الْعِبْرَانِيَّة
al-ʕibrāniyyafeminine
Hebrew in Arabic is الْعِبْرَانِيَّة (al-ʕibrāniyya). Wiktionary also lists الْعِبْرِيَّة (al-ʕibriyya).
Meaning: language (name)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| الْعِبْرَانِيَّة | al-ʕibrāniyya | feminine |
| الْعِبْرِيَّة | al-ʕibriyya | feminine |
The terms used refer to the Hebrew language or things pertaining to the language.
Which one should you use?
الْعِبْرَانِيَّة is the more formal and standard way to refer to the Hebrew language. الْعِبْرِيَّة is also a way to say Hebrew.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the word as an adjective or to refer to a person, the form changes based on gender: عِبْرَانِيّ is the masculine form and عِبْرَانِيَّة is the feminine form.
How do you pronounce it?
al-ʕibrāniyya
Did you know?
- The word عِبْرَانِيّ shares the same root as the Arabic word for 'crossing over' or 'crossing a river', reflecting the biblical narrative of Abraham crossing the Euphrates.
- Arabic and Hebrew are both members of the Semitic language family, meaning they share a system of 'roots' where three consonants form the core meaning of a word.
- While الْعِبْرِيَّة is common today, classical Arabic texts often used the term لِسَانُ الْعِبْرَانِيِّين which literally means 'the tongue of the Hebrews'.
Examples in context
- أنا أتعلم العبرية حاليًا.I'm currently learning Hebrew.
- هل تتكلم العبرية؟Do you speak Hebrew?
- هِيَ تَتَحَدَّثُ الْعِبْرَانِيَّةَ بِطَلَاقَةٍ.hiya tataḥaddath al-ʿibrāniyya bi-ṭalāqa.She speaks Hebrew fluently.
- هَلْ تَعْرِفُ كَلِمَةً بِالْعِبْرَانِيَّةِ؟hal taʿrif kalima bil-ʿibrāniyya?Do you know a word in Hebrew?
- أُرِيدُ تَعَلُّمَ اللُّغَةِ الْعِبْرَانِيَّةِ.urīdu taʿallum al-luġa al-ʿibrāniyya.I want to learn the Hebrew language.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their university courses.
- نور Nourهَلْ تَسْتَمِعُ إِلَى مُحَاضَرَةِ الْعِبْرَانِيَّةِ؟hal tastamiʿ ilā muḥāḍarat al-ʿibrāniyya?Are you listening to the Hebrew lecture?
- زياد Ziadلَا، أَنَا أَدْرُسُ اللُّغَةَ الْإِسْبَانِيَّةَ.lā, ana adrusu al-luġa al-isbāniyya.No, I am studying Spanish.
- نور Nourهَلْ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَتَعَلَّمَ الْعِبْرَانِيَّةَ؟hal turīdu an tataʿallama al-ʿibrāniyya?Do you want to learn Hebrew?
- زياد Ziadنَعَمْ، لَكِنْ لَيْسَ الآنَ.naʿam, lakin laysa al-ān.Yes, but not now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hebrew” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
