מלאך
malákhmasculine
The Hebrew word for "angel" is מלאך (malákh), transliterated as "malakh". The feminine is מלאכית (malakhít) and the plural is מלאכים (malakhím).
Meaning: spiritual messenger (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| מלאך | malákh | masculine |
| מלאכית | malakhít | feminine |
| מלאכים | malakhím | plural |
מלאך is used for angels in the Bible and in everyday speech for a very kind person. מלאך שומר (malákh shomér) means "guardian angel".
How does it change in a sentence?
Hebrew reads right to left, and the word is spelled with four letters, with the vowels not written.
How do you pronounce it?
The final ך is a throat sound like the "ch" in Scottish "loch", so transliterations write it as "kh", "ch" or "ch" with an extra mark. Say "mah-LAKH".
What mistakes should you avoid?
Transliterations vary because Hebrew sounds do not map neatly onto Latin letters, so "malach", "malakh" and "mal'akh" all stand for the same word.
Did you know?
- The Hebrew word מלאך (malákh) also means "messenger", which is what the Greek ἄγγελος (ángelos), the source of "angel", means.
Examples in context
- המלאך עומד ליד הדלת.Hamalákh omed leyád hadélet.The angel is standing by the door.
- היא מלאכית.Hi malakhít.She is an angel.
- יש לי מלאך שומר.Yesh li malákh shomér.I have a guardian angel.
Example conversation
Dana and her little brother Avi look at a painting of an angel in a museum.
- Danaיש מלאך בציור הזה.Yesh malákh batziyúr haze.There is an angel in this painting.
- Aviאיפה המלאך.Eifó hamalákh.Where is the angel.
- Danaליד העץ.Leyád ha'étz.Next to the tree.
