עָנִי
ani
The Hebrew word for poor is עָנִי (ani). Wiktionary also lists דלת העם (dalat ha'am).
Meaning: with few or no possessions or money (adj)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| עָנִי | ani |
| דלת העם | dalat ha'am |
עָנִי is an adjective used to describe someone with few or no possessions or money. In a literary or biblical context, it can also carry the meaning of being humble or lowly.
Which one should you use?
While עָנִי primarily refers to a lack of financial resources, it possesses a secondary meaning of being humble or lowly in literature or religious texts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes based on gender and number: use עֲנִיָּה for the feminine singular, עֲנִיִּים for the masculine plural and עֲנִיּוֹת for the feminine plural.
How do you pronounce it?
ani
Did you know?
- The word דלת (dalat) in the phrase for 'poor' shares an ancient linguistic root with the word for 'door'.
- In Jewish tradition, the act of giving to the עֲנִיִּים is often performed in secret to protect the dignity of the recipient.
- The biblical concept of the עָנִי is frequently linked to a special relationship with God, where poverty is seen as a path to spiritual purity.
Examples in context
- הוא דַּל מאוד.He is very poor.
- הוא עָנִי מאוד עכשיו.hu ani me'od achshav.He is very poor now.
- המשפחה הזו עָנִיָה מאוד.ha-mishpacha ha-zot aniya me'od.This family is very poor.
Example conversation
Rotem and Ido are discussing a documentary about a struggling artist.
- רוטם Rotemהאמן הזה נראה עָנִי מאוד.ha-oman ha-ze nir'e ani me'od.This artist looks very poor.
- עידו Idoכן, הוא עָנִי אבל הוא מאושר.ken, hu ani aval hu me'ushar.Yes, he is poor but he is happy.
- רוטם Rotemזה ממש מעורר השראה.ze mamash me'orer hashra'a.That is truly inspiring.
- עידו Idoאני מסכים איתך, רוטם.ani maskim itach, Rotem.I agree with you, Rotem.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “poor” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries דלת, CC BY-SA 4.0.
