Pronunciation: [kjˈuːbɪts] (IPA) 
The word "cubits" is spelled with a "u" after the "c," which may seem odd to those unfamiliar with its origin. The word comes from the Latin word "cubitus," which means "elbow." In English, the word was traditionally pronounced with a hard "c," like "cube." However, over time, the "c" took on a softer sound like "kyoo," and the spelling remained unchanged. The correct phonetic transcription of "cubits" is /ˈkjuːbɪts/
Cubits are a unit of measurement used in ancient times to denote a length equivalent to the distance between the elbow and the tip of the middle finger. This measurement was commonly used in various civilizations, including the Egyptians, Hebrews, and Babylonians.
The cubit was a versatile and standardized unit of measurement often used for architectural and construction purposes. It provided a practical and easily reproducible standard that allowed for accuracy and consistency in building structures, such as temples, pyramids, and palaces. Due to its origin as a measure based on the human body, the cubit could vary slightly from region to region or even from person to person.
The actual length of a cubit varied throughout history and across different cultures, as it was influenced by factors such as the size of the average person or the custom of the particular society. In ancient Egypt, for instance, the royal cubit was approximately 20.6 inches (52.3 centimeters), while the Hebrew cubit was about 18 inches (45.7 centimeters).
Today, the term "cubit" is mainly used in historical and archaeological discussions. It represents an essential concept for understanding dimensions and proportions in ancient structures, as well as for interpreting ancient texts that mention measurements in terms of cubits.
The word cubits derives from the Old English word cubitt or cubit, which itself derives from the Latin word cubitum. In Latin, cubitum referred to the forearm, specifically from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, and it was also used as a unit of length. This Latin term was adopted into Old English, and eventually evolved into the modern English word cubit.
