הלילה
haláyla
The Hebrew word for "tonight" is הלילה (haláyla).
הלילה is used to refer to the time during today's evening.
Meaning: during today's evening (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the definite article ה (the) and לילה (night), literally meaning "the night".
Which one should you use?
While הלילה refers to "tonight" (often implying the late night or the period of darkness), הערב specifically refers to "this evening" (the period between sunset and nightfall).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In Hebrew, הלילה functions as both a noun (the night) and an adverb (tonight) depending on the context of the sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
haláyla
Did you know?
- In Jewish tradition, the 'day' actually begins at 'night', meaning הלילה marks the start of a new calendar date rather than the end of one.
- The word לילה shares a root with the Arabic word 'layla', which is a common female name meaning 'night'.
- The greeting לילה טוב ('good night') is used only when someone is actually going to sleep or leaving for the night, not as a general evening greeting.
Examples in context
- יש הלילה ירח מלא.There's a full moon tonight.The first sentence uses הלילה to describe the presence of a full moon.Tatoeba #4678590 by fekundulo, translation #3675901 by speedwell
- תן לי לשלם הלילה.Let me pay tonight.The second sentence uses הלילה to specify a time for a payment.Tatoeba #6133254 by fekundulo, translation #435633 by CK
- לא יירד גשם הלילה.It's not going to rain tonight.The third sentence uses הלילה to indicate when rain is expected.Tatoeba #1420713 by MrShoval, translation #1392354 by CM
- אני צריך להתכונן לשיעור הלילהI need to prepare for the lesson tonight.
- בוא ניפגש הערב בפארק העירLet's meet tonight at the city park.
- נפגש הלילה במסעדה החדשהLet's meet tonight at the new restaurant.
- 174 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are planning a movie outing.
- עידו Idoרוצה ללכת לסרט הלילה?rotze lalechet le-seret ha-layla?Do you want to go to a movie tonight?
- רוטם Rotemכן, איזה סרט נראה לך?ken, eize seret nir'a lach?Yes, which movie do you think?
- עידו Idoיש סרט חדש שמתחיל הלילה בשמונה.yesh seret chadash she-mat-chil ha-layla be-shmone.There is a new movie starting tonight at eight.
- רוטם Rotemזה נשמע מעולה, אני אבוא.ze nishma me-ule, ani avo.That sounds great, I'll come.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry הלילה, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
