Caleb

English

Alternative forms

• Kaleb

Etymology

From Late Latin Caleb, Calebus, from Koine Greek Χάλεβ (Kháleb), from Biblical Hebrew כָּלֵב (Kālēḇ), possibly related to כֶּלֶב (keleḇ, “dog”), referring to dogs’ unconditional devotion to their masters.

Pronunciation

• enPR: kāʹlĕb, IPA^(key): /ˈkeɪ.ləb/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

Proper noun

Caleb (plural Calebs)

1. (biblical) Caleb the son of Jephunneh, an Israelite who entered Canaan with Joshua.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 14:30:
     :

     Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

2. A male given name from Hebrew first used by Puritans.
   • 1976, Anne Tyler, Searching for Caleb, Berkley Books,New York, published 1983, →ISBN, page 14:

     "My brother's name was Caleb Peck."
     "What a fine old-fashioned name," said Mrs. Tabor.

Translations

biblical character

• Danish: Kaleb
• Faroese: Káleb m, Kaleb m
• French: Caleb (fr)
• German: Kaleb
• Greek: Χάλεβ m (Chálev)
• Hebrew: כָּלֵב (he) (kalév)
• Italian: Caleb
• Maori: Karepe
• Norwegian: Kaleb (no)
• Polish: Kaleb (pl) m
• Portuguese: Calebe m
• Spanish: Caleb (es)
• Swedish: Kaleb

Anagrams

• Cable, cable

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin Caleb, Calebus, from Koine Greek Χάλεβ (Kháleb), from Biblical Hebrew כָּלֵב (Kālēḇ), possibly related to כֶּלֶב (keleḇ, “dog”), referring to dogs’ unconditional devotion to their masters.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka.lɛb/

• Audio (France)

  (file)

Proper noun

Caleb m

1. Caleb

Latin

Alternative forms

• Calebus

Etymology

From Koine Greek Χάλεβ (Kháleb), from Biblical Hebrew כָּלֵב (Kālēḇ), possibly related to כֶּלֶב (keleḇ, “dog”), referring to dogs’ unconditional devotion to their masters.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈka.leb/, [ˈkäɫ̪ɛb]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈka.leb/, [ˈkäːleb]

Proper noun

Caleb m (indeclinable) (Late Latin, Ecclesiastical Latin, biblical)

1. Caleb

Descendants

• → English: Caleb
• French: Caleb
• Spanish: Caleb
• Italian: Caleb