Gimel (ג) is the best spin on the dreidel. You take everything in the pot. Since the pot is now empty, every player still in the game puts in one piece to start it again. Gimel stands for Gadol, Hebrew for "great."
Gimel in the game
Gimel is the one everybody's hoping for. Land on it and the whole pot is yours.
Then the pot is empty, so everyone still in the game, you included, adds one piece to refill it before the next spin. That's why the very next Gimel after a big one usually isn't worth much. The pot needs time to grow back.
When Gimel is worth the most
A Gimel is only as good as the pot. Pots grow when people land on Shin, so a run of Shins around the table makes the next Gimel a big one. In a two-player game the pot stays small, which is why Gimel feels more exciting with four or five players.
On a fair dreidel, Gimel comes up about 1 in 4 spins. Not a single Gimel in eight spins happens about 1 time in 10, so dry spells are normal. It's not you. Probably.
What Gimel stands for
Gimel is the first letter of גדול, Gadol, meaning "great" or "big." So the second word of Nes Gadol Haya Sham is the one that tells you how big the miracle was. Fitting, for the spin that takes it all.
In Yiddish, Gimel lines up with gants, "all." The German game used G for Ganz, which also means all.
How to recognize Gimel
Gimel is a single stroke with a little foot kicking out to the left at the bottom. Some people say it looks like someone taking a step.
Beginners mix it up with Nun (נ). Check the bottom: Gimel has a small foot, Nun has a full flat base.
Fun facts about Gimel
- Gimel is the 3rd letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Its number value is 3.
- Some families shout "Gimel!" before the dreidel even stops. This does not help. It's still fun.
Updated October 2026