Etymology tree
Biblical Hebrew הוֹסִיף (hosíf)der.
Biblical Hebrew יוֹסֵףbor.
Middle English Ioseph
English Joseph
From Middle English Ioseph, ultimately from Biblical Hebrew יוֹסֵף (Yoséf, literally “(God) shall add”); a son of Jacob. Doublet of Yusuf. Noun sense 1 (“one whose chastity is above temptation”) is a reference to the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife in Genesis 39.
Meanings
One whose chastity is above temptation.
And my lady thought you a Joseph! 1925, Stanley John Weyman, “XXVII The Return”, in Queen's Folly:
You're a kid Casanova, you're no Joseph
It's a labor of love fucking yourself to death
Orgasm addict, you're an orgasm addict 1977, Buzzcocks, Orgasm Addict:
(attributive, humorous, rare, sometimes) A coat or other garment of many colours.
When summoned to lecture on the following day, he made his appearance in a morning-coat which had been originally of tartan plaid, but sundry repairs of various patterns gave it at once the name of his "Joseph". 1899, Richard William Hiley, Memories of Half a Century, page 38:
Charles Dickens, quoted in 1974, Madeline House & Graham Storey (eds.), Letters
[…] their Josephs again — their coats of many colors.
[…] his Joseph attire of many colours, and ill-matching socks. 1986, New Society, volumes 75-76, page 14:
Etymology tree
Biblical Hebrew הוֹסִיף (hosíf)der.
Biblical Hebrew יוֹסֵףbor.
Middle English Ioseph
English Joseph
From Middle English Ioseph, ultimately from Biblical Hebrew יוֹסֵף (Yoséf, literally “(God) shall add”); a son of Jacob. Doublet of Yusuf. Noun sense 1 (“one whose chastity is above temptation”) is a reference to the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife in Genesis 39.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) Eleventh and favorite son of Jacob, by his wife Rachel.
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 37:3:
A few shocks of corn in a corner of the fallow stood up as if alive; she imagined them bowing; perhaps her son would be a Joseph. 1913, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, chapter 2, in Sons and Lovers, London: Duckworth & Co. […], →OCLC:
(countable, uncountable) The husband of Mary, mother of Jesus.
And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 3:23:
Meronym: Holy Family
(countable, uncountable) The 12th sura (chapter) of the Qur'an.
(countable, uncountable) Joseph of Arimathea; man who donated his own prepared tomb for the burial of Jesus.
(countable, uncountable) A male given name from Hebrew.
I'm going to call him Joseph / or Josephine if it's a girl. / Why? / Because it's a strong name, / Joe, Joseph. / You give a kid a name like Cameron / or Alfred, or something like that, / and they end up wearing glasses / and looking at computers for the rest of their life. / - - - So Joe it is. / He'll turn out strong. Strong and smart. 1998, Steven Herrick, A Place Like This, Univ. of Queensland Press, →ISBN, page 86:
Army chief Joseph Aoun was voted president after two rounds of voting. 2025 January 9, Tamara Qiblawi, “US-backed army chief elected Lebanon’s president, ending years-long stalemate”, in CNN, archived from the original on 23 Jan 2025:
(countable, uncountable) A surname: ▸ An English surname originating as a patronymic.
(countable, uncountable) A surname: ▸ A French surname originating as a patronymic.
(countable, uncountable) A locale in the United States: ▸ A city in Wallowa County, Oregon; named for Nez Perce chief Hinmatóowyalahtq̓it (called "Chief Joseph" in English).
(countable, uncountable) A locale in the United States: ▸ A town in Sevier County, Utah; named for Mormon apostle Joseph Angell Young.
(countable, uncountable) A locale in the United States: ▸ A ghost town in Idaho County, Idaho; named for Hinmatóowyalahtq̓it (Chief Joseph).
tl Dyosep (male given name — see also Joe) · si ජෝසප් (male given name — see also Joe) · ba Йософ сүрәһе (12th sura of the Qur'an) · tr Yûsuflar (favorite son of Jacob) · onw ⲓⲟⲩⲥⲏϥ (male given name — see also Joe) · ka იოსები (male given name — see also Joe) · mrw Yosop (favorite son of Jacob) · bn ইউসুফ (favorite son of Jacob) · mk Јосиф од Аритматеја (Joseph of Arimathea) · grc Ἰωσήφ (male given name — see also Joe) · bg Джо́узеф (male given name — see also Joe) · uz Yusuf surasi (12th sura of the Qur'an) · az Yusif surəsi (12th sura of the Qur'an) · ko 요셉 (favorite son of Jacob) · tg сураи Юсуф (12th sura of the Qur'an) · onw ⲓⲱⲥⲏ (male given name — see also Joe) · kk Юсуф сүресі (12th sura of the Qur'an) · ug يۈسۈپ (12th sura of the Qur'an) · arz يوسف (favorite son of Jacob) · de Joseph von Arimathia (Joseph of Arimathea) · nap Giuseppe (male given name — see also Joe) · pl Józef (favorite son of Jacob) · fa جوزف (male given name — see also Joe) · es José (favorite son of Jacob) · av Сура Йусуф (12th sura of the Qur'an) · sq Isuf (male given name — see also Joe) · he ג׳וזף (male given name — see also Joe) · ta ஜோசப் (male given name — see also Joe) · frm Iosephe (male given name — see also Joe) · sh Јо̀сип (male given name — see also Joe) · ca Josep (husband of Virgin Mary) · pa ਯੂਸਫ਼ (male given name — see also Joe) · scn Giuseppi (male given name — see also Joe) · vi Giuse (favorite son of Jacob) · kl Joorsi (male given name — see also Joe) · pt José (male given name — see also Joe) · am ዮሴፍ (male given name — see also Joe) · cmn 苏拉·优素福 (12th sura of the Qur'an) · is Jósef (favorite son of Jacob) · sq Josif (Joseph of Arimathea) · tr Yusuf suresi (12th sura of the Qur'an) · tg Ҷозеф (male given name — see also Joe) · ky Юсуп (male given name — see also Joe) · ka იოსები (favorite son of Jacob) · tl surah Yusuf (12th sura of the Qur'an) · sl Josip (male given name — see also Joe) · ml യൂസഫ് (male given name — see also Joe) · gl Xosé (husband of Virgin Mary) · de Joseph (favorite son of Jacob) · cop ⲓⲱⲥⲏⲡ (male given name — see also Joe) · gu યુસુફ (male given name — see also Joe) · fo Jósef (husband of Virgin Mary) · ml സൂറ യൂസുഫ് (12th sura of the Qur'an) · co Ghjiseppe (male given name — see also Joe) · gl Xosé (favorite son of Jacob) · ru Ио́сиф (husband of Virgin Mary) · yi סוראַ יוסוף (12th sura of the Qur'an) · ca Josep (male given name — see also Joe) · sq Jozef (favorite son of Jacob) · wls Iosefi (male given name — see also Joe) · mn Иосеф (male given name — see also Joe) · et Joosep (male given name — see also Joe) · gd Iòseph (husband of Virgin Mary) · id surah Yusuf (12th sura of the Qur'an) · se Jovsset (husband of Virgin Mary) · tr Yusuf (favorite son of Jacob) · uk Йо́сип (favorite son of Jacob) · fj Josefa (male given name — see also Joe) · mi Hōhepa (husband of Virgin Mary) · sq Jozef (husband of Virgin Mary) · ur سورہ یوسف (12th sura of the Qur'an) · lo ໂຈເຊັບ (male given name — see also Joe) · an Chusé (favorite son of Jacob) · syc ܝܘܣܦ (favorite son of Jacob) · sq Jozef (male given name — see also Joe) · br Jozeb (male given name — see also Joe) · xcl Յովսէփ (male given name — see also Joe) · be Джо́зэф (male given name — see also Joe) · mi Hōhepa (favorite son of Jacob) · ms Yusuf (husband of Virgin Mary) · ar جوزيف (male given name — see also Joe) · hi यूसुफ़ (Joseph of Arimathea) · fo Jósef úr Arimateu (Joseph of Arimathea) · ms Yusuf (favorite son of Jacob) · tr Yûsuf (favorite son of Jacob) · de Josef von Arimathäa (Joseph of Arimathea) · sl Jóžef (male given name — see also Joe) · lt Juõzas (male given name — see also Joe) · ms Yosef (Joseph of Arimathea) · id Yusuf (favorite son of Jacob) · tl Jose (favorite son of Jacob) · ar سورة يوسف (12th sura of the Qur'an) · vi Giuse (husband of Virgin Mary) · grc Ἰωσήφ (favorite son of Jacob) · gd Seòsamh (male given name — see also Joe) · si සූරා යූසුෆ් (12th sura of the Qur'an) · ota یوسف (male given name — see also Joe) · cmn 約瑟 /约瑟 (husband of Virgin Mary) · so Yuusuf (male given name — see also Joe) · an Chusé (husband of Virgin Mary) · fi Joosef Arimatialainen (Joseph of Arimathea) · mk Јосиф (favorite son of Jacob) · ru О́сип (male given name — see also Joe) · sq Josif (husband of Virgin Mary) · ug يۈسۈپ (male given name — see also Joe) · sl Jóža (male given name — see also Joe) · te యోసేపు (favorite son of Jacob) · el Ιώσηπος (male given name — see also Joe) · de Josef (male given name — see also Joe) · id Yusuf (male given name — see also Joe) · sk Jozef (male given name — see also Joe) · cop ⲟⲩⲥⲏⲫ (male given name — see also Joe) · uk Джо́зеф (male given name — see also Joe) · tl José (male given name — see also Joe) · ru сура Юсуф (12th sura of the Qur'an) · te జోసెఫ్ (male given name — see also Joe) · syc ܝܘܣܦ (Joseph of Arimathea) · be Іо́сіф (male given name — see also Joe) · pa ਯੂਸੁਫ਼ (male given name — see also Joe) · syc ܝܘܣܦ (male given name — see also Joe) · ru Ио́сиф (male given name — see also Joe) · la Iosephus (male given name — see also Joe) · wa Djôzef (male given name — see also Joe) · cs Josef (male given name — see also Joe) · tr Yusuflar (favorite son of Jacob) · ms Jusoh (male given name — see also Joe) · pt José (husband of Virgin Mary) · eo Jozefo (male given name — see also Joe) · ota یُوسُف (favorite son of Jacob) · hy Հովսեփ (husband of Virgin Mary) · kk Иосиф (male given name — see also Joe) · ca Josep d'Arimatea (Joseph of Arimathea) · so suurad Yuusuf (12th sura of the Qur'an) · pt José de Arimateia (Joseph of Arimathea) · sq Josef (male given name — see also Joe) · sh Jòsif (male given name — see also Joe) · hy Հովսեփ (male given name — see also Joe) · sv Josef (favorite son of Jacob) · gl Xosé (male given name — see also Joe) · gu યૂસફ (favorite son of Jacob) · sd يوسف (male given name — see also Joe) · sq Josif (favorite son of Jacob) · ga Iósaf ó Aramatáia (Joseph of Arimathea) · it Giuseppe (favorite son of Jacob) · ru Джо́зеф (male given name — see also Joe) · cmn 約瑟夫 /约瑟夫 (male given name — see also Joe) · pt José (favorite son of Jacob) · af Joesoef (male given name — see also Joe) · so Yuusuf (favorite son of Jacob) · my ယောသပ်သည် (male given name — see also Joe) · fi Joosef (favorite son of Jacob) · uk Йо́сип (male given name — see also Joe) · sq Josif (male given name — see also Joe) · fi Joosefin suura (12th sura of the Qur'an) · hu József (husband of Virgin Mary) · sh Јосип (husband of Virgin Mary) · be Юсу́ф (male given name — see also Joe) · nl Jozef (favorite son of Jacob) · vls Josef (male given name — see also Joe) · swb Yusufu (husband of Virgin Mary) · onw ⲓⲱⲥⲏⲫⲓⲟⲥ (male given name — see also Joe) · no Josef (male given name — see also Joe) · ru Ио́сиф (favorite son of Jacob) · se Jovsset (favorite son of Jacob) · onw ⲓⲱⲥⲏⲫ (male given name — see also Joe) · mk Џозеф (male given name — see also Joe) · ja ヨセフ (favorite son of Jacob) · jv Yusuf (male given name — see also Joe) · sq Jozef (Joseph of Arimathea) · ka იუსუფ (male given name — see also Joe) · scn Giuseppi (husband of Virgin Mary) · ta சூரா யூசுப் (12th sura of the Qur'an) · cy Joseff o Arimathea (Joseph of Arimathea) · es José de Arimetea (Joseph of Arimathea) · ha Yusufu (male given name — see also Joe) · es José (male given name — see also Joe) · hi यूसुफ़ (12th sura of the Qur'an) · mnc ᡳᠣᠰᡳᠪ (husband of Virgin Mary) · sl Jóže (male given name — see also Joe) · ota یۈسۈپ (12th sura of the Qur'an) · te సురా యూసుఫ్ (12th sura of the Qur'an) · cy Joseff (favorite son of Jacob) · grc Ἰωσήφιος (male given name — see also Joe) · sk Josif (male given name — see also Joe) · mt Ġużepp (male given name — see also Joe) · az Yusuf (male given name — see also Joe) · br Jozef (male given name — see also Joe) · lt Juõzapas (favorite son of Jacob) · cmn 約瑟夫 /约瑟夫 (favorite son of Jacob) · kk Юсуф (male given name — see also Joe) · mk Јосиф (husband of Virgin Mary) · mg Josefa (male given name — see also Joe) · ur جوزف (male given name — see also Joe) · fa یوسف (favorite son of Jacob) · tt Йосыф сүрәсе (12th sura of the Qur'an) · az Usub (male given name — see also Joe) · lv Jāzeps (male given name — see also Joe) · da Josef (favorite son of Jacob) · ms surah Yusuf (12th sura of the Qur'an) · vi Yuse (favorite son of Jacob) · hu József (favorite son of Jacob) · cy Joseff (male given name — see also Joe) · gur Azozɛfʋ (husband of Virgin Mary) · haw Iokepa (male given name — see also Joe) · haw Iosepa (favorite son of Jacob) · sq Jusuf (male given name — see also Joe) · ml ജോസഫ് (male given name — see also Joe) · kw Josep (male given name — see also Joe) · it Giuseppe (husband of Virgin Mary) · et Joosep (husband of Virgin Mary) · sn Josefa (male given name — see also Joe) · nl Jozef (male given name — see also Joe) · fo Jósef (favorite son of Jacob) · be Іо́сіф (favorite son of Jacob) · de Joseph (male given name — see also Joe) · sq Jusuf (favorite son of Jacob) · ca Josep (favorite son of Jacob) · mk сура Јусуф (12th sura of the Qur'an) · mr यूसुफ (male given name — see also Joe) · gu જોસેફ (male given name — see also Joe) · se Jovsset (male given name — see also Joe) · da Josef (male given name — see also Joe) · ar يُوسُف (favorite son of Jacob) · hi यूसुफ़ (husband of Virgin Mary) · bn জোসেফ (husband of Virgin Mary) · sh Jòsip (male given name — see also Joe) · el Ιωσήφ (male given name — see also Joe) · grc Ἰωσήφος (male given name — see also Joe) · ta யூசுப் (male given name — see also Joe) · th โจเซฟ (male given name — see also Joe) · bg сура Юсуф (12th sura of the Qur'an) · tr Sûre-i Yûsuf (12th sura of the Qur'an) · lv Jāzeps (favorite son of Jacob) · fr Joseph (male given name — see also Joe) · kk Жүсіп (male given name — see also Joe) · pl Józef z Arymatei (Joseph of Arimathea) · ml യൗസേപ്പ് (favorite son of Jacob) · hy Յուսուֆ (male given name — see also Joe) · ne यूसुफ (male given name — see also Joe) · fr Joseph (favorite son of Jacob) · sl Jóžko (male given name — see also Joe) · sh Јо̀сиф (male given name — see also Joe) · oc Josèp (male given name — see also Joe) · kk Жүсіп (favorite son of Jacob) · cy Joseff (husband of Virgin Mary) · eu Joseba (male given name — see also Joe) · cmn 若瑟 (husband of Virgin Mary) · sh Josip (husband of Virgin Mary) · ga Seosamh (male given name — see also Joe) · ky Иосиф (male given name — see also Joe) · uz Yusuf (male given name — see also Joe) · af Josef (male given name — see also Joe) · fr Joseph (husband of Virgin Mary) · grc Ἰωσήφ (husband of Virgin Mary) · ga Iósaf (husband of Virgin Mary) · fi Joosef (husband of Virgin Mary) · no Josef (husband of Virgin Mary) · ja ジョゼフ (male given name — see also Joe) · mk Јусуф (male given name — see also Joe) · an Chusé (male given name — see also Joe) · oc Jausèp (male given name — see also Joe) · cop ⲃⲁⲥⲟⲫ (male given name — see also Joe) · is Jósef (male given name — see also Joe) · co Ghjuseppe (male given name — see also Joe) · id Yosef (husband of Virgin Mary) · km យ៉ូសែប (male given name — see also Joe) · ro Iosif (husband of Virgin Mary) · uz Jozef (male given name — see also Joe) · sh Jùsuf (male given name — see also Joe) · ny Yusufu (male given name — see also Joe) · tg Иосиф (male given name — see also Joe) · gl Xosé de Arimatea (Joseph of Arimathea) · gd Eòsaph (male given name — see also Joe) · fi Jooseppi (male given name — see also Joe) · ar يُوسُف (male given name — see also Joe) · mt Ġużeppi (male given name — see also Joe) · ar يُوسُف (husband of Virgin Mary) · hi जोसेफ़ (male given name — see also Joe) · pl Józef (male given name — see also Joe) · sh Јосип (favorite son of Jacob) · pl Józef (husband of Virgin Mary) · syc ܝܘܣܦ (husband of Virgin Mary) · he יוֹסֵף (favorite son of Jacob) · lt Juõzapas (husband of Virgin Mary) · de Josef (husband of Virgin Mary) · su Yusuf (male given name — see also Joe) · ms Usup (male given name — see also Joe) · vi Giô-sép (favorite son of Jacob) · sm Iosefa (male given name — see also Joe) · ky Жусуп (male given name — see also Joe) · he סורה יוסוף (12th sura of the Qur'an) · ru Юсу́п (male given name — see also Joe) · co Ghjiseppu (male given name — see also Joe) · haw Iosepa (husband of Virgin Mary) · ko 유수프 (male given name — see also Joe) · chr ᏦᏩ (husband of Virgin Mary) · bn জোসেফ (male given name — see also Joe) · id Yusuf (husband of Virgin Mary) · zdj Yusufa (favorite son of Jacob) · sh Ју̀суф (male given name — see also Joe) · mk Јосиф (male given name — see also Joe) · hi यूसुफ़ (male given name — see also Joe) · vi Giô-sép (husband of Virgin Mary) · fa یوسف (male given name — see also Joe) · sv Josef (husband of Virgin Mary) · bg Юсу́ф (male given name — see also Joe) · sh Josip (favorite son of Jacob) · ro Iosif (male given name — see also Joe) · bn সুরা ইউসুফ (12th sura of the Qur'an) · sv Josef (male given name — see also Joe) · am ሱራ ዩሱፍ (12th sura of the Qur'an) · et Joosep (favorite son of Jacob) · ota یوسف (husband of Virgin Mary) · yi יוסף (male given name — see also Joe) · sq Suretu Jusuf (12th sura of the Qur'an) · ko 요셉 (husband of Virgin Mary) · hu József (male given name — see also Joe) · ast Xosepe (male given name — see also Joe) · hi यूसुफ़ (favorite son of Jacob) · lv Jāzeps (husband of Virgin Mary) · ko 조셉 (male given name — see also Joe) · hy Ջոզեֆ (male given name — see also Joe) · te యూసుఫ్ (male given name — see also Joe) · ny Yosefe (male given name — see also Joe) · vi Yuse (husband of Virgin Mary) · gv Joseph (male given name — see also Joe) · am ዮሴፍ (favorite son of Jacob) · kn ಯೂಸುಫ್ (male given name — see also Joe) · kmr Yûsuf sûre (12th sura of the Qur'an) · xcl Յովսէփ (husband of Virgin Mary) · sw Yusufu (male given name — see also Joe) · si යූසුෆ් (male given name — see also Joe) · swb Yusufu (favorite son of Jacob) · ru Ио́сиф Аримафе́йский (Joseph of Arimathea) · sjd Юсӯф (male given name — see also Joe) · de Joseph (husband of Virgin Mary) · es José (husband of Virgin Mary) · xag 𐔺𐕒𐕚𐔶𐕢 (husband of Virgin Mary) · bn ইউসুফ (male given name — see also Joe) · ro Iosif (favorite son of Jacob) · mn Юсуф (male given name — see also Joe) · fo Jósup (male given name — see also Joe) · cop ⲓⲱⲥⲏⲫ (male given name — see also Joe) · xag 𐔺𐕒𐕚𐔴𐕢 (favorite son of Jacob) · da Josef (husband of Virgin Mary) · fr José (male given name — see also Joe) · gd Iòseph (favorite son of Jacob) · tg Юсуф (male given name — see also Joe) · bg Йо́сиф (male given name — see also Joe) · ky Юсуф сүрөсү (12th sura of the Qur'an) · de Josef (favorite son of Jacob) · ast Xosé (male given name — see also Joe) · ms Yusuf (male given name — see also Joe) · ms Ucup (male given name — see also Joe) · fr sourate Youssouf (12th sura of the Qur'an) · ka სურა იუსუფ (12th sura of the Qur'an) · no Josef (favorite son of Jacob) · lt Juõzapas (male given name — see also Joe) · el Ιωσήφ (favorite son of Jacob) · ga Seosamh (favorite son of Jacob) · scn Giuseppi (favorite son of Jacob) · hy Իոսիֆ (male given name — see also Joe) · to Siosefa (male given name — see also Joe) · am ዩሱፍ (male given name — see also Joe) · ja ジョセフ (male given name — see also Joe) · mr योसेफ (male given name — see also Joe) · fa سورهٔ یوسف (12th sura of the Qur'an) · tr Yusuf (male given name — see also Joe) · kn ಸುರಾ ಯೂಸುಫ್ (12th sura of the Qur'an) · xcl Յովսէփ (favorite son of Jacob) · nl Josef (male given name — see also Joe) · fo Jósef (male given name — see also Joe) · mi Hōhepa (male given name — see also Joe) · te యూసుఫ్ (favorite son of Jacob) · az Yusif (male given name — see also Joe) · it Giuseppe (male given name — see also Joe) · chr ᏦᏎᏫ (male given name — see also Joe) · sh sura Jusuf (12th sura of the Qur'an) · he יוֹסֵף (male given name — see also Joe) · chr ᏦᏩ (favorite son of Jacob) · nl Jozef (husband of Virgin Mary) · hy սուրա Յուսուֆ (12th sura of the Qur'an) · gv Josee (male given name — see also Joe) · kn ಜೋಸೆಫ್ (male given name — see also Joe) · gu સૂરા યુસુફ (12th sura of the Qur'an) · hy Հովսեփ (favorite son of Jacob) · bg Йо́сиф (favorite son of Jacob)