intifada

intifada

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Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "intifada" is /ˌɪn.tɪˈfɑː.də/.

Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:

• in: /ɪn/ - A short "i" sound as in "bit," followed by the nasal consonant "n."

• ti: /tɪ/ - A "t" sound followed by a short "i" sound as in "bit."

• fa: /fɑː/ - An "f" sound followed by a long "a" sound as in "father" (some dialects may use /fæ/ as in "cat").

• da: /də/ - A "d" sound followed by a schwa sound (ə), a very short, unstressed vowel.

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Word Form Variations

"Intifada" itself is a singular noun. It doesn't typically have a plural form in common usage. While you could theoretically talk about multiple distinct uprisings and refer to them as "intifadas," it's not standard practice. The word is most often used to refer to a specific instance, like "the First Intifada" or "the Second Intifada." Therefore, there isn't a commonly recognized plural form.

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

"Intifada" primarily functions as a noun. It doesn't commonly exist as other parts of speech. 

Noun:

1. Definition 1 (General): A Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. This often involves acts of civil disobedience, protests, and sometimes violence.

• Synonyms: Uprising, revolt, rebellion, resistance, insurgency, struggle.

• Antonyms: Submission, acquiescence, peace (in the sense of a lack of conflict), ceasefire.

2. Definition 2 (Specific): A specific instance of such an uprising, as in "the First Intifada" (1987-1993) or "the Second Intifada" (2000-2005).

• Synonyms: Uprising, revolt, rebellion, conflict, crisis, period of unrest.

• Antonyms: Peace (in the sense of a lack of conflict), period of stability, truce, armistice.

It's important to note that "intifada" carries a strong historical and political connotation related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While the word literally translates to "shaking off" or "uprising," its use is almost exclusively associated with Palestinian resistance to Israeli control.

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Examples of Use

Books:

• "The First Intifada: Causes, Course, and Consequences" (Title of a book by Don Peretz) - This title itself is a prime example of the word's use in academic and historical contexts.

• "My Promised Land" (Book by Ari Shavit) - Discusses the intifadas from an Israeli perspective, exploring their impact on Israeli society.

Newspapers/Online Publications:

• "The Guardian" (Numerous articles) - Regularly uses "intifada" in reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, often referring to specific intifadas or discussing the potential for future uprisings. A search on their site for "intifada" will yield many examples.

• "The New York Times" (Numerous articles) - Similar to The Guardian, the NYT frequently uses the term in its coverage of the region. Again, their online archives offer numerous examples.

• "Al Jazeera" (Numerous articles) - Often uses "intifada" from a Palestinian perspective, framing it as a struggle for liberation. Their website provides ample examples.

Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• "Paradise Now" (Film) - While not explicitly using the word in the title, the film's plot revolves around the experiences of Palestinians during the Second Intifada.

• Various documentaries - Many documentaries focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict use the term "intifada" when discussing the periods of uprising.

General Public Discourse:

• Protests and rallies - Chants and slogans at pro-Palestinian demonstrations often include the word "intifada," sometimes in the context of calling for a "third intifada."

• Online forums and social media - Discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit frequently use the term "intifada," often with varying interpretations and connotations.

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10 Famous Quotes Using Intifada

1. "The first intifada, I was then commander of Central Command, commanding the West Bank, basically. And I know to what extent the first intifada was a popular uprising." – Ehud Barak

2. "Chants of 'intifada' ring out from pro-Palestinian protests. But what's it mean?" – NPR

3. "Calls to 'Globalize the Intifada' are intended to incite violence against Jews and Israelis." – Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs

4. "In anti-Israel demonstrations around the world, one frequently heard chant is 'globalize the intifada.'" – American Jewish Committee

5. "The phrase 'globalize the intifada' is not a call for violence." – Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs

6. "Chants of 'intifada' have been a prominent feature of pro-Palestinian student protests." – NPR

7. "The first intifada was a popular uprising." – Ehud Barak

8. "Calls to 'Globalize the Intifada' can lead to targeting Jews with violence." – American Jewish Committee

9. "Chants of 'intifada' ring out from pro-Palestinian protests." – NPR

10. "The phrase 'globalize the intifada' is intended to incite violence." – Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs

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Etymology

The word comes from Arabic, and it literally translates to "shaking off" or "uprising." Think of it like shaking off something unwanted, like dirt or, in this case, an occupation.

Now, while the word itself simply means "shaking off," it has become very strongly associated with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It's most often used to describe two major Palestinian uprisings against Israeli control:

• The First Intifada (1987-1993): This was a period of widespread protests, civil disobedience, and sometimes violence by Palestinians against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

• The Second Intifada (2000-2005): This was another uprising, also marked by protests and violence, that followed a breakdown in peace talks.

So, when you hear the word "intifada," it's important to understand that it refers not just to any uprising, but specifically to these Palestinian uprisings against Israel. It carries a lot of historical and political weight, and it's a term that's deeply connected to the ongoing conflict in the region.

Essentially, "intifada" is a word that captures the idea of Palestinians trying to "shake off" what they see as an oppressive situation and fight for their own self-determination.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Intifada

Phrases (not idioms):

1. "The spirit of the intifada": This phrase might be used to describe a sense of resistance or defiance among Palestinians, even outside of the specific historical intifadas. It evokes the idea of continued struggle.

2. "A new intifada": This phrase is often used in discussions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, usually referring to the possibility or fear of another Palestinian uprising.

3. "The intifada generation": This might refer to Palestinians who grew up during the intifadas and whose experiences were shaped by those events.

4. "Intifada tactics": This could describe methods of protest or resistance used during the intifadas, such as stone-throwing or civil disobedience.

Why it's hard to make idioms with "intifada":

Idioms usually arise from everyday life, shared experiences, or metaphors that resonate with a wide audience. "Intifada," while a significant event, is tied to a particular political context. It doesn't have the same universal applicability that would allow it to become embedded in common figures of speech.

Using synonyms for similar effect (creating original phrases):

Since "intifada" means "uprising" or "shaking off," we can create phrases around those concepts that capture some of the same meaning:

1. "The people's uprising": This is a more general phrase that could be used in various contexts, but it evokes the same idea of a popular revolt.

2. "A shaking off of oppression": This phrase focuses on the motivation behind the intifada, expressing the desire to break free from control.

3. "The fires of resistance": This metaphor suggests the passion and determination of those involved in an uprising.

4. "A cry for freedom": This phrase captures the idea of the intifada as a demand for self-determination.

While these are not idioms with "intifada" specifically, they attempt to express similar concepts in a more general way that might be more readily incorporated into figurative language

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of intifada from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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