What is the difference between Yiddish and Hebrew?
Yiddish and Hebrew are the common languages spoken by Jews. These two languages are dissimilar and have no connection with each other.
The main difference between Hebrew and Yiddish is that the former is the official language of Jews residing in Israel while the latter is the second prominent language spoken by Jews around the world.
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Comparison Table (Yiddish vs Hebrew)
| Basic Terms | Yiddish | Hebrew |
| Language Family | German dialect which consists of several languages | The Semitic language is spoken in the Middle East |
| Birthplace | Bring up European culture i.e Jewish communities in Europe | Bring up the image of Israel of the Middle East culture |
| Original Purpose | Language mainly for daily conversation at home and in businesses | The official language of Jewish people |
| Locality | The United States among Hasidic communities | Israel first language |
| Total Speakers | 3 Million | 10 Million |
| Regulated by | No formal body | Academy of the Hebrew language |
| Primary Use | Slum-dwellers | Official and modern language |
Who Speak Yiddish?
Yiddish is the second most language spoken by Jews in different parts of the world. However, the language is spoken by a small group of Jews residing in Europe and America.
Yiddish is a newer language derived from Hebrew. It is a fusion of the German dialect and many other languages in Europe.
Some consonants used in the language like ayin and aleph work as vowels in Yiddish. But there is still a lot of research being undertaken about Yiddish phonology.
Who Speak Hebrew?
It is the official language of Jews residing in Israel. The language is found in the bible and it used to be challenging to comprehend by commoners. The language is not widely spoken since it is considered holy.
Hebrew is a Semitic language that evolved in the early 2nd millennium BC in the Israel and Middle East. The language was initially spoken by the Canaanite people who were followers of the Jewish faith.
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Main Difference between Yiddish and Hebrew
- Yiddish is spoken by slum dwellers while Hebrew is an official language
- Yiddish is spoken by a small group of people while Hebrew is spoken by a large group of people.
- Yiddish is a newer language while Hebrew is an ancient language spoken by Canaanite people
- Yiddish is not regulated by any formal body while Hebrew is regulated by a formal body
- Yiddish bring up European culture whereas Hebrew bring up the image of Israel and the Middle East
Similarities between Yiddish and Hebrew
- Both share the same Hebrew script
- Both have the same pronunciation
- Both languages experience a renaissance in secular literature
- Both languages are used by Jewish communities
- Both Languages are common in Israel
In Conclusion
Hebrew and Yiddish are languages used by the Jewish community. These languages have some Hebrew script and pronunciation.
Hebrew is a millennial and official language in Israel. Yiddish is a language commonly used by Ghetto or slum dwellers. It is the second-largest spoken language in Israel.
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