הם
hem/him(m)/
The English phrase 'them' can be translated into Hebrew as הם.
הם is a third person plural pronoun. While הם can mean 'them' in certain English constructions (like 'It is them'), it primarily functions as the subject 'they' in Hebrew.
Meaning: third personal plural pronoun used after a preposition or as the object of a verb (pron)
Which one should you use?
When 'them' is the direct object of a verb, it is often expressed using the object pronoun אותם instead of the subject pronoun הם.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is hem and the IPA is /him(m)/.
Did you know?
- If you use the word הם in a scientific context, such as in biology, it is actually a loanword from the English 'heme', referring to the iron-containing component of hemoglobin.
- In spoken Modern Hebrew, the pronoun הם is often dropped entirely because the verb ending already indicates that the subject is 'they'.
- If you are translating 'them' in a way that refers to inanimate objects, you must still choose between masculine and feminine forms, unlike the gender-neutral 'them' in English.
Examples in context
- לא יתכן שזה הם.It couldn't be them.This sentence is useful for showing how to use הם after the verb 'to be'.Tatoeba #5612858 by fekundulo, translation #3919525 by CH
- הם היו רבים מדי.There were too many of them.This sentence shows the use of הם in a sentence about quantity.Tatoeba #3798245 by fekundulo, translation #3898291 by AlanF_US
- אולי היו אלה הם.Maybe it was them.This sentence is another example of using הם in a construction similar to 'It was them'.Tatoeba #6041439 by fekundulo, translation #3904358 by CH
- אני רואה אותם בכל יום.I see them every day.
- תחזיר אותם למקום המקורי.Return them to the original place.
- הם הגיעו עם חבריהם.They arrived with their friends.
- טיפול בהם דורש סבלנות ורגישות.Treating them requires patience and sensitivity (addressing a group generally).
- 53 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Noa and Daniel are talking about some missing keys.
- נועה Noaראית את המפתחות שלי?Rait et hamifta'hot sheli?Did you see my keys?
- דניאל Danielכן, אני חושב שראיתי אותם שם.Ken, ani khoshev sheraiti otam sham.Yes, I think I saw them there.
- נועה Noaאיפה הם?Efo hem?Where are they?
- דניאל Danielהם על השולחן.Hem al hashulchan.They are on the table.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry הם, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries הם, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
