חריף
kharíf/χaˈʁif/masculine
The English word 'spicy' is translated into Hebrew as חריף (kharíf).
חריף describes food that provides a burning sensation from chilies or other spices, or any flavor that is particularly sharp or pungent.
Meaning: providing a burning sensation due to chilies and other spices (adj)
Which one should you use?
Do not confuse חריף with מתובל. While חריף refers to the heat or burning sensation of food, מתובל means 'well-seasoned' or 'spiced' with various spices without necessarily being hot.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes based on the gender and number of the noun it describes. The masculine singular is חריף, the feminine singular is חריפה, the masculine plural is חריפים and the feminine plural is חריפות.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /χaˈʁif/ (kharíf).
Did you know?
- In Hebrew, if you say a person is חריף, depending on the context, you might actually be complimenting their intelligence or 'sharpness' rather than their personality.
- The adjective חריף is used in the legal or formal sense to describe a 'severe' or 'acute' punishment or situation.
- In a medical context, the word חריף is used to describe an 'acute' condition, such as a sudden and severe illness.
Examples in context
- הזהר. זה חריף מאד.Be careful. It's very spicy.This sentence is useful for warning someone that food is very spicy using חריף.Tatoeba #5523331 by fekundulo, translation #5352069 by Hybrid
- האם אתה אוהב אוכל חריף?Do you like spicy food?This sentence asks if someone likes spicy food using חריף.Tatoeba #1983161 by MrShoval, translation #1484168 by rafael8243
- תום אכל אוכל הודי חריף.Tom ate some spicy Indian food.This sentence describes someone eating spicy Indian food using חריף.Tatoeba #3214666 by nava, translation #1027057 by CK
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Agur and Itay are eating lunch together.
- עגור Adiאיתי, תטעם את הרוטב הזה.Itay, tita'em et harotev haze.Itay, taste this sauce.
- איתי Itayוואו, זה ממש חריף!Wow, ze mamash kharif!Wow, this is really spicy!
- עגור Adiזה באמת חריף מדי עבורי.Ze be'emet kharif midai avori.It really is too spicy for me.
- איתי Itayאני צריך לשתות מים עכשיו.Ani tsarikh lishtot mayim akhshav.I need to drink water now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spicy” translations and entries חריף, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
