אֲנִי
aní
The Hebrew word for "I" is אֲנִי (aní). Wiktionary also lists אנוכי \ אָנֹכִי (anokhí).
Meaning: personal pronoun (pron)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| אֲנִי | aní | |
| אנוכי \ אָנֹכִי | anokhí | poetic |
In everyday speech, especially in informal settings, speakers often omit this subject pronoun entirely.
Which one should you use?
While אֲנִי is the standard form used in most situations, the form אנוכי \ אָנֹכִי is reserved specifically for poetic, biblical or highly formal contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The pronoun אֲנִי is gender-neutral. It remains the same whether the speaker is male or female.
How do you pronounce it?
aní
Did you know?
- While אֲנִי is gender-neutral, the adjective following it must match the speaker's gender, meaning a man says אֲנִי רעב and a woman says אֲנִי רעבה for 'I am hungry'.
- The word אֲנִי is a cognate of the Arabic word for 'I', أنا (ana), reflecting their shared roots as Semitic languages.
- In modern Hebrew, the form אָנֹכִי is sometimes used ironically or humorously to make a speaker sound overly pompous or theatrical.
Examples in context
- אֲנִי הוֹלֵךְ לַחֲנוּת – Ani holech lachanutI am going to the store
- אֲנִי רְעֵב עַכְשָׁו.ani re'ev akhshav.I am hungry right now.
- אֲנִי לומֵד עִבְרִית.ani lomed ivrit.I am learning Hebrew.
- מִי אֲנִי?mi ani?Who am I?
Example conversation
Maya and Noam meet at a cafe.
- מאיה Mayaשלום, אֲנִי מאיה.Shalom, ani Maya.Hello, I am Maya.
- נועם Noamנעים להכיר, אֲנִי נועם.Naim lehakir, ani Noam.Nice to meet you, I am Noam.
- מאיה Mayaאֲנִי מחכה לחברה שלי.Ani mekhaka lekhavira sheli.I am waiting for my friend.
- נועם Noamגם אֲנִי מחכה למישהו.Gam ani mekhake lemishehu.I am also waiting for someone.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
