אהוב
ahuv/(ʔ)aˈ(h)uv/masculine
The Hebrew word for beloved is אהוב (ahuv).
אהוב is used as an adjective to describe someone or something that is much loved. It can also function as a noun meaning 'someone who is loved'.
Meaning: much loved (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word אהוב is the passive participle of the verb אהב (to love), literally meaning 'one who is loved'.
Which one should you use?
The form אהוב is the masculine singular form.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes to match the gender and number of the subject: אהובה is the feminine singular, אהובים is the masculine plural and אהובות is the feminine plural. אהובִי means 'my beloved' for a male, and אהובתי means 'my beloved' for a female.
How do you pronounce it?
ahuv
Did you know?
- While 'beloved' in English often sounds poetic or archaic, using אהוב in modern Hebrew can feel quite intense or even overly dramatic in casual conversation.
- The letters in אהוב include the letter ה, which is often associated in mystical traditions with the breath of life and the presence of God.
- The root of אהוב is also the foundation for the word 'love' in many other Semitic languages, such as Arabic 'ahaba', showing a deep linguistic connection across the Middle East.
Examples in context
- אהוב ובלתי צפוי, בלתי מנוצח גם כן, קולו נשמע כמו קרפדה שבלעה טרקטור.Beloved, unexpected, and undefeated, his voice sounded like a toad that had swallowed a tractor.This sentence uses the adjective אהוב to describe a person.Tatoeba #2185669 by fekundulo, translation #2900728 by AlanF_US
- את אהובתי.You're my beloved.This sentence uses the form אהובתי to mean 'my beloved'.Tatoeba #2622043 by Olya, translation #2631823 by Joseph
- אני מחבק את הספר האהוב שלי.I'm hugging my beloved book.
- שלום, דורית היקרה!Hello, dear Dorit!
- האישה האהובה והיקרה שלי.My beloved and precious woman.
- הוא אהוב על כולם.hu ahuv al kulam.He is beloved by everyone.
Example conversation
Rotem and Daniel are talking about their grandfather.
- רוטם Rotemסבא הוא אדם מאוד אהוב.Saba hu adam me'od ahuv.Grandpa is a very beloved person.
- דניאל Danielכן, כולם באמת אוהבים אותו.Ken, kulam be'emet ohavim oto.Yes, everyone really loves him.
- רוטם Rotemדניאל, אתה גם אוהב אותו, נכון?Daniel, ata gam ohev oto, nachon?Daniel, you love him too, right?
- דניאל Danielבטח, הוא הכי אהוב במשפחה.Betach, hu hachi ahuv ba-mishpacha.Of course, he is the most beloved in the family.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beloved” translations and entries אהוב, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
