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shul

shul

5 9.4
A building where Jewish people meet to pray and learn
  • noun
  • /ʃʊl/
  • Jargon
translation icon : sinagoga
  • Every Friday evening, the community gathers for prayer at the shul before celebrating Shabbat.
  • go to shul
  • walk to shul
  • little shul

And you know, shul seems full of life.

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Examples

Synonyms

temple
vsshul
234 2.8

A building where Jewish people meet to pray and take part in religious events

is the Yiddish community name for that meeting place
synagogue
vsshul
100 3.8

A building where Jewish people meet to pray and learn

is the Yiddish community name for that same building

Surface Forms

shul singular
shuls plural

Etymology

The word shul comes from Yiddish and from the same word as the English school, which used to mean 'place for learning'. In many Jewish communities the shul was both a school and a place to pray, so the idea of 'school' helps explain why shul now means a synagogue.