עולם תחתון
olam tachton
The Hebrew phrase for 'underworld' is עולם תחתון (olam tachton).
The term describes a part of society engaged in crime or vice. In a more formal or spiritual sense, the term She'ol can be used to refer to the realm of the dead or the place where souls reside after death.
Meaning: part of society engaged in crime or vice (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the word for 'world' (עולם) and the word for 'bottom' or 'lower' (תחתון).
Which one should you use?
While עולם תחתון is the base phrase, adding the definite article 'ha-' (ה) to the beginning results in עולם התחתון, which is the more common way to refer to the concept in a specific context.
How do you pronounce it?
olam tachton
Did you know?
- The term She'ol refers to a place of darkness and silence rather than a place of punishment like the 'Hell' found in some Western traditions.
- While עולם תחתון refers to the criminal underworld, the word תחתון (tachton) can also be used in modern Hebrew to refer to 'undergarments'.
- Because עולם also carries the connotation of 'eternity' in certain biblical contexts, the phrase 'underworld' creates a linguistic tension between 'endless time' and 'the bottom'.
