shivah
|shi-vah|
/ˈʃiːvə/
seven-day mourning
Etymology
'shivah' originates from Hebrew, specifically the word 'shiv'ah' (שִׁבְעָה), where the root 'sh-v-ʿ' meant 'seven'.
'shivah' came into English via Jewish religious and cultural contact (through Yiddish and modern Hebrew usage) and was borrowed as 'shiva'/'shivah' to denote the seven-day mourning practice.
Initially related to the number 'seven' or 'seven days', it came to denote specifically the seven-day period of mourning and the observances associated with it.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a Jewish mourning period of seven days observed by immediate relatives after the burial of a close family member; also the gathering held during that period.
The family sat shivah at their home for seven days after the funeral.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/18 09:33