‘Kosher’ now kosher for Spanish speakers
Two weeks ago, we told you that the Hebrew Language Academy introduced new words for “patriarchalism” and “matriarchalism” into the official Hebrew vocabulary. (They’re “avhatanut” and “imhatanut.” You’re welcome.)
Now, two words from that vocabulary — the more familiar “kosher” and “hummus” — have earned coveted status in the official lexicon of the Royal Spanish Academy. The words will appear in the next print edition of the Dictionary of the Spanish Language, which will be published next year, and already are available online.
The Royal Spanish Academy, or RAE, is the main institution that establishes and reinforces the use of the Spanish language worldwide.
Approximately 570 million people around the world speak Spanish. The countries with the most Spanish speakers are Mexico, with 122 million; the United States, with 57 million; Colombia, with 48 million; Spain, with 47 million, and Argentina, with 44 million. Spanish is the most common second language spoken in the United States.
RAE defined “kosher” in its online version 23.1 of the dictionary as: “A product, a meal, a menu, etc. 1. Obtained or prepared according to the precepts of Judaism. 2. Said of an establishment: selling or serving kosher products.”
“Hummus” is defined in the dictionary as “Chickpea paste typical of Arabic cuisine, usually seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice, sesame, and garlic.”
Both words were presented on December 20 as part of the first update of the online dictionary, available since 2015 and the main source for online searches about the correct use of the Spanish language.
By the end of this year, the online dictionary will have had nearly a billion searches, according to RAE authorities.
JTA Wire Service
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