Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| אַחַת־עֶשְׂרֵה | akhat-esre | feminine |
| אַחַד־עָשָׂר | akhad-asar | masculine |
| עַשְׁתֵּי עָשָׂר | ʿashtē ʿasar | masculine |
| עַשְׁתֵּי עֶשְׂרֵה | ʿashtē ʿesrē | feminine |
Eleven is the cardinal number occurring after ten and before twelve.
What does it mean word for word?
The masculine form אַחַד־עָשָׂר is literally composed of the words for 'one' and 'ten'. Similarly, the feminine form אַחַת־עֶשְׂרֵה is composed of the feminine words for 'one' and 'ten'.
Which one should you use?
There are different forms depending on the gender of the noun being counted. Use the masculine form אַחַד־עָשָׂר for masculine nouns and the feminine form אַחַת־עֶשְׂרֵה for feminine nouns. Additionally, the form עַשְׁתֵּי עָשָׂר is a masculine variant, while עַשְׁתֵּי עֶשְׂרֵה is a feminine variant.
How does it change in a sentence?
The choice of form depends on the gender of the noun. The masculine form is אַחַד־עָשָׂר and the feminine form is אַחַת־עֶשְׂרֵה. The form עַשְׁתֵּי עֶשְׂרֵה is a specific grammatical variant used for feminine numbers in certain contexts, such as in the Bible or formal literature.
How do you pronounce it?
akhat-esre
Did you know?
- The Hebrew system of building eleven as 'one' and 'ten' is a trait shared with other Semitic languages, such as Arabic, where the word for eleven is also a composite of 'one' and 'ten'.
- In traditional Jewish liturgy and prayer, the ancient forms of numbers like עַשְׁתֵּי are preserved, meaning a modern speaker might use one version in a synagogue and a completely different one at a cafe.
- If you use the ancient poetic form עַשְׁתֵּי עָשָׂר, you might sound like you are reciting a verse from the Bible rather than ordering food in a modern cafe.
Examples in context
- יש אַחַת־עֶשְׂרֵה בנות בכיתה.yesh achat-esre banot ba-kita.There are eleven girls in the class.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eleven” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
