אֲנַחְנוּ
anákhnu
The Hebrew word for 'we' is אֲנַחְנוּ (anákhnu). Wiktionary also lists אָנוּ (ánu).
Meaning: generic we (the speaker and at least one other person, regardless of whether it's the person being addressed) (pron)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| אֲנַחְנוּ | anákhnu |
| אָנוּ | ánu |
The phrase refers to a generic 'we', meaning the speaker and at least one other person, regardless of whether the person being spoken to is included in that group.
Which one should you use?
אֲנַחְנוּ is the standard form used in most contexts, while אָנוּ is a more formal or literary version of the word.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes depending on its role in a sentence. When using 'we' as an object, such as 'to us' or 'for us', the pronoun becomes לָנוּ. If 'we' is the direct object of a verb (for example, 'he saw us'), the form changes to אוֹתָנוּ. To express possession ('ours'), the word is combined with a possessive particle to form שֶׁלָּנוּ.
How do you pronounce it?
anákhnu
Did you know?
- In modern Israeli Hebrew, speakers often omit אֲנַחְנוּ entirely because the plural form of the verb already makes it clear that the subject is 'we'.
- The word אֲנַחְנוּ shares a deep linguistic root with the word for 'I' (אֲנִי), showing a structural pattern in how first-person pronouns are built in Semitic languages.
- In very formal or legal Hebrew, the use of אָנוּ can signal that the speaker is representing an institution or a state rather than a group of individuals.
Examples in context
- אֶת לֶחֶם חֻקֵּנוּ תֵּן לָנוּ הַיּוֹם, וּסְלַח לָנוּ עַל חֲטָאֵינוּ כְּפִי שֶׁסּוֹלְחִים גַּם אֲנַחְנוּ לַחוֹטְאִים לָנוּ.Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.This sentence is useful for seeing how אֲנַחְנוּ functions within a religious or formal context.Tatoeba #1873408 by MrShoval, translation #2672662 by Joseph
- אֲנַחְנוּ רוֹצִים לִרְקֹד עַכְשָׁו.anachnu rotzim lirkod achshav.We want to dance now.
- אֲנַחְנוּ בַּדֶּרֶךְ הַבַּיְתָה.anachnu baderech habayta.We are on the way home.
Example conversation
Maya and Noam are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- נועם Noamמה את רוצה לאכול, מאיה?Ma at rotza le-echol, Maya?What do you want to eat, Maya?
- מאיה Mayaאֲנַחְנוּ יכולים להזמין פיצה.Anachnu yacholim le-hazmin pizza.We can order pizza.
- נועם Noamזה רעיון מצוין, נועם מסכים.Ze ra-ayon metzuyan, Noam maskim.That is a great idea, Noam agrees.
- מאיה Mayaאז אני מזמינה עכשיו.Az ani mazmina achshav.So I am ordering now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “we” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
