rebbetzin

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Yiddish רביצין (rebetsin), from Hebrew רב (rebbe, “master”) plus Slavic *-itsa (feminine suffix) plus Yiddish ־ין (-in, feminine suffix).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛbətsɪn/

Noun

rebbetzin (plural rebbetzins)

1. (Judaism) The wife of a rabbi.
   • 2007, Michael Chabon, The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, 4th Estate (2010), page 216:

     Sometimes when they could not get to Mendel, the women would come to her, to the rebbetzin, and she would bless them as well as she could, with the little wherewithal she brought to the task.

2. (Judaism) Mrs.