Many Hebrew learners wonder  whether it is correct to say: המורה ביקשה לרשום חיבור", רשמתי" ,"מאמר", or "רשום בתורה". This confusion appears  because the two verbs seem similar, but they are not interchangeable. A clear distinction exists  between רָשַׁם and כָּתַב in both history and usage. Katav: The Standard Verb for Writing Words Historical evidence shows  that כָּתַב has been widely used since Biblical times. Some scholars believe  that כָּתַב originally referred to engr

In modern Hebrew, both expressions ראש עיר  ( Rosh Ir ) and ראש עירייה  ( Rosh Iriyah ) are used to refer to the leader of a city. Hebrew learners often ask which term is more correct. The answer is that both are acceptable , but the nuance between them is important. The difference is not grammatical but conceptual. ראש עירייה  emphasizes the official administrative position within the municipal government. It aligns with the modern governmental structure and parallels expres

What is the origin of the word "גיוס" (giyus) ? The word "גַּיִס" (gais)  appears in Hebrew for the first time in the Mishnah , where it is stated that if you were traveling during Pesach  and remembered that there is chametz  at home, you don’t need to return immediately — as long as you’re on your way to rescue someone from a “גיס” ( Pesachim  3:7). But what exactly is a גַיִס ? The word "גיס"  is borrowed from Aramaic  — the common language of the Middle East in the Mishna

Both phrases — “הגעתי הַבַּיְתָה” and “הגעתי לַבַּיִת” — are correct. The form הביתה  parallels לבית , much like other pairs such as...

From "מועדים לשמחה" to "חג שמח": The Story Behind Our Holiday Greetings The familiar greeting "חג שמח"  rolls easily off the tongue...

Over the years, the word turned from derogatory slang into a label proudly used within the religious community. How is it possible that a...

You study Hebrew and practice in the classroom—but still struggle to understand Israelis in real life. Why? Here’s a tip worth saving. We...

The familiar words 'שלום כיתה אָלֶף' greet children on their very first day of school. But the connection between אָלֶף and learning runs...

Ever argued over how to say “mosquito” in Hebrew? Is it יַתּוּשׁ or יְתוּשׁ? Turns out, the debate goes back centuries. The word יתוש...

Where does the word מקלט  (shelter) come from—and when did we even start building ממ"דים ? Surprisingly, in the literature of the Sages,...

Is the Hebrew word גלידה  connected to the Italian gelato ? It certainly sounds similar—but the real story starts not in Rome, but in the...

Ever stumbled trying to say a chapter number in Hebrew? You’re not alone—and here’s the twist: both  “פרק אחד עשר” and “פרק אחת עשרה” are...

A new project by the Academy of the Hebrew Language seeks to trace the evolution of Hebrew expression during the revival period  of the...

The Hebrew word שִׁגְרָה  is commonly used to describe the usual, regular order of things—what we might call a routine . It’s often...

People often ask us: what's correct— יחד  or ביחד , חינם  or בחינם ? The answer is: both! All of these forms are valid and documented in...

What do you picture when you hear the word סֵפֶר ? For most of us, it's a printed book: bound pages, a cover, something you can place on...

Let’s be real: when you decided to learn Hebrew, you probably didn’t dream about… prepositions. They’re small. They’re sneaky. They’re...

Title: On Shavuot , also known as יום הביכורים  (Numbers 28:26), people would bring ביכורי קציר חיטים  (Exodus 34:22) to the Temple—the...

Let’s be blunt: if you’re serious about Hebrew, you can’t just read  it and speak  it—you need to write  it too. And no, typing in block...

If you thought the verb יכול  (to be able to) was straightforward, think again. This seemingly innocent verb hides a whole bunch of...