אומץ
ʾómets
The English phrase "valor" can be translated into Hebrew as אומץ (ʾómets).
The term refers to great courage in the face of danger, particularly in battle. While אומץ is the standard noun, you can also use the idiomatic phrase אומץ לב to express the concept of courage or bravery.
What does it mean word for word?
The idiomatic phrase אומץ לב literally translates to "heart of courage."
Which one should you use?
If you wish to describe a person as being "brave," you should use the adjective אמיץ.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun אומץ can stand alone, but the common idiomatic phrase for 'courage' or 'bravery' is אומץ לב.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is ʾómets.
Did you know?
- The root of אומץ is shared with words meaning 'to grasp' or 'to hold firmly', suggesting that courage is the act of holding onto one's resolve. This links bravery to a physical grip rather than just a feeling.
- In modern Hebrew, אומץ is frequently used to describe the 'nerve' required to perform a socially awkward task, moving beyond the epic or military contexts of 'valor'.
- While אומץ is used for courage, the word גבורה specifically denotes the strength of a warrior and serves as the linguistic root for the Hebrew word 'hero'.
Examples in context
- הוא הפגין אומץ רב בקרב.Hu hifgin ometz rav ba'krav.He showed great valor in battle.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a historical war movie.
- עגור Adiראית את הסצנה של השבי?ra-it et ha-stzena shel ha-shvi?Did you see the scene with the capture?
- נועם Noamכן, זה היה רגע של אומץ מדהים.ken, ze haya rega shel ometz mad-him.Yes, it was a moment of amazing courage.
- עגור Adiהם לא פחדו מהאויב בכלל.hem lo pakh-du me-ha-oyev bi-khlal.They weren't afraid of the enemy at all.
- נועם Noamזה באמת היה מרגש לראות.ze be-emet haya meragesh lir-ot.It really was moving to see.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry אומץ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
