ENGLISH
REFERENCE

rachel

n. countable
A1 Beginner US //ˈɹeɪtʃəɫ// rachel

n. a common name for a woman or girl. It comes from an old word for a female sheep.

n. a female given name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'ewe'. It is a common biblical name used widely in English-speaking cultures.


SIMPLE

My friend Rachel is coming to dinner tonight.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager asked Rachel to lead the presentation because of her excellent public speaking skills.

COMPLEX

While the name Rachel has fluctuated in popularity over the decades, it remains a classic choice that bridges traditional and modern naming conventions.

Origin

Borrowed from Late Latin Rāchēl, from Ancient Greek Ῥαχήλ (Rhakhḗl), from Biblical Hebrew רָחֵל (rāḫēl, “ewe”). Doublet of Raquel.

Usage

As a proper noun, it is always capitalized.

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