יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן
yom rishónmasculine
Sunday in Hebrew is יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן (yom rishón). If unsure, use יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן. Wiktionary also lists יוֹם א׳ (yom álef).
Meaning: day of the week (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן | yom rishón | masculine |
| יוֹם א׳ | yom álef | masculine |
The word is used to refer to the day of the week known as Sunday. Because the Hebrew week begins on Sunday, it is referred to as the first day of the week.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן literally means "first day". The form יוֹם א׳ uses the Hebrew letter Aleph (א), which represents the number one, to mean "day one".
Which one should you use?
While English names Sunday after a celestial body, Hebrew uses a numerical system to name the days of the week. יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן is the most common way to say Sunday.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן and יוֹם א׳ are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
yom rishón
Did you know?
- The word רִאשׁוֹן comes from the root ראש, which means 'head'. This implies that Sunday is not just the first day, but the 'head' of the week.
- In modern Israel, יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן is a full working day, meaning schools and government offices are open. This is counterintuitive for English speakers who associate Sunday with a weekend break.
- While יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן is the first day of the week in Israel, the Jewish Sabbath is יום שבת, which is the seventh day. This creates a cultural gap where Sunday is a regular workday for some and a day of rest for others.
Examples in context
- אֲנִי עוֹבֵד בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן.ani oved b'yom rishon.I work on Sunday.
- הַמִּפְגָּשׁ הוּא בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן.ha-mifgash hu b'yom rishon.The meeting is on Sunday.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “Sunday” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
