טוֹב מַרְאֶה
tov mar'é
The English word 'handsome' can be translated into Hebrew as טוֹב מַרְאֶה (tov mar'é). Wiktionary also lists יפה תואר (y'fe tó'ar) and יְפֵה תֹאַר (y'fe tó'ar).
Meaning: of man: attractive (adj)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| טוֹב מַרְאֶה | tov mar'é |
| יפה תואר | y'fe tó'ar |
| יְפֵה תֹאַר | y'fe tó'ar |
These terms are used to describe a man who is attractive. While טוֹב מַרְאֶה literally means 'good-looking', you might also hear the word מרשים used colloquially to describe someone as 'handsome', though its primary meaning is 'impressive' or 'charming'. To say 'very handsome', you can use יפה מאוד.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase טוֹב מַרְאֶה is composed of the words טוֹב, meaning 'good' and מַרְאֶה, meaning 'appearance'.
Which one should you use?
יְפֵה תֹאַר is a common way to say 'handsome', but it is more formal and literary than the everyday word יָפֶה.
How does it change in a sentence?
In modern spoken Hebrew, the adjective יָפֶה is the most common way to describe a man as handsome, whereas יְפֵה תֹאַר is more descriptive and formal.
How do you pronounce it?
tov mar'é
Did you know?
- In ancient Ugaritic, a relative of the word יפה referred to 'dignity' or 'honour' rather than physical beauty.
- The word יָפֶה can be used as an exclamation to mean 'well done' or 'great' when someone performs a task successfully.
- In biblical Hebrew, the phrase טוֹב מַרְאֶה is famously used to describe Joseph, emphasizing a divine or ideal quality of appearance.
Examples in context
- אבי היה כנראה יפה תואר בנעוריו.My father must have been handsome in his youth.This sentence uses יפה תואר to describe someone's appearance in their youth.Tatoeba #568187 by Eldad, translation #319262 by Eldad
- הוא בוודאי אינו יפה תואר אבל הוא טוב לב.He is not handsome, to be sure, but he is good-natured.This sentence uses יפה תואר to contrast physical appearance with being good-natured.Tatoeba #1910116 by fekundulo, translation #21696 by CK
- הבחור הזה יפה מאוד!This guy is very handsome!
- אני חושבת שהבחור הזה מרשים מאוד.I think this guy is very handsome/charming.
Example conversation
Rotem is telling Daniel about a man she met.
- רוטם Rotemפגשתי גבר חדש, הוא ממש טוֹב מַרְאֶה.Pagash-ti gever khadash, hu mamash tov mar'eh.I met a new man, he is really handsome.
- דניאל Danielהוא באמת נראה טוב בתמונות?Hu be-emet nir'eh tov ba-tmunot?Does he really look good in pictures?
- רוטם Rotemכן, הוא נראה נהדר.Ken, hu nir'eh nehedar.Yes, he looks great.
- דניאל Danielנשמע מעניין, תספרי לי עליו עוד.Nishma me'anyen, tasperi li alav od.Sounds interesting, tell me more about him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “handsome” translations and entries יפה תואר, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries יפה, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
