שניהם
shnehem
The English word 'both' is translated into Hebrew as שניהם (shnehem).
This word is used to refer to each of two people or things, meaning one and the other.
Meaning: each of two, one and the other (det)
What does it mean word for word?
The form שניהם is built from the number two (שני) and a masculine plural suffix (הם).
How does it change in a sentence?
שניהם is the masculine plural form of 'both'. If you are referring to two females, use the feminine plural form שניהן. To say 'both of us' in a masculine context, use שנינו and to say 'both of you' in a feminine context, use שניכן.
How do you pronounce it?
shnehem
Did you know?
- In Hebrew, if you want to say 'both' to emphasize that two things are inseparable or acting as a single unit, you might use the word גם ('also') in a specific way to link them.
- If you are referring to 'both' of a mixed group of men and women, you must default to the masculine form שניהם, even if there is only one woman in the pair.
- The suffix in שניהם functions like a pronoun, making the word a 'pronoun-suffix' hybrid that is much more compact than the English 'both of them'.
Examples in context
- אני אוהב את שניהם.I like both.This sentence shows how to express liking both of something.Tatoeba #1399008 by MrShoval, translation #255228 by CK
- תום אוהב את שניהם.Tom likes them both.This sentence demonstrates how to say someone likes them both.Tatoeba #4646865 by fekundulo, translation #2647470 by CK
- אני צריך את שניהם.I need both.This sentence illustrates how to say you need both.Tatoeba #13130907 by fekundulo, translation #9816866 by CK
- שניהם ילדים מוכשרים.Both children are talented.
- 97 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Itay and Maya are looking at two different cakes.
- איתי Itayאיזה עוגה את רוצה, מאיה?Eize uga at rotze, Maya?Which cake do you want, Maya?
- מאיה Mayaהן נראות טעימות, אני רוצה את שניהם.Hen nir'ot te'imot, ani rotze et shneyhem.They look tasty, I want both.
- איתי Itayאת באמת יכולה לאכול את שניהם?At be'emét yechola le'echol et shneyhem?Can you really eat both?
- מאיה Mayaבטח, נחלק אותם בינינו.Betach, nachalek othem beineinu.Sure, we will share them between us.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
