrew from Biblical or Rabbinic Hebrew.

- Some scholars prefer to call the modern language Israeli rather than Hebrew.
- In certain academic circles, the term Israeli is used to highlight the unique linguistic evolution of the language since the late nineteenth century.

Usage: Usually refers to the language as a whole in a linguistic context.

## Examples

- My new neighbor is an Israeli who moved here last year.
- The conference brought together an Israeli scientist and several colleagues from across Europe to discuss water conservation.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.