siman

Edit

Pronunciations

siman (see-MAHN) listen
simen (SIH-min) listen

Record a Pronunciation

Definitions

  • n. A sign, indication, potent.

Example Sentences

  • "Funny how they offered me an interview out of the clear blue. I think it's a good siman..." (Glinert)

Record a Sentence

Languages of Origin

  • Textual Hebrew
  • Yiddish

Etymology

  • TH סימן simán (pl. סימנים simaním) 'mark, signal' > Y סימן símen (pl. סימנים simónim) 'sign, portent'

      • Who Uses This

      • Orthodox: Jews who identify as Orthodox and observe halacha (Jewish law)
      • Older: Jews who are middle-aged and older
      • Ashkenazim: Jews with Ashkenazi heritage

      Regions

      • North America

      Dictionaries

      • Yiddish and English: A Century of Yiddish in America, by Sol Steinmetz (Tuscaloosa, 1986).
      • The Joys of Hebrew, by Lewis Glinert (New York, 1992).
      • Frumspeak: The First Dictionary of Yeshivish, by Chaim Weiser (Northvale, 1995).

      Alternative Spellings

      simen

Notes

  • plural: 'simanim'

Edit     Something missing from this entry? Inaccurate? Feel free to suggest an edit.