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# el

noun (an el, els); abbreviation (El, the El); (Spanish) el

«el» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. The name of the letter L. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/el/#m1)
2. (USA) the El or el: an elevated railway, a train on a raised track above the street, especially in Chicago. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/el/#m2)
3. (Spanish) «el» means «the» before a masculine noun, as in El Paso or El Niño; it is not an English word. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/el/#m3)
4. El Niño: a change in the Pacific Ocean that makes the weather unusual around the world. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/el/#m4)

### In the lessons

You meet «El» mostly in names: El Paso, El Salvador, El Niño, Los Angeles. In geography lessons El Niño is a warming of the Pacific that brings floods to some places and droughts to others. In Chicago people ride «the El» to school and work. Sound: like «ell».

### Examples

- In Chicago we rode the El over the city streets. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/el/#x1)
- El Paso is a city in Texas; the name is Spanish for «the pass». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/el/#x2)
- El Niño can bring heavy rain to Peru and droughts to Australia. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/el/#x3)
- «El» is the Spanish word for «the». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/el/#x4)
- El Salvador is a small country in Central America. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/el/#x5)
- Write a capital el at the start of «London». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/el/#x6)

### Note

As an English word it is rare. The letter's name is more often spelled «ell». In names it is Spanish and keeps its capital: El Salvador.

## In Jewish tradition

"El" is a Hebrew word for God, and it appears in names such as Beth-el, "house of God". It also appears as "-el" at the end of names like Israel. In the Prophets and Writings, Beth-el is a town on the border of Benjamin, and it is named in lists of kings and returning families.

**Interpretation.** Tradition teaches that God's names show different sides of God, and "El" is read as a name of God's power and kindness. Jacob's altar name "El-elohe-Israel" means "God, the God of Israel". Beth-el is remembered as the place where Jacob met God.

### Examples

- And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel. (Torah GEN.33.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/el/#x1)
- and the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the wilderness. (Torah GEN.14.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/el/#x2)
- And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Beth-el. (Torah GEN.35.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/el/#x3)
- and Beth-arabah, and Zemaraim, and Beth-el; (Prophets JOS.18.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/el/#x4)
- the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Beth-el, one; (Prophets JOS.12.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/el/#x5)
- The men of Beth-el and Ai, two hundred twenty and three. (Writings EZR.2.28, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/el/#x6)

### Note

As an English word it is rare. The letter's name is more often spelled «ell». In names it is Spanish and keeps its capital: El Salvador.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «el» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/el/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«el» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/el.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «el» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/el/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«el» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/el.html) on Mova free.