כוח
koach
The Hebrew word for strength is כוח (koach).
כוח refers to the quality of being strong. In colloquial speech, the phrase אין לי כוח is frequently used to express that one lacks the energy to do something or simply cannot be bothered to do it.
Meaning: quality of being strong (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
koach
Did you know?
- While it means 'strength', כוח is often used to describe a political or military force, such as a 'task force'. This shifts the meaning from an internal quality to an external group of people.
- The word כוח is used to describe electricity, such as in כוח חשמלי for 'electric power'. In modern Hebrew, it functions as the general term for any form of physical or technical energy.
- In Hebrew, the word for 'power' or 'strength' is the same word used for 'force' in a physics context. A physicist would use כוח to describe the interaction that changes the motion of an object.
Examples in context
- אין לי יותר כוח.I've got no strength left.This sentence illustrates expressing a lack of strength.Tatoeba #8158877 by fekundulo, translation #12250385 by Miktsoanit
- אין לי כוח להמשיך לנסות.I don't have the strength to keep trying.This sentence shows the use of the phrase to indicate a lack of strength for a specific action.Tatoeba #961396 by artyom, translation #2125 by CK
- עם ללא ידע הוא עם ללא כוח!A people without knowledge is a people without strength.This sentence demonstrates the concept of strength in a metaphorical or societal context.Tatoeba #2274922 by Eldad, translation #4933258 by AlanF_US
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about exercising at the gym.
- איתי Itayאת רואה כמה כוח יש לי עכשיו?at roah kama koach yesh li achshav?Do you see how much strength I have now?
- רוטם Rotemכן, איתי, את הגדלת את הכוח שלך מאוד.ken, Itay, at higdalta et ha-koach shelcha me'od.Yes, Itay, you have increased your strength a lot.
- איתי Itayהאימונים באמת עזרו לי.ha-imunim be'emet azru li.The workouts really helped me.
- רוטם Rotemזה דורש הרבה כוח ונשגב.ze doresh harbe koach ve-nishgav.It requires a lot of strength and determination.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
