התגעגעתי אליך
hitga'agati elecha
To say "I missed you" in Hebrew, you use התגעגעתי אליך (hitga'agati elecha).
This phrase is used to express that you felt sadness or longing because someone was not with you.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb התגעגעתי is in the Hitpa'el stem, which often denotes a reflexive or intensive action of feeling an emotion.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb התגעגעתי is in the past tense, which is the standard way to express the feeling of having missed someone in Hebrew. The default form התגעגעתי אליך is used specifically when speaking to a man. If you are speaking to a woman, you must change the ending of the second word to התגעגעתי אלייך.
How do you pronounce it?
hitga'agati elecha
Did you know?
- If you wanted to say 'I miss you' in the present tense, you would often still use the past tense התגעגעתי to describe the period of time you were apart.
- In very romantic or poetic Hebrew literature, writers may avoid התגעגעתי in favor of כיספתי, a word that implies a deeper, almost spiritual yearning.
- The preposition אל used in this phrase literally means 'towards', making the phrase feel like you are directing your longing 'towards' a person.
Examples in context
- התגעגעתי אליך אתמול מאוד.I missed you very much yesterday.This sentence shows how to add 'very much yesterday' to the phrase containing התגעגעתי אליך.Tatoeba #1919208 by fekundulo, translation #244514 by CK
- התגעגעתי אליך.I missed you.This sentence provides the simple version of the phrase containing התגעגעתי אליך.Tatoeba #1488629 by MrShoval, translation #407574 by Scott
- התגעגעתי אליך היום.I missed you today.This sentence shows how to add 'today' to the phrase containing התגעגעתי אליך.Tatoeba #2048670 by Eldad, translation #1574399 by CM
- התגעגעתי אליךI longed for you.
- התגעגעתי אליך מאודI really missed you.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maya and Ido meet at the airport after a long trip.
- מאיה Mayaעידו, התגעגעתי אליך!Ido, hitgaaga'ti elecha!Ido, I missed you!
- עידו Idoגם אני התגעגעתי אליך מאוד.Gam ani hitgaaga'ti elayich me'od.I missed you very much too.
- מאיה Mayaאיזה כיף שחזרת הביתה.Eize kef she-chazarta habayta.It's so great that you came home.
- עידו Idoאני שמח לראות אותך.Ani same'ach lir'ot otach.I am happy to see you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
