דבורת דבש
devorat dvash
The Hebrew phrase for honey bee is דבורת דבש (devorat dvash).
דבורת דבש is the noun used to refer to the honey bee.
Meaning: honey bee (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the word for bee (דבורה) in the construct state (דבורת) and the word for honey (דבש), literally meaning "bee of honey".
How do you pronounce it?
devorat dvash
Did you know?
- The word דבורה is derived from the root meaning 'to hum' or 'to buzz'. This means the Hebrew word for bee is an onomatopoeia reflecting the sound the insect makes.
- In the Bible, the word דבש referred to both honey from bees and the sweet syrup made from dates. This created a distinction between 'bee honey' and 'date honey' in ancient texts.
- In Jewish tradition, honey is used on Rosh Hashanah to symbolize a 'sweet new year'. This makes the components of דבורת דבש central to one of the most important holiday rituals.
Examples in context
- ראיתי דבורת דבש על הפרח.ra'iti dvarat dvash al ha'perach.I saw a honey bee on the flower.
- דבורת דבש יכולה לעקוץ.dvarat dvash yechola la'akotz.A honey bee can sting.
- יש דבורת דבש בגינה שלנו.yesh dvarat dvash ba'gina shelanu.There is a honey bee in our garden.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a flower in a park.
- עגור Adiתראה, איתי, יש פה דבורת דבש!tir'e, Itai, yesh po dvorat dvash!Look, Itai, there is a honey bee here!
- איתי Itayהיא נראית מאוד קטנה.hi nir'et me'od ktana.It looks very small.
- עגור Adiהיא רק מחפשת צוף.hi rak mekhapset tzof.It is just looking for nectar.
- איתי Itayבוא נתרחק כדי שלא תעקוץ.bo nitrakhakh kedei shelo ta'akotz.Let's move away so it doesn't sting.
