ניאוף \ נֵאוּף
ne'úfmasculine
The Hebrew word for adultery is ניאוף \ נֵאוּף (ne'úf).
The noun refers to sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than their spouse.
Meaning: sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than their spouse (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term ניאוף is a formal or biblical term used in legal, religious or literary contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
ne'úf
Did you know?
- In modern Israeli legal and social contexts, if one is discussing a breach of trust in a relationship, you are more likely to hear the word בגידה, which literally means 'betrayal'.
- In a religious context, the word ניאוף is often used metaphorically to describe 'spiritual adultery'. This refers to a person or nation turning away from their religious duties to follow other gods.
- In modern Israel, while ניאוף is used in legal texts, it is no longer a criminal offense under civil law, though it remains a significant factor in the religious courts' divorce process.
Example sentences for Hebrew are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “adultery” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
