עבודה
avodá/ʕaboːˈdaː/
Avodah means work in Hebrew. The default form is עבודה (avodá).
The term עבודה is the modern Hebrew word used to encompass the concepts of work, employment or labor. It is used both when referring to the general concept of labor and when referring to a person's specific job.
What does it mean word for word?
The word עבודה literally means work, labor or service.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of עבודה is עבודות (avodót), which is used to refer to works or jobs.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is avodá and the IPA is /ʕaboːˈdaː/.
Did you know?
- The word עבודה is a cognate of the Arabic word عِبَادَة (ibada), which specifically refers to the act of worship.
- In a religious context, the word עבודה refers specifically to the service performed in the Temple in Jerusalem. It describes the ritualistic duties of the priests rather than physical labor.
- The Hebrew root of עבודה is also found in the word for 'servant', illustrating that the word connects the person performing the task to the task itself.
Examples in context
- יש לי הרבה עבודה היום.yesh li harbe avodah hayom.I have a lot of work today.
Example conversation
Noa and Noam are talking about their day.
- נועה Noaנועם, איך הייתה העבודה?Noam, eich hayta ha-avodah?Noam, how was work?
- נועם Noamהייתה לי עבודה קשה מאוד.hayta li avodah kasha me'od.I had very hard work.
- נועה Noaאתה רוצה לנוח קצת?ata rotze lanuach ktzat?Do you want to rest a bit?
- נועם Noamכן, אני צריך הפסקה מהעבודה.ken, ani tzarich hafsaka me-ha-avodah.Yes, I need a break from work.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry עבודה, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries עבודה, CC BY-SA 4.0.
