שֶׁבַע
shevafeminine
The English number seven is שֶׁבַע (sheva) in Hebrew. Wiktionary also lists שִׁבְעָה (shiv'a).
Meaning: cardinal number 7 (num)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| שֶׁבַע | sheva | feminine |
| שִׁבְעָה | shiv'a | masculine |
This phrase refers to the cardinal number 7.
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, the Hebrew word for seven changes its form based on the grammatical gender of the noun being counted.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form שֶׁבַע is used when counting feminine nouns, while שִׁבְעָה is used when counting masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
sheva
Did you know?
- The Hebrew word for 'oath' is שֶׁבֻעָה, which shares the same root as the word for 'seven'.
- The word שֶׁבַע is used in the common Hebrew idiom 'seven times', but it doesn't always mean exactly seven. It is often used to mean 'repeatedly' or 'exhaustively'.
- In Hebrew culture and tradition, the number seven is deeply tied to the concept of 'completion' or 'perfection', reflecting the seven days of creation in the Genesis narrative.
Examples in context
- שֶׁבַע שָׁבוּעוֹתsheva shavu'otSeven weeks
- הִיא הִמְתְּנָה שֶׁבַע שָׁנִיםhi himtana sheva shanimShe waited seven years
Example conversation
Daniel and Agur are at a fruit market.
- דניאל Danielעגור, כַּמָּה תַּפְּחוֹת אַתְּ רוֹצָה?Agur, kama tapu'ot at rotza?Agur, how many apples do you want?
- עגור Adiאֲנִי רוֹצָה שֶׁבַע תַּפְּחוֹת, בְּבַקָּשָׁה.Ani rotza sheva tapu'ot, bevakasha.I want seven apples, please.
- דניאל Danielבְּסֶדֶר, הִנה שֶׁבַע תַּפְּחוֹת שֶׁלָּךְ.Beseder, hine sheva tapu'ot shelach.Sure, here are your seven apples.
- עגור Adiתּוֹדָה רַבָּה, דָּנִיאֵל.Toda raba, Daniel.Thank you very much, Daniel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “seven” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
