מִזְרָח
mizrákhmasculine
The English word 'east' can be translated into Hebrew as מִזְרָח (mizrákh) or קֶדֶם.
Meaning: compass point (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| מִזְרָח | mizrákh | masculine |
| קֶדֶם | kédem | masculine |
The term מִזְרָח can be used universally when referring to the cardinal direction 'east' on a compass or in navigation. It is also the name used for the 'Eastern world'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word מִזְרָח is derived from the Hebrew root ז–ר–ח (z-r-kh), which relates to shining or rising, referring to the rising of the sun.
Which one should you use?
While מִזְרָח is the standard term for the compass direction, קֶדֶם can also mean 'east' in a poetic or archaic sense and is often used to mean 'ancient' or 'the Orient'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To use 'east' as an adjective (eastern), you must change the gender to match the noun it modifies. For a feminine noun, use מִזְרָחִית.
How do you pronounce it?
mizrákh
Did you know?
- In ancient Hebrew texts, the word קֶדֶם was often used interchangeably with 'front', suggesting that the east was viewed as the 'front' of the world.
- The word קֶדֶם is used to describe something as 'ancient' because the direction 'east' was historically associated with the dawn of time and the origins of civilization.
- While מִזְרָח describes the direction of the sunrise, the Hebrew word for 'west' מַעֲרָב comes from a root meaning 'to set' or 'to disappear'.
Examples in context
- בשער המקום הקדוש של ירושלים, אנו נמצאים מזרחית לכותל המערבי.At the entrance to Jerusalem's holy place, we are located eastward from the Western Wall.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “east” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
