Jewish people historically and currently speak a variety of languages, reflecting their diverse communities and histories. Primary historical and traditional languages:
- Hebrew : The original and traditional language of the Jewish people, in which the Jewish Bible (Tanach) and prayers are written. Hebrew was the native language of the Israelites until around 200 CE and has been used liturgically ever since. It was revived as a spoken language in the 19th century and is now the official language of Israel
- Aramaic : After the Babylonian exile, Aramaic became the common vernacular among Jews, and parts of the Talmud are written in Aramaic
Jewish languages developed in the diaspora:
- Yiddish : A Judeo-German language developed by Ashkenazi Jews in Central and Eastern Europe, historically the most widely spoken Jewish language before World War II. Yiddish uses the Hebrew alphabet and incorporates many Hebrew words
- Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) : Developed by Sephardic Jews from the Iberian Peninsula, it is a variant of Spanish with Hebrew and other influences
- Other Jewish languages include Judeo-Arabic, Judeo-Greek, Judeo-Provençal, Judeo-Berber, Judeo-Italian, Judeo-Malayalam, Judeo-Marathi, and others, often combining Hebrew and local languages
Modern usage: Today, most Jews speak the language of their country of residence, such as English, Russian, French, or others. In Israel, modern Hebrew is the dominant language. Yiddish and other Jewish languages are still spoken in some communities and cultural contexts but are less widespread than in the past
. In summary, Jewish people do not have a single "Jewish language" but rather a rich tapestry of languages including Hebrew, Aramaic, Yiddish, Ladino, and many others, alongside the languages of their host countries