Melamed
/məˈlɑːməd/noun
A traditional Jewish teacher, especially one who instructs children in Hebrew, the Torah, and religious texts.
Did you know?In Biblical Hebrew, the same form, מַלְמַד (malmad), can refer to an ox-goad—a pointed stick used to direct cattle—while later Jewish usage centered on the teacher who directs a student’s learning.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*l-m-d
“A reconstructed Semitic root associated with learning and teaching”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
לָמַד (lamad)
“To learn or become accustomed to knowledge”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
מַלְמַד (malmad)
“An ox-goad or cattle-prod; literally associated with directing or driving”
Rabbinic Hebrew
Hebrew
מְלַמֵּד (melammed)
“One who teaches, especially a religious instructor”
Medieval Hebrew and Yiddish
Yiddish
מלמד (melamed)
“A teacher of Jewish children, often responsible for elementary Torah instruction”
Modern English
English
melamed
“A traditional Jewish religious teacher, used especially in historical, cultural, and Jewish-studies contexts”