טלית

Hebrew

Etymology

Unclear. Suggestions include:

• From the Aramaic root ט־ל־ל (t-l-l) (related to the Hebrew root צ־ל־ל (ts-l-l); compare צל (tsél)).
• From Ancient Greek στολή (stolḗ, “garment”).

Pronunciation

• (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA^(key): /taˈlit/
• (Ashkenazi Hebrew) IPA^(key): /ˈtaləs/
• (Sephardi Hebrew) IPA^(key): /taˈlet/
• (Tiberian Hebrew) IPA^(key): /talˈliθ/
• (Biblical Hebrew) IPA^(key): /talˈliːθ/

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Noun

טַלִּית • (talit) f (plural indefinite טַלִּיתוֹת, singular construct טַלִּית־)

1. (Judaism) A tallit/tallis, prayer shawl; a shawl or cape worn during prayer.

   בבית הכנסת בבוקר האנשים לובשים טליתות

   In the synagogue in the morning the men wear prayer shawls.

2. (obsolete) A shawl, cloak, cape.

Usage notes

• The historical vowelization of this word is טַלֵּת; the modern vowelization is listed above, above the definitions. See the Mandel reference, cited below, for details.
• The historical plural of this word is unclear. The modern plural is listed above, above the definitions. See the Mandel reference, cited below, for details.
• Historically, this word's gender was masculine; the gender listed above, feminine, conforms to modern use. See the Mandel reference, cited below, for details.

Derived terms

• טלית קטן

Descendants

• → Dutch: tallit
• → English: tallit
• → Yiddish: טלית (tales)

References

• May 10, 2001, post "Tallit/talles" by Seth Mandel to Avodah, archived in volume 7, number 39.

Yiddish

Etymology

From Hebrew טַלִּית.

Pronunciation

• (YIVO) IPA^(key): /ˈtaləs/

Noun

טלית • (tales) m, plural טליתים (taleysim)

1. tallit/tallis