שֶׁמֶן זַיִת
shémen-záyitmasculine
The English phrase 'olive oil' is translated into Hebrew as שֶׁמֶן זַיִת (shémen-záyit). Wiktionary also lists יִצְהָר (yiṣhār).
Meaning: oil pressed from olives (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| שֶׁמֶן זַיִת | shémen-záyit | masculine |
| יִצְהָר | yiṣhār | masculine |
The term refers to the oil pressed from olives.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase שֶׁמֶן זַיִת is composed of the word for oil (shémen) followed by the word for olive (záyit).
Which one should you use?
While שֶׁמֶן זַיִת is the standard term used in daily life, יִצְהָר refers specifically to pure, high-quality olive oil and is most commonly found in biblical or poetic contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both forms are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
shémen-záyit
Did you know?
- The root of שֶׁמֶן is related to the Arabic word samn, which refers to clarified butter or ghee, showing a shared Semitic history of naming fats.
- In Jewish tradition, olive oil is used to light the Menorah during Hanukkah because it was the only oil remaining in the Temple, creating a miracle of endurance.
- In biblical Hebrew, the word יִצְהָר (yetzhar) is used to describe an oil that is exceptionally clear and luminous, much like a glowing light.
Examples in context
- אני צריכה שֶׁמֶן זַיִת לסלט.ani tzrikha shemen zayit la-salat.I need olive oil for the salad.
- האם יש לנו שֶׁמֶן זַיִת במטבח?ha'im yesh lanu shemen zayit ba-mitbach?Do we have olive oil in the kitchen?
- הוא קנה בקבוק שֶׁמֶן זַיִת חדש.hu kana bakbuk shemen zayit khadash.He bought a new bottle of olive oil.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “olive oil” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
