יֶלֶד
yéledmasculine
The Hebrew word for boy is יֶלֶד (yéled). Wiktionary also lists בֵּן (ben).
Meaning: male child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| יֶלֶד | yéled | masculine |
| בֵּן | ben | masculine |
The term יֶלֶד is used to refer to a male child. While it is a masculine noun, its plural form יְלָדִים can be used to mean specifically 'boys' or to refer to a mixed-gender group of 'children'.
Which one should you use?
There are important distinctions between the available terms based on context and gender. Use יֶלֶד for a male child, whereas the feminine form יַלְדָּה is used for a girl. If you are specifically describing a son within a parent-child relationship, use בֵּן.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of יֶלֶד is יְלָדִים.
How do you pronounce it?
yéled
Did you know?
- The word יֶלֶד (yeled) shares a very old Semitic root with the Arabic word וֶלֶד (walad), both referring to a newborn or offspring.
- The term בֵּן (ben) can also be used as a prefix in Hebrew names to indicate 'son of', a tradition carried over from ancient Semitic naming customs.
- If you want to call a boy 'boy!' to get his attention, using יֶלֶד (yeled) would sound very strange and unnatural to a native speaker.
Examples in context
- Atah yeled tov (אַתָּה יֶלֶד טוֹב)You are a good boy
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
