ינשוף
yanshuf/janˈʃuːp/
The English word "owl" is translated into Hebrew as ינשוף (yanshuf). Wiktionary also lists תנשמת (tinshemeth) and לילית (lilith).
Meaning: bird (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ינשוף | yanshuf | /janˈʃuːp/ /janˈʃuːf/ [janˈʃuːf] |
| תנשמת | tinshemeth | |
| לילית | lilith | /liˈlit/ (Modern Israeli) /liːˈliːθ/ |
| אוח | oakh | /ˈʔoːħ/ /ˈʔøw.waħ/ |
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ינשוף is grammatically masculine, though it can be used to refer to a female owl in a biological context. The plural form is ינשופים.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is yanshuf and the IPA is /janˈʃuːp/.
Did you know?
- The word לילית is not just a name for a bird, but it originates from the name of a mythological nocturnal demon from Akkadian legend.
- In Hebrew, the term for owl is not a single word, as different species like the תנשמת or אוח are categorized by distinct, unrelated roots.
Examples in context
- ינשוף ישן ביום וצד בלילה.An owl sleeps by day and hunts by night.This sentence illustrates the nocturnal behavior of an ינשוף.Tatoeba #6017468 by fekundulo, translation #34362 by AlanF_US
- תום ינשוף לילי.Tom is a night owl.This sentence shows how ינשוף is used in the expression for a night owl.Tatoeba #11472210 by fekundulo, translation #4494972 by CK
- כן, יש לי מידע על יַנְשׁוּפים.Yes, I have knowledge about owls.
- ראיתי ינשוף על העץ.ra'iti yanshuf al ha'etz.I saw an owl on the tree.
Example conversation
Noam and Maya are walking in the forest.
- נועם Noamמאיה, תסתכלי! יש שם ינשוף.Maya, tistakli! yesh sham yanshuf.Maya, look! There is an owl there.
- מאיה Mayaאיפה? אני לא רואה כלום.eifo? ani lo ro'ah klum.Where? I don't see anything.
- נועם Noamהוא עומד על הענף הגבוה.hu omed al ha-anaf ha-gavoha.It is standing on the high branch.
- מאיה Mayaוואו, איזה ינשוף יפה!wow, eize yanshuf yafe!Wow, what a beautiful owl!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “owl” translations and entries ינשוף, תנשמת, לילית, אוח, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries אוח, ינשוף, לילית, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
