לָשׁוֹן
lashónfeminine
The English word 'language' is translated into Hebrew as לָשׁוֹן (lashón) or שָׂפָה.
Meaning: body of words used as a form of communication (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| לָשׁוֹן | lashón | feminine |
| שָׂפָה | safá | feminine |
Both words mean a body of words used as a form of communication.
What does it mean word for word?
The word לָשׁוֹן literally means 'tongue', while שָׂפָה literally means 'lip'.
Which one should you use?
שָׂפָה is the most common way to refer to a language in everyday conversation. In contrast, לָשׁוֹן is typically used in formal, academic or linguistic contexts to refer to a language as a system.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both לָשׁוֹן and שָׂפָה are feminine nouns and must agree with feminine adjectives and verbs.
How do you pronounce it?
lashón
Did you know?
- The word שָׂפָה is a homonym that also means 'shore' or 'edge' in Hebrew. This creates a poetic link in the language between the boundary of a landmass and the boundary of a speech community.
- While לָשׁוֹן means 'language', it is also used in Hebrew to describe the 'tongue' of a flame, linking the idea of speech to the flickering movement of fire.
- In some traditional Jewish contexts, the term לָשׁוֹן קֹדֶשׁ is used specifically to refer to the Hebrew language as the 'Holy Tongue'.
Examples in context
- אני מדבר ארבע שפות. מהן השפות שאתה מדבר?I speak four languages. Which languages do you speak?
- האם אתה מכיר אדם שמבין את הלשון העברית?Do you know someone who understands the Hebrew language?
Example conversation
Noa and Noam are discussing a book they are reading.
- נועה Noaהאם את אוהבת את הלָשׁוֹן של הספר?Ha'im at ohevet et halashon shel haséfer?Do you like the language of the book?
- נועם Noamכן, זו לָשׁוֹן מאוד יפה.Ken, zo lashon me'od yafa.Yes, it is a very beautiful language.
- נועה Noaהיא נשמעת קצת מוזרה, לא?Hi nishme'et ktsat mozara, lo?It sounds a bit strange, doesn't it?
- נועם Noamאולי, אבל היא מאוד מרגשת.Ulai, aval hi me'od mergeshet.Maybe, but it is very moving.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “language” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
