כופר
kofer
The Hebrew word for ransom is כופר (kofer).
כופר is a noun used to describe money paid to free a hostage. A common idiomatic way to refer specifically to a ransom paid for a person's life is the phrase כופר נפש, which translates to the ransom of a soul or life.
Meaning: money paid for the freeing of a hostage (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe the action of paying a ransom to set someone free, use the verb לפדות (to redeem or ransom).
How do you pronounce it?
kofer
Did you know?
- In modern Hebrew, the word 'כופר' can also mean 'one who denies' or 'unbeliever'. This comes from a completely different root, despite the identical spelling and pronunciation.
- The root of כופר is also used in the word כיפור, the name for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. In this context, the 'ransom' is a spiritual payment or sacrifice made to wipe away sins.
- While 'כופר' is the noun for the money, the Hebrew language often uses the verb 'לפדות' in everyday commerce to mean 'to redeem' something, such as a coupon or a gift card.
Examples in context
- תום אמר שאל לנו לשם את כופר הנפש.Tom said we shouldn't pay the ransom.This sentence shows how to use כופר in the context of not paying a ransom.Tatoeba #13056691 by fekundulo, translation #12153206 by CK
- החוטף דרש כופר בסך שני מיליון דולר.The hijacker demanded a ransom of two million dollars.This sentence uses כופר to describe a ransom demand made by a hijacker.Tatoeba #645979 by Eldad, translation #50030 by Eldad
- הוא שילם כַּפָּרָה גבוהה כדי לקבל את השחרור.He paid a high ransom to obtain his release.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
