Mezuzah (meh-ZOO-zuh) is a small parchment scroll inscribed with religious Hebrew verses, housed in a protective case and affixed to the doorposts of Jewish homes. It serves as a mitzvah reminder and blessing, traditionally positioned on the right-hand doorframe. The term can refer to the scroll itself or the case that contains it, depending on context.
"She touched the mezuzah as she entered the home, a customary sign of blessing."
"The mezuzah case on the doorway was carved with decorative motifs."
"He read the blessing over the mezuzah before affixing it to the doorframe."
"The family placed a new mezuzah on the door to replace the old, weathered one."
Mezuzah comes from the Hebrew word mezuzah (מְזוּזָה), meaning ‘doorpost’ or ‘doorway.' The term is constructed from mini-forms of the Hebrew root z-w-z, related to fastening or hanging. In rabbinic usage, mezuzah refers to the scroll placed inside the case, which bears the Shema and other blessings. The concept appears in biblical times, with the practice of affixing scripture to doorposts shaped by commands in Deuteronomy 6:9 and 11:20. The modern Hebrew usage expanded to denote both the parchment and its protective case. Through centuries, customs around the mezuzah—design, blessing, quantity of verses—became standardized across Jewish communities, with variations in case materials and inscriptions. The term entered English usage via Yiddish and Hebrew-speaking communities in the early modern period, maintaining strong religious and cultural associations in Jewish households worldwide.
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Words that rhyme with "Mezuzah"
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Mezuzah is pronounced meh-ZOO-zuh, with stress on the second syllable. IPA: US /ˌmɛzuˈzɑː/ or /ˌmɛzuˈzə/ depending on speaker; UK/AU often /ˌmeɪˈzuː.zə/ in some communities but most use /ˈmɛzuˌzə/ or /ˌmɛzuˈzə/. Position the tongue for the first syllable /m/ with lips neutral, second syllable features a clear /z/ followed by a mid-central schwa, ending with an unrounded /zə/ or /zɑː/ depending on vowel quality. You’ll want a crisp /z/ before the final schwa-like vowel. Audio references: consult a native speaker pronunciation resource or Forvo entry for 'mezuzah'.
Two common mistakes: misplacing the stress (saying meh-ZOO-zuh with weak second syllable) and confusing the final vowel (saying meh-ZOO-zah or me-ZOO-zuh). Correct by stressing the second syllable: meh-ZOO-zuh, with a short first vowel and a clear /z/ onset in the second syllable. Ensure the final vowel is a schwa or a short a, not a long a. Practice by isolating the middle /zu/ cluster and then linking to the final /zə/.
US pronunciation tends to the stress on the second syllable with a clear /ˈmɛzuˌzə/ or /ˌmɛzuˈzɑː/. UK pronunciation often aligns closely with US, but some speakers may pronounce the final vowel as /ə/ or /ɑː/. Australian speakers commonly use /ˈmɛzuːzə/ or /ˌmɛzuˈzə/. The main differences are vowel quality and rhoticity: US is rhotic, pronouncing r-like vowels in sequences; UK tends toward non-rhotic tendencies with shorter final vowels; AU varies, often closer to UK variants but with Australian vowel shifts.
The difficulty lies in the two unstressed vowels and the mid-zyklike /zu/ sequence, compounded by Hebrew phonology in which the second syllable is stressed, and the final vowel can become a schwa or a low back vowel depending on speaker. The final /z/ before a schwa creates a tricky consonant-vowel transition. Additionally, some speakers substitute /z/ with /s/ or mis-neutralize the /z/ sequence, which changes the word’s rhythm and clarity.
In everyday speech, some speakers blend the second and third phonemes, leading to meh-ZO0-zah; maintain clear /zu/ onset in the second syllable and ensure the final /zə/ or /zɑː/ is not reduced to a simple /z/ or omitted. Awareness of the two Hebrew vowels in the middle syllable helps—keep the /u/ sound short and stressed, then release into the final /zə/. Practicing with minimal pairs like 'bazaar' or 'zebra' helps anchor the -z- sequences.
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