tzaddik

English

Etymology 1

From Hebrew צַדִּיק (tsadík, “righteous person”). Many pronunciations have come under the influence of Yiddish צדיק (tsadek).

Alternative forms

• zaddik, tsadik, tsadiq, tsaddik, tzadik

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtsɑː.diːk/, /ˈtsɑː.dək/, /ˈsɑː.dək/

Noun

tzaddik (plural tzaddiks or tzaddikim)

2. (Judaism) A very righteous person, especially a Hassidic spiritual leader.
   • 1988, Milorad Pavić, translated by Christina Pribićević-Zorić, Dictionary of the Khazars, Vintage, published 1989, page 226:

     For in dreams one thinks with the eyes and the ears; speech has no nouns, just verbs; only in dreams is every person a zaddik, never a murderer….

Translations

a very righteous person

• Czech: cadik (cs) m
• Estonian: õiglane inimene
• German: Zaddik (de) m
• Hebrew: צַדִּיק (he) m (tsadík)
• Hungarian: cadik
• Polish: cadyk (pl) m
• Slovak: cadik m
• Yiddish: צדיק m (tsadek)

Etymology 2

Noun

tzaddik

1. Alternative form of tsade (“Semitic letter”)