Mizrachi
/mɪzˈrɑːxi/noun
A term referring to Jews of Middle Eastern and North African origin, or to things associated with them.
Did you know?The word ultimately connects to the Hebrew root ז־ר־ח, associated with the rising or shining of the sun, making “Mizrachi” linguistically linked to the East as the place of sunrise.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
מִזְרָח (mizrāḥ)
“East; the direction of sunrise, from a root meaning to rise or shine”
Medieval Hebrew
Hebrew
מִזְרָחִי (mizrāḥī)
“Eastern; of or belonging to the east”
19th–20th Century
Hebrew/Yiddish
Mizraḥi / Mizrachi
“An eastern person; increasingly used for Jews originating in the Middle East and North Africa”
20th Century
English
Mizrahi / Mizrachi
“A Jewish person of Middle Eastern or North African heritage, or relating to that community”
Modern English
English
Mizrachi
“An English transliteration variant of Mizrahi, also used in surnames and organizational names”