לילה טוב אהובי
layla tov ahuvi
The English phrase "goodnight my love" is translated into Hebrew as לילה טוב אהובי (layla tov ahuvi).
This phrase is a romantic way to say goodnight to a partner or spouse.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of layla (night), tov (good) and ahuvi (my beloved/my love).
Which one should you use?
The word ahuvi is gender-specific. Use ahuvi for a man and ahuvati for a woman.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use the form layla tov ahuvati when speaking to a woman.
How do you pronounce it?
layla tov ahuvi
Did you know?
- In Israel, saying לילה טוב can sometimes be used sarcastically to end a conversation or an argument, effectively telling the other person 'we are done talking'.
- Depending on the level of intimacy, a partner might replace אהובי with נשמה שלי (my soul), which is an extremely common romantic alternative to 'my love'.
- The root of אהובי (my love) is the same root used in the Hebrew Bible to describe the intense, poetic love in the Song of Songs.
Example conversation
A couple is getting ready for bed in their bedroom.
- נועם Noamאני עייפה מאוד, לילה טוב אהובי.Ani ayefa me'od, laila tov ahuvi.I am very tired, goodnight my love.
- עגור Adiגם אני עייף. לילה טוב, עגור.Gam ani ayef. Laila tov, Agur.I am tired too. Goodnight, Agur.
- נועם Noamנתראה מחר בבוקר.Nitra'e machar baboker.I will see you tomorrow morning.
- עגור Adiנתראה מחר, שינה נעימה.Nitra'e machar, sheina ne'ima.See you tomorrow, have a pleasant sleep.
