Shavuoth

1 9.9

A Jewish holiday that remembers when Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai

noun
/ʃəˈvuːəθ/

: Shavuot

Every year, the family gathers to celebrate Shavuoth with traditional foods and prayers.

Examples

Many synagogues hold all-night study sessions in honor of Shavuoth.
We celebrate Shavuoth every year in June.
Shavuoth marks the occasion when Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.
During Shavuoth, we read the Book of Ruth.
On Shavuoth, families gather to celebrate the giving of the Ten Commandments.
Jewish communities read the Book of Ruth during Shavuoth festivities.
Shavuoth is marked by the decoration of homes and synagogues with flowers.

Synonyms

Shavuot

vsShavuoth

1 9.9

A Jewish holiday that celebrates God giving the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai

is the same holiday but spelled with a different English form

Pentecost

vsShavuoth

1 7.7

A Jewish holy day in early summer when people remember God giving the Ten Commandments to Moses

is the same festival but uses a different traditional name

Feast of Weeks

vsShavuoth

7.6

A Jewish holiday called Shavuot that remembers Moses receiving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai

is the same holiday but given as a translated descriptive title

Shabuoth

vsShavuoth

9.9

A Jewish festival in late spring that remembers Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai

is the same observance but uses an alternate spelling or form

Shavous

vsShavuoth

9.9

A Jewish holiday that remembers Moses receiving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai

is the same observance but shown with a different spelling variant

Surface Forms

Shavuoth singular

Shavuoths plural

Etymology

Shavuoth comes from the Hebrew word shavuot, which means 'weeks', like the English week, and is also called the 'Feast of Weeks'. It marks seven weeks after Passover and remembers when Moses received the Ten Commandments, so the name reminds people of the weeks counted before the holiday.