Ashkenazi Jews, one of the distinct Jewish ethnic groups, originated from Central and Eastern Europe. They have been referred to by various synonyms, depending on the context and the language. Some of the commonly used synonyms for Ashkenazi Jews include Eastern European Jews, German Jews, Polish Jews, Lithuanian Jews and Russian Jews. In Hebrew, Ashkenazim is used, which means people who came from Germany. Yiddish, a language spoken by many Ashkenazi Jews, has its own terms such as Ashkenazim, Yidn, and Yiddisher. Although they share a common ancestry, Ashkenazi Jews are a diverse group in themselves with unique customs, traditions, and beliefs.