כביש
kvish
The Hebrew word for road is כביש (kvish).
כביש is used to describe a way for travel, specifically referring to a paved or engineered road. For example, the phrase for highway is כביש מהיר, which literally means a fast road.
Meaning: a way for travel (noun)
Which one should you use?
While כביש refers specifically to a paved or engineered road, the word דרך is a more general term that can mean a way, path or route.
How does it change in a sentence?
כביש is a masculine noun. Its plural form is כבישים.
How do you pronounce it?
kvish
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly treat כביש as a feminine noun. However, it is a masculine noun and requires masculine adjectives and verbs.
Did you know?
- The word כביש is a modern creation by the historian Zeev Jawitz, rather than an ancient Hebrew term.
- The word דרך appears significantly more often in the Bible than כביש because paved roads as we know them were not the norm in ancient Israel.
Examples in context
- ירדנו במורד כביש משובש מאד.We went down a very rough road.This sentence is useful for describing a rough road with the word כביש.Tatoeba #5944369 by fekundulo, translation #2270047 by _undertoad
- מצאתי את הבננה על כביש הרים תלול.I found the banana on a steep mountain road.This sentence is useful for describing a steep mountain road with the word כביש.Tatoeba #5787318 by fekundulo, translation #254197 by CM
- זה כביש מסוכן.This is a dangerous road.This sentence is useful for describing a dangerous road with the word כביש.Tatoeba #5780838 by fekundulo, translation #5057506 by CK
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Maya are discussing their driving route.
- דניאל Danielאיזה כביש אנחנו לוקחים?Eize kvish anachnu lokhim?Which road are we taking?
- מאיה Mayaהכביש הזה הוא הכי מהיר.Hakvish haze hu hakhi mahir.This road is the fastest.
- דניאל Danielיש עבודות על הכביש?Yesh avodot al hakvish?Is there roadwork on the road?
- מאיה Mayaלא, הכביש פתוח לגמרי.Lo, hakvish patuach legamre.No, the road is completely open.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries כביש, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
