sit shiva

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Pronunciations

sit shiva (SIT SHIH-vuh) listen

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Definitions

  • v. To take part in the week-long period of mourning after the death of a relative, during which close relatives stay at home and greet visitors.

Example Sentences

  • "The Feingolds can't come to our party, they're sitting shiva."

  • "A rabbi or cantor can guide you on the number of days to sit shiva and guide you in designating specific times for members of the community to visit and offer condolences." (source)

  • "Is your aunt sitting shiva at her own home or at your cousin's?" (Glinert)

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Languages of Origin

  • Textual Hebrew
  • Yiddish
  • English

Etymology

  • partial calque of Y זיצן שיבֿעה zitsn shive, lit. 'to sit shiva; observe the seven days of mourning'; mourners traditionally sit on low stools during this time, so someone in mourning is said to be 'sitting shiva'

      • Who Uses This

      • Jews: Jews of diverse religious backgrounds and organizational involvements
      • Non-Jews: (words that have spread outside of Jewish networks)

      Regions

      • North America

      Dictionaries

      • None

      Alternative Spellings

      sit shivah, sit shive, sit shiveh

Notes

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