אַרְיֵה
aryémasculine
The English word 'lion' is translated into Hebrew as אַרְיֵה (aryé). Wiktionary also lists ארי (ari) and לביא (lavi).
Meaning: big cat Panthera leo (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| אַרְיֵה | aryé | masculine | |
| ארי | ari | /ʔəˈriː/ /ʔəˈri/ |
masculine |
| לביא | lavi | /laːˈbiːʔ/ /lɔˈbiʔ/ |
masculine |
| כפיר | kfir | masculine |
All provided forms of the word refer to the big cat Panthera leo.
Which one should you use?
The form אַרְיֵה is the standard, most common word for 'lion' used in everyday speech and general contexts. The form לביא is a more poetic or literary term for 'lion', often found in classical Hebrew literature or high-register texts. The form כפיר is a specific literary term for a 'lion', often used in biblical or poetic contexts to denote strength or a young lion.
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms provided are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
aryé
Did you know?
- The word אַרְיֵה is a common male given name in Israel and is frequently used as a nickname for people named Judah because of the biblical association between the tribe of Judah and the 'lion'.
- The Hebrew word לביא is related to the Arabic word labu'ah, but in Arabic, this feminine form specifically refers to a lioness.
- In Jewish mysticism and folklore, the אַרְיֵה is sometimes paired with the eagle to symbolize the reach of divine power across the earth and sky.
Examples in context
- ג'ו ואני ראינו אריה אתמול.Joe and I saw a lion yesterday.This sentence shows how to use the form ארי when describing seeing a lion.Tatoeba #1917496 by fekundulo, translation #52923 by CN
- אני לא יכול לשאוג כמו אריה. אני תן.I cannot roar like a lion. I'm a jackal.This sentence uses the form ארי to compare a roar to that of a lion.Tatoeba #5816820 by fekundulo, translation #1687110 by Amastan
- היה לו ראש אישה, גוף לביא, כנפי ציפור וזנב נחש.It had the head of a woman, the body of a lion, the wings of a bird, and the tail of a serpent.This sentence uses the form לביא to describe the body of a mythical creature.Tatoeba #1855765 by fekundulo, translation #42321 by CM
- חָזָק כַּאֲרִיֵּהStrong as a lion
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lion” translations and entries ארי, לביא, כפיר, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
