צמחוני
tsimkhonímasculine
The Hebrew word for vegetarian is צמחוני (tsimkhoní).
The term is used to describe a person who does not eat any animal flesh or to describe something relating to a vegetarian diet.
Meaning: person who does not eat any animal flesh (noun)
Which one should you use?
While צמחוני refers to a vegetarian, the specific term used for a vegan is טבעוני.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes based on gender and number: the feminine form is צמחונית and the masculine plural form is צמחוניים.
How do you pronounce it?
tsimkhoní
Did you know?
- While צמחוני means vegetarian, the word for vegan, טבעוני, literally means 'naturalist' or 'one who follows nature'.
- The Hebrew word for 'vegetable' is ירק, which is completely different from the root used in צמחוני, even though they share a conceptual link.
- The root of צמחוני is also found in the word צמח, which means 'plant'. This root is used in Biblical Hebrew to describe a sprouting branch or a new growth.
Examples in context
- אני צמחוני שחזר לסורו.I am a lapsed vegetarian.The first sentence shows how to use צמחוני to describe a person.Tatoeba #2160180 by fekundulo, translation #28965 by Dejo
- לאיש לא אכפת שתום צמחוני.Nobody cares why Tom is a vegetarian.The second sentence demonstrates the use of צמחוני in a clause.Tatoeba #5844232 by fekundulo, translation #1096112 by CK
- תזונה צמחונית מועילה לבריאות.Vegetarian food is good for your health.The third sentence shows how to use the feminine form צמחונית to describe a diet.Tatoeba #3886068 by fekundulo, translation #5121403 by AlanF_US
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Rotem are deciding what to order for dinner.
- דניאל Danielמה את רוצה להזמין לאכול?ma at rotze lehazmin le'echol?What do you want to order to eat?
- רוטם Rotemאני רוצה סלט גדול עם גבינה.ani rotze salat gadol im gvina.I want a large salad with cheese.
- דניאל Danielשכחתי שאת צמחונית, אני אזמין פיצה.shachachti she'at tzmechunit, ani azmin pizza.I forgot that you are a vegetarian, I'll order pizza.
- רוטם Rotemזה בסדר, גם אני צמחונית.ze beseder, gam ani tzmechunit.That's okay, I am also a vegetarian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vegetarian” translations and entries צמחוני, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries צמחוני, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
