Goyim

/ˈɡɔɪɪm/ noun

Definition

Non-Jewish people, or those who are not members of the Jewish faith; plural of 'goy,' used in Jewish communities and in English.

Etymology

From Hebrew 'goyim,' the plural of 'goy,' meaning 'nation' or 'people,' originally used to describe non-Israelite peoples, later specifically non-Jewish people.

Kelly Says

The word 'goyim' has survived in English for over 1,000 years because it served a specific cultural purpose—it let Jewish communities identify an 'us versus them' boundary that was important for maintaining religious and cultural identity.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.