How Do You Spell GOLIATH?

Pronunciation: [ɡəlˈa͡ɪ͡əθ] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "goliath" is curious, as it contains a silent letter. The IPA phonetic transcription of the word is /ɡəʊlaɪəθ/. The silent "h" is explained by the origin of the word, which comes from Hebrew. In Hebrew, the word is spelled "גָּלְיָת" (golyat) with the "h" being pronounced. However, when the word was transliterated into English, the "h" was retained, but the pronunciation was dropped. This shows how the spelling of words can change as they are adopted and adapted to different languages.

GOLIATH Meaning and Definition

  1. Goliath is a noun that refers to a biblical figure who is known as a giant warrior. According to the Old Testament in the Bible, Goliath of Gath was a giant Philistine warrior who stood at an imposing height and was well-known for his great strength and military skills. In the story, Goliath challenged the Israelites to find a champion to engage in single combat with him. The young shepherd David eventually volunteered and managed to defeat the formidable Goliath with a well-aimed stone from his sling.

    The term "Goliath" has also evolved to take on a metaphorical meaning in modern usage. It is often used to describe an immensely powerful and unbeatable opponent or adversary, emphasizing their intimidating size, strength, or influence. When someone is referred to as a "Goliath," it implies that they possess overwhelming power or superiority compared to others, making them incredibly daunting to challenge or overcome.

    Additionally, "goliath" is frequently used in contexts unrelated to biblical or metaphorical references to signify an enormous or gigantic object or entity. It can depict something that is exceptionally large in size, scale, or impact, often evoking a sense of awe or wonderment. In popular culture, the term "Goliath" has often been utilized to name characters or objects that embody strength, vastness, or an imposing presence due to their colossal proportions.

Top Common Misspellings for GOLIATH *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for GOLIATH

Etymology of GOLIATH

The word "Goliath" originates from the Hebrew Bible, specifically the story of David and Goliath found in the Book of Samuel. In the biblical account, Goliath is a Philistine warrior, known for his enormous size and strength. However, the etymology of the word "Goliath" itself is uncertain. Some scholars suggest that it might have Semitic roots, while others propose that it could be influenced by the Hebrew word "guliyah" meaning "exile" or "yclgx" meaning "rolling". Ultimately, the exact origin and etymology of the name "Goliath" remain unclear.

Similar spelling words for GOLIATH

Plural form of GOLIATH is GOLIATHS

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