A Jewish place of worship and community, typically a building or room where services are held and religious study occurs. The term also denotes a congregation or the broader Jewish religious community; in modern use it can refer to synagogues of various denominations and sizes.
"The family attended the synagogue for Shabbat services."
"He joined a volunteer committee at the local synagogue."
"During the tour, the guide explained the history of the synagogue’s architecture."
"She lit the Sabbath candles after prayers at the synagogue."
Synagogue entered English from Late Latin synagoga, from Greek synagōgē, meaning a bring together or assembly. The Greek term itself derives from syn- 'together' + agein 'to lead or bring'. In Biblical/Septuagint contexts, synagōgē referred to an assembly or gathering, often for worship. In medieval Europe, as Jewish communities formed organized congregations, the term shifted to designate the house where such assemblies convened. The word cemented its religious sense in many Jewish languages (Yiddish shul, Hebrew beit knesset). First attestations in English date from the 16th–17th centuries, aligning with the growth of Ashkenazi communities in Europe and later in North America. Across centuries, “synagogue” retained its core sense of a formal assembly for prayer and study, while architectural and denominational variations (e.g., Orthodox, Reform, Conservative) refined its cultural significance. The term’s pronunciation saw stress and vowel shifts in English usage, but the spelling consistently reflects its Greek roots, preserving the 'syn- a- g -ogue' structure, even as pronunciation evolved regionally.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Synagogue" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Synagogue"
-gue sounds
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Pronounce it as /ˈsɪnəˌɡɔːɡ/ in US/UK/AU varieties, with the primary stress on the first syllable 'SYN-' and a secondary onset in the '-a- / gɔɡ' portion. Break it into syllables: syn-a-gogue. The middle 'a' is a light schwa in many speakers, while the 'ogue' ending rhymes with 'log' (in US) or 'go͡ʊɡ' depending on accent. Tip: keep the /ŋ/ nasal quiet until the ‘g’ is released, then hard /g/ at the end. You’ll want to ensure the second syllable receives less stress than the first, and the final syllable carries the glide to /ɡ/.
Common errors: pronouncing it as a long 'sine-a-gogue' with stress on the second syllable; pronouncing the final 'ogue' as 'og' without the appropriate vowel quality; pronouncing the middle 'a' as a full vowel rather than a schwa. Correct by: keeping stress on first syllable, using a light /ə/ in the middle, and finishing with a clear /ɡ/ with lip closure that doesn’t drag the vowels. Practice with chunks: 'syn-uh-GOG,' 'syn-uh-GOAG' (alternate rhythm).
In US English, /ˈsɪnəˌɡɔːɡ/ with rhotic r-color not applied to this word. UK English tends to a tighter /ɔːɡ/ that may sound like /ˈsɪnəˌɡɔːɡ/ or /ˈsɪnəˌɡɒɡ/ depending on speaker. Australian English often aligns with UK patterns but can lean toward a shorter /ɔ/ or broader /ɒ/. Across accents, the middle vowel reduces to a schwa more in casual speech, and the final /ɡ/ remains a hard g; the 'ogue' often features a mid-to-back rounded vowel in the final syllable.
Because of the combination of the unstressed schwa in the second syllable, the back rounded vowel in the final syllable, and the final hard /ɡ/ release after a nasal cluster. The 'ogue' ending can be mispronounced as 'og' or 'ogue' as in 'dialogue.' The sequence /nəˈɡɔɡ/ or /nəˈɡɒɡ/ requires precise tongue advancement and lip rounding. Also, the first syllable carries a light, clipped onset: /ˈsɪ/.
Notice the two-part stress pattern: primary weight on the first syllable and secondary intonation shift into the second half; the middle 'a' is a reduced vowel, not a full vowel. The ending 'gogue' is pronounced with a hard /ɡ/ after a short vowel; avoid blending the 'n' and 'g' too closely. IPA reminder: /ˈsɪnəˌɡɔːɡ/ (US/UK/AU).
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