מת
mét/ˈmeːθ/ [ˈmeːθ]
The Hebrew word for dead is מת (mét).
The word מת is an adjective used to describe someone or something that is no longer alive.
Meaning: no longer alive (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, מת must agree with the gender and number of the subject. Use מתה to describe a female subject, מתים for a group of males or a mixed group and מתות for a group of females. The form מת serves both as the masculine singular adjective and as a noun meaning a dead person.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is mét.
Did you know?
- Because Hebrew is a Semitic language, the word מת is a direct relative of the Arabic word 'māta', meaning they share a common ancestor from thousands of years ago.
- While 'dead' in English can describe a phone battery or a broken machine, using מת for inanimate objects in Hebrew can sometimes sound uncomfortably personified depending on the context.
- In many Hebrew-speaking religious settings, one might avoid saying the word מת when referring to a person directly, opting instead for euphemisms to show respect for the deceased.
Examples in context
- אל תעמיד פני מת.Don't play dead.This example shows how to use מת in the phrase 'play dead'.Tatoeba #5459480 by fekundulo, translation #1493388 by CM
- מה אמרת? הוא מת?!What did you say? Dead?This example demonstrates a reaction to hearing that someone is מת.Tatoeba #1817246 by MrShoval, translation #1159849 by tinytina
- את חושבת שטום מת?Do you think Tom is dead?This example shows how to ask if a specific person is מת.Tatoeba #2065109 by Eldad, translation #1886050 by CK
- האריה מת.The lion is dead.
- 140 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Rotem are talking about a plant they forgot to water.
- דניאל Danielרוטם, אני חושב שהצמח שלי מת.Rotem, ani choshev she-hatzemach sheli met.Rotem, I think my plant is dead.
- רוטם Rotemזה נראה ככה, הוא לגמרי יבש.Ze nir'a kacha, hu legamrei yavesh.It looks like it, it's completely dry.
- דניאל Danielאבל הוא היה כל כך ירוק!Aval hu haya kol kach yarok!But it was so green!
- רוטם Rotemחבל, עכשיו הוא פשוט מת.Chaval, achshav hu pashut met.Too bad, now it's just dead.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry מת, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries מת, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
