Judeo

Judeo is a prefix and adjective derived from Judea or Judaism, used in English to indicate a relationship to Jewish people, culture, language, or religious traditions. It enters compounds such as Judeo-, Judaeo-, or Judea-, and appears in a range of contexts that emphasize connections to Jewish history or communities. The form is often paired with a following domain, for example Judeo-Arabic, Judeo-Spanish, or Judeo-Persian, and is also found in phrases like Judeo-Christian.

In linguistic and cultural usage, Judeo appears in several specialized terms. Judeo-Arabic refers to varieties of Arabic written in Hebrew script or heavily influenced by Hebrew and Jewish culture, historically used by Jewish communities in the Arab world. Judeo-Spanish, or Ladino, denotes the historical Spanish-derived language of Sephardic Jews. Judeo-Persian designates Persian written with Hebrew script and Jewish cultural elements. The broader term Judeo-Christian is used to describe a perceived historical and moral linkage between Judaism and Christianity, particularly in Western thought and political discourse; its use is common but sometimes controversial among scholars and religious communities for potentially oversimplifying complex identities.

The prefix serves as a convenience label rather than a precise classification, and its usage can reflect historical or cultural perspectives as much as linguistic facts. Critics note that pairing diverse Jewish communities under a single Judeo- umbrella can obscure internal diversity and regional variation. When possible, contexts prefer specifying the exact language, culture, or tradition (for example, Jewish, Jewish-Arab, or Sephardic) rather than relying solely on the Judeo designation. Related terms include Jewish, Judaic, and Abrahamic in broader discussions of religion and culture.