כסף
késef/ˈke.sef/
The Hebrew word for silver is כסף (késef).
כסף refers to the metal silver. Colloquially, this same word is also used to mean money.
Meaning: metal (noun)
Which one should you use?
While כסף is used for the metal, the word for the color silver is also כֶּסֶף, though in modern Hebrew, the color is often described using the adjective form.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to the metal or to money, כסף is an uncountable noun and does not have a plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced késef. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The Hebrew word כסף is a direct linguistic relative of the Akkadian word kaspum, which also means 'silver'.
- The phrase 'blood money' in Hebrew uses כסף to describe a payment made for a crime, reflecting a legal tradition found in the Torah.
- While כסף means 'money' today, the word for 'coin' is מטבע, which comes from a root meaning 'to mint' or 'to stamp'.
Examples in context
- כסף עולה פחות מזהב.Silver costs less than gold.This sentence compares the cost of כסף to gold.Tatoeba #5590750 by fekundulo, translation #5205845 by CK
- הוא זכה במדליית כסף.He won a silver medal.This sentence illustrates the use of כסף in the context of a medal.Tatoeba #1756839 by MrShoval, translation #1756828 by Spamster
- אני רוכש כסף מבעלי מכרה.I buy silver from a man who owns a mine.This sentence shows someone purchasing כסף from a mine owner.Tatoeba #2027981 by MrShoval, translation #2017487 by halfb1t
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ido and Rotem are looking at jewelry in a store.
- עידו Idoמה זה עשוי?Ma ze asuy?What is this made of?
- רוטם Rotemהטבעת הזו עשויה מכסף.Hata'aret hazu asuya mikesef.This ring is made of silver.
- עידו Idoזה נראה יפה מאוד.Ze nir'a yafe me'od.It looks very beautiful.
- רוטם Rotemכן, אני מאוד אוהבת כסף.Ken, ani me'od ohevet kesef.Yes, I really love silver.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry כסף, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries כסף, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
