Hanukkah

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈhÊŒ.nÊŠ.kÉ™/, /ˈhæn.É™.kÉ™/
• US IPA: /ˈhɑː.nÉ™.kÉ™/, /ˈxɑː.nÉ™.kÉ™/

Alternative forms

• The most common form is Hanukkah, followed by Chanukah and Hanukah. Other forms, which are only a fraction as common, include: Hanuka, Chanuka, Chanukka, Chanukkah, Hannuka, Khanukah, Chanuko, Channukah, Hannukah, Channuka, Hanukka, Chanuca, and Chanuccah. The forms Hannukka, Channukkah, and Chanucca are very rare.

Origin

Originated 1890–95. From Hebrew חנוכה
חֲנֻכָּה (khanuká, "dedication, consecration") from חָנַךְ (khanákh, "to dedicate, to consecrate").

Full definition of Hanukkah

Proper noun

1. (Judaism) An eight-day Jewish festival, starting on the 25th day of Kislev, which commemorates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem after the victory of the Maccabees over the Greek Syrians.

Synonyms

• Feast of Dedication
• Feast of Lights
• Festival of Lights

Related terms

• hanukkiah