goy

Definition

A non-Jew, a gentile.

Etymology

Borrowed from Yiddish גוי (goy, “gentile”), from Hebrew גּוֹי (goy, “nation”). Compare Exodus he:T:6: מַמְלֶכֶת כֹּהֲנִים וְגֹוי קָדֹושׁ (mamleḵeṯ kohănīm wəḡōy qāḏōš, “ […] a kingdom of priests and a holy nation”) (referring to the Jewish people). The word goy does not technically refer to non-Jews, but rather to a nation per se; the Jews are said to constitute a goy. But through common usage – namely referring to "the [other non-Jewish] nations" – the word came to colloquially refer to non-Jews.

Example Sentences

• "I don’t think that marriage is working, but I’m not going to be stupid about it and say she shouldn’t have married a goy."