נְשָׁמָה
neshamáfeminine
The Hebrew word for soul is נְשָׁמָה (neshamá). Wiktionary also lists נֶפֶשׁ (néfesh) and רוּחַ (rúakh).
Meaning: the spirit or essence of a person that is often believed to live on after the person's death (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| נְשָׁמָה | neshamá | feminine |
| נֶפֶשׁ | néfesh | feminine |
| רוּחַ | rúakh | feminine, masculine |
נְשָׁמָה (neshamá) is the most common term used when discussing the religious or metaphysical concept of a soul that survives death.
Which one should you use?
While נְשָׁמָה refers to the spiritual essence or soul, נֶפֶשׁ (néfesh) often refers to the living being, the life force or the 'self' in a more psychological or biological sense. The word רוּחַ (rúakh) can mean 'soul' or 'spirit', but it is also the standard Hebrew word for 'wind' or 'air'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of נְשָׁמָה (neshamá) is נְשָׁמוֹת (neshamót). The plural form of נֶפֶשׁ (néfesh) is נְפָשׁוֹת (nefashót).
How do you pronounce it?
neshamá
When do people say it?
In Jewish tradition, the term נְשָׁמָה (neshamá) is often used to describe the highest level of the human spirit, which is connected to the divine.
Did you know?
- In modern Israeli slang, נְשָׁמָה (neshamá) is used as a term of endearment similar to 'sweetie' or 'honey'. You might hear a stranger at a market call you נְשָׁמָה to be friendly.
- Jewish mysticism suggests that the נְשָׁמָה (neshamá) is a 'spark' of the divine that descends from heaven to Earth. This makes the soul a literal piece of God residing within a human body.
- While נְשָׁמָה (neshamá) is the most common word for soul, the term נֶפֶשׁ (néfesh) is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to the entire living creature, including animals.
Examples in context
- הנשמה היא החלק האלוהי בי.The soul is the divine part within me.
- הנשמה היא המקור של החיים הרוחניים.The soul is the source of spiritual life.
- אני מאמין שיש נפש לכל דבר בעולם.I believe that everything in the world has a soul.
- הכתיבה היא האמצעי שלי לשיח עם הנפש.Writing is my way of communicating with the soul.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soul” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
