מְטוֹרָף
metoráf
The English word crazy is translated into Hebrew as מְטוֹרָף (metoráf) or מְשׁוּגָע.
Meaning: insane, demented (adj)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| מְטוֹרָף | metoráf |
| מְשׁוּגָע | meshugá |
Both words are used to describe someone or something that is insane or demented.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean crazy, they are used in different contexts. The form מְטוֹרָף is often used colloquially to describe something wild, reckless or extreme, rather than just clinical insanity. The form מְשׁוּגָע is the more standard way to describe someone who is mentally insane or acting in a crazed manner.
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms change based on gender and number. For the colloquial form מְטוֹרָף, the feminine singular is מְטוֹרֶפֶת and the masculine plural is מְטוֹרָפִים. For the standard form מְשׁוּגָע, the feminine singular is מְשׁוּגָעָה and the masculine plural is מְשׁוּגָּעִים.
How do you pronounce it?
metoráf
Did you know?
- The root of מְטוֹרָף is related to the word טְרֵף, which refers to meat that is forbidden for consumption because the animal was torn apart. This links 'crazy' to the idea of something being 'torn' or 'wild'.
- In modern Israeli slang, מְטוֹרָף is frequently used as a synonym for 'awesome' or 'incredible'. A person might describe a great concert or a delicious meal as מְטוֹרָף to indicate it was wildly good.
- In Hebrew, calling someone מְשׁוּגָע can be a playful term of endearment between friends, similar to calling someone 'silly' in English, depending entirely on the intonation.
Examples in context
- זה רעיון מְטוֹרָף.ze ra'ayon metoraf.That is a crazy idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crazy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
