averah

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Pronunciations

averah (uh-VAY-ruh) listen
averah (ah-vay-RAH) listen
averah (uh-VAY-ruh) listen

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Definitions

  • n. A religious transgression; sin.

  • n. An unethical act.

  • n. A pity.

Example Sentences

  • "Speaking gossip is an aveirah."

  • “It’s an averah to discard that dress; I’ve only worn it twice.” (NJY)

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Languages of Origin

  • Textual Hebrew
  • Yiddish

Etymology

  • TH עבירה averá > Y עבֿירה avéyre, נעװײרע neveyre

      • Who Uses This

      • Orthodox: Jews who identify as Orthodox and observe halacha (Jewish law)

      Regions

      • North America
      • Australia / New Zealand
      • Great Britain
      • South Africa

      Dictionaries

      • The New Joys of Yiddish, by Leo Rosten and Lawrence Bush (New York, 2003[1968]).
      • Yiddish and English: A Century of Yiddish in America, by Sol Steinmetz (Tuscaloosa, 1986).
      • The Joys of Hebrew, by Lewis Glinert (New York, 1992).
      • Dictionary of Jewish Usage: A Popular Guide to the Use of Jewish Terms, by Sol Steinmetz (Lanham, MD, 2005).
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      Alternative Spellings

      aveirah, aveyra, avera, neveyre, neveyreh, nevayreh, nevayre, nevayra, neveyra, aveire, aveireh, aveirah, aveira

Notes

  • A sin of lust or uncontrollable emotion, something one would not ordinarily do, committed against one's better judgment. It is a sin done knowingly, not in brazen defiance of G-d's will, but rather because a "spirit of foolishness" came over the sinner.

    plural: 'aveyrot', 'aveyros', 'aveyrot', or 'aveyros'

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