כָּחוֹל
kaḥólmasculine
The English word blue is translated into Hebrew as כָּחוֹל (kaḥól). Wiktionary also lists כְּחוּלָה (kḥulá) and תְּכֵלֶת (tchélet).
Meaning: blue-coloured (adj)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| כָּחוֹל | kaḥól | masculine |
| כְּחוּלָה | kḥulá | feminine |
| תְּכֵלֶת | tchélet | feminine |
The words used for blue can function as adjectives to describe something blue-coloured or as nouns to refer to the colour itself. The term תְּכֵלֶת is also used to refer to the colour.
Which one should you use?
While כָּחוֹל is the general word for blue, תְּכֵלֶת specifically refers to a lighter, cyan or sky-blue shade. Additionally, תְּכֵלֶת can refer to both blue and turquoise.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Hebrew uses different forms of the adjective depending on the gender of the noun it describes. The masculine form is כָּחוֹל and the feminine form is כְּחוּלָה.
How do you pronounce it?
kaḥól
Did you know?
- The word תְּכֵלֶת refers to a specific dye made from a sea snail called the Murex. In ancient times, this pigment was so rare and expensive that it became a symbol of royalty and holiness.
- While an English speaker might use 'blue' to describe a feeling of sadness, a Hebrew speaker would rarely use the word כָּחוֹל to mean 'feeling blue'.
- The color תְּכֵלֶת is used in the 'tzitzit' or ritual fringes of Jewish prayer shawls. This serves as a visual reminder of the sky and the divine.
Examples in context
- הים מרהיב עם המים הכחולים שלו.The sea is stunning with its blue waters.
- החולצה שלך מהממת, אני אוהב את הכחול שלה!Your shirt is stunning, I love its blue color!
Example conversation
Maya and Itay are looking at clothing in a store.
- מאיה Mayaאיתי, תראה את החולצה הזאת!Itay, tireh et hachultza hazot!Itay, look at this shirt!
- איתי Itayהיא נראית יפה, אבל אני מעדיף כָּחוֹל.Hi nir'et yafe, aval ani ma'adif kachol.It looks nice, but I prefer blue.
- מאיה Mayaיש להם כָּחוֹל כאן במדד שלך.Yesh lahem kachol kan bemidad shelcha.They have blue here in your size.
- איתי Itayמעולה, אני אקנה אותה.Meuleh, ani ekne ota.Great, I will buy it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “blue” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
