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Hanukkah or Chanukah?

December 20, 2011

Have you always wondered why the Jewish Festival of Lights is sometimes written with an H and other times with a Ch? You are not alone!

Hanukkah and Chanukah refer to the same eight-day festival. The Ch version is not meant to be pronounced like the "ch" in "chin." It is actually meant to sound more like an "h" with a guttural throat clearing. The change in spelling serves as a reminder that the Hebrew word would be pronounced with a throaty "h" not a typical English "h."

Ask your teacher to assign a lesson on Chanukah from our Holidays & Events section.

Happy Chanukah!

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Comments (2)

Literacy U.(Teacher)

ch but both can be used?

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Tara Benwell(Author)

Correct. These are the most widely used spellings of the Jewish festival when referred to in English. Since it is a Hebrew word, there is no direct transliteration.

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