פְּנִינָה
p'nináfeminine
The English word pearl is translated into Hebrew as פְּנִינָה (p'niná). Wiktionary also lists מַרְגָּלִית (margalít).
Meaning: rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| פְּנִינָה | p'niná | feminine |
| מַרְגָּלִית | margalít | feminine |
The term refers to the rounded shelled concretion produced by certain mollusks. Similar to English, פְּנִינָה can be used metaphorically to describe something of great value or a 'gem' of an idea.
Which one should you use?
פְּנִינָה is the standard, most common way to refer to a pearl. In contrast, מַרְגָּלִית is a more poetic or literary term, often used in names or high-register literature.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both forms are feminine nouns. The plural form of פְּנִינָה is פְּנִינוֹת, and the plural form of מַרְגָּלִית is מַרְגָּלִיּוֹת.
How do you pronounce it?
p'niná
Did you know?
- The word מַרְגָּלִית is a cognate of the Greek word 'margaritēs', which is also the root of the English word 'marguerite' for a daisy.
- Hebrew literature often employs the plural מַרְגָּלִיּוֹת as a poetic metaphor for tears, drawing a parallel between the round shape and the inherent value of a pearl.
- In Biblical Hebrew, the term מַרְגָּלִית was not restricted to mollusks but was a general term for any precious stone or gem.
Examples in context
- אני מחפשת טבעת עם פנינה לכלתי.I'm looking for a ring with a pearl for my daughter-in-law.
- היא מצאה פְּנִינָה יפה בתוך הצדף.hi matza pnina yafa betokh ha-tsadaf.She found a beautiful pearl inside the shell.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pearl” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
