אֲגַם
agámmasculine
The Hebrew word for lake is אֲגַם (agám). If unsure, use אֲגַם. Wiktionary also lists יַמָּה (yamá).
Meaning: body of water (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| אֲגַם | agám | masculine |
| יַמָּה | yamá | feminine |
The term refers to a body of water. The standard masculine form is אֲגַם, while יַמָּה is a specific poetic or archaic variant that means sea.
Which one should you use?
אֲגַם is the standard term for a lake, whereas יָם is the standard word for a sea. The form יַמָּה should be noted as a poetic or archaic way to say sea, rather than a word for lake.
How does it change in a sentence?
אֲגַם is a masculine noun, so any accompanying definite article or adjective must also be in the masculine form, such as in אֲגַם הַ… The plural form of אֲגַם is אֲגָמִים.
How do you pronounce it?
agám
Did you know?
- The Sea of Galilee is called כִּנֶּרֶת in Hebrew, which refers to a 'harp' because the lake's shape resembles the instrument.
- If you use the term יַמָּה in a casual conversation about a lake, you will sound like a character from a biblical epic rather than a modern speaker.
- The word יָם can be used to describe a 'sea' of something non-liquid, such as a 'sea of sand' or a 'sea of grass'.
Examples in context
- הַאֲגַם הַזֶּה מְאוֹד עָמֹק.ha'agam haze me'od amok.This lake is very deep.
- הַדָּגִים שֶׁבָּאֲגַם הַזֶּה גְּדוֹלִים.hadagim she'ba'agam haze gdolim.The fish in this lake are large.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lake” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
