בֶּן אָדָם
ben adámmasculine
The English word "human" (noun) is translated into Hebrew as בֶּן אָדָם (ben adám). If unsure, use בֶּן אָדָם. Wiktionary also lists אָדָם (ádam).
Meaning: human being (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| בֶּן אָדָם | ben adám | masculine |
| אָדָם | ádam | masculine |
בֶּן אָדָם is used to refer to a human being as an individual person. This is distinct from the adjective אֱנוֹשִׁי, which is used when referring to the human species or human nature.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase בֶּן אָדָם literally means "son of man".
Which one should you use?
While בֶּן אָדָם refers to a human being as a person, the adjective אֱנוֹשִׁי is used when referring to the human species or human nature.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of בֶּן אָדָם is בְּנֵי אָדָם.
How do you pronounce it?
ben adám
Did you know?
- The word אָדָם shares a root with the Hebrew word for 'red' אָדֹם. This reflects an ancient belief that the first human was created from the red clay of the earth.
- In Hebrew, calling someone a בֶּן אָדָם can be a high compliment meaning they are a decent, kind or principled person. It is often used as a character judgment rather than just a biological description.
- The root of אָדָם is closely related to אֲדָמָה, which means 'soil' or 'ground'. This etymological link emphasizes the connection between humanity and the earth.
Examples in context
- לכל איש יש סיפור מעניין לספר.Every person has an interesting story to tell.
- כל בֶּן אָדָם טועה לפעמים.kol ben adam to'e lif'amim.Every human being makes mistakes sometimes.
- הוא בֶּן אָדָם טוב מאוד.hu ben adam tov me'od.He is a very good human being.
- אני לא בֶּן אָדָם מושלם.ani lo ben adam mushlam.I am not a perfect human being.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a person's character at a cafe.
- מאיה Mayaהוא נראה לי בֶּן אָדָם הגון.hu nira li ben adam hagun.He seems like an honest human being to me.
- דניאל Danielכן, הוא באמת בֶּן אָדָם נחמד.ken, hu be'emet ben adam nekhmad.Yes, he truly is a nice human being.
- מאיה Mayaכל בֶּן אָדָם צריך כבוד.kol ben adam tsarikh kavod.Every human being deserves respect.
- דניאל Danielאת צודקת לגמרי, מאיה.at tzodeket legamrei, Maya.You are absolutely right, Maya.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “human” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
