תַּרְנְגוֹל
tarn'gólmasculine
The Hebrew word for chicken is תַּרְנְגוֹל (tarn'gól). Wiktionary also lists תרנגולת \ תַּרְנְגֹלֶת (tarnególet).
Meaning: bird (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| תַּרְנְגוֹל | tarn'gól | masculine |
| תרנגולת \ תַּרְנְגֹלֶת | tarnególet | feminine |
The term refers to the bird itself. In a culinary context, such as when discussing chicken as meat or food, speakers more commonly use the word עֶוף (ef) instead of the words for the bird.
Which one should you use?
While both can translate to chicken, the masculine form תַּרְנְגוֹל is often used to refer specifically to a rooster and the feminine form תַּרְנְגֹלֶת is used to refer specifically to a hen.
How do you pronounce it?
tarn'gól
Did you know?
- The root of the word עֶוף is shared with the verb 'to fly'. This means the Hebrew word for chicken as food is etymologically tied to the act of flight rather than the animal's species.
- Unlike English, where 'chicken' can be used as an insult to call someone a coward, Hebrew uses different words for cowardice and does not use תַּרְנְגוֹל or עֶוף in this way.
- In Jewish folklore and some traditional texts, the rooster תַּרְנְגוֹל is sometimes associated with the concept of waking up for morning prayers, mirroring its role as a natural alarm clock.
Example sentences for Hebrew are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chicken” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
