"Kippah," "yarmulke" and "kippot" all refer to the same item — the head covering traditionally worn in Jewish practice. There's no difference in the garment itself. The difference is language: kippah is the Hebrew word, yarmulke is the Yiddish word commonly used in English, and kippot is simply the Hebrew plural of kippah.
Kippah — the Hebrew term
Kippah (כִּפָּה) is Hebrew for "dome" or "covering," related to a root meaning something rounded or bent over. It's the term used in Israel and in Hebrew, and it's increasingly the word many English-speaking Jewish communities use as well, particularly in Modern Orthodox and Israeli-influenced circles.
The Hebrew plural is kippot — so one kippah, several kippot. In everyday English, people also just say "kippahs," which works fine too.
Yarmulke — the Yiddish term
Yarmulke is the Yiddish word, and it's the term most familiar to many English speakers, especially in North America. Its plural in English is usually "yarmulkes."
Its exact origin is genuinely debated among linguists, so we won't pretend there's a single settled answer:
- A popular story connects it to the Aramaic phrase yira malka ("fear of the King," referring to God). It's a meaningful explanation and widely repeated, but language historians generally treat it as a folk etymology — a good story, not strong linguistic evidence.
- The more linguistically supported trail traces yarmulke through Yiddish to the Polish word jarmułka (a skullcap, historically worn by clergy), which in turn is thought to go back to a Medieval Latin word for a hood or cowl. An older theory linking it to Turkish has largely fallen out of favor among etymologists.
Either way, "yarmulke" reached English through Yiddish, and that's the word most people searching for a kippah online are actually typing.
Does the word you use matter?
Not for the item itself — a kippah and a yarmulke are the same thing. Word choice mostly comes down to background and habit: Yiddish-speaking and many English-speaking Ashkenazi communities tend to say "yarmulke," while Hebrew speakers and Israeli-influenced communities tend to say "kippah." Neither is more correct, and plenty of people use both interchangeably without thinking about it.
When kippahs are worn
Covering the head is a Jewish custom with roots going back many centuries. How and when it's practiced varies widely by community and by individual — commonly during prayer, at synagogue, during religious study, and for some as an ongoing daily practice. There's no single rule that applies the same way to every person or community, so we won't try to summarize it as one.
Whatever you call it, Kippush can help
Whatever term you use — kippah, yarmulke or kippot — Kippush creates personalized designs for Bar Mitzvahs, weddings, Brit Milahs and other events, from ready-made designs you can personalize in minutes to fully custom pieces built from your own artwork.
