בַּעַל
baʿalmasculine
The English word husband is translated into Hebrew as בַּעַל (baʿal) or אִישׁ.
Meaning: male partner in marriage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| בַּעַל | baʿal | masculine |
| אִישׁ | ʾish | masculine |
The term refers to a male partner in a marriage. While the most standard term is בַּעַל, it is worth noting that the word itself carries the connotation of being a master, owner or possessor.
What does it mean word for word?
The word בַּעַל literally means 'owner', 'master' or 'possessor'.
Which one should you use?
בַּעַל is a formal or traditional way to refer to a husband. In contrast, אִישׁ is the more common and colloquial way to say 'husband' in modern spoken Hebrew.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'my husband' using the word בַּעַל, use the form בַּעֲלִי. To say 'my husband' using the word אִישׁ, use the form אִישִׁי.
How do you pronounce it?
baʿal
Did you know?
- The word בַּעַל is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe the relationship between a person and their deity, where the deity is seen as the 'husband' or 'master' of the people.
- The term בַּעַל is used in many different compounds, such as בַּעְלֵי מִשְׂרָה for 'ministers' or 'officials', showing its roots in authority and position.
- In some modern Israeli contexts, referring to a husband as בַּעַל can feel outdated or overly formal due to its association with 'mastery' and 'ownership'.
Examples in context
- הוא בַּעַל מצוין.hu ba'al metzuyan.He is an excellent husband.
- אני מחפשת בַּעַל לחיים.ani mekhapeset ba'al lakhayim.I am looking for a life partner.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “husband” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
