סָב
savmasculine
The Hebrew word for grandfather is סָב (sav) or סַבָּא.
Meaning: grandfather (from either side) (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| סָב | sav | masculine |
| סַבָּא | sába | masculine |
Both terms are used to refer to a grandfather from either side of a person's family.
Which one should you use?
The form סָב is the more formal or literary version of the word, whereas סַבָּא is the standard spoken form used in everyday conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The available forms are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
sav
Did you know?
- In modern Israel, סַבָּא is often used as a generic, affectionate term for any elderly man, even if he is not the speaker's relative.
- The word סָב is used in the Hebrew Bible, but the more casual סַבָּא only became dominant in the modern era with the revival of the spoken language.
- The formal word סָב shares the same root as the word for 'old age', linking the identity of a grandfather directly to the concept of aging.
Example sentences for Hebrew are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Agur is showing a family photo to Daniel.
- עגור Adiתראה, זה הסָב שלי.Tir'e, ze ha-sav sheli.Look, this is my grandfather.
- דניאל Danielהוא נראה מאוד צעיר!Hu nir'e me'od tsa'ir!He looks very young!
- עגור Adiכן, הוא תמיד שמר על הבריאות.Ken, hu tamid shamar al ha-bri'ut.Yes, he always took care of his health.
- דניאל Danielאיזה סָב נהדר הוא נראה.Eize sav nehedar hu nir'e.He looks like a wonderful grandfather.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandfather” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
