Wild Hebrew: How Animals Shaped Our Verbs

Animal names have contributed significantly to the Hebrew vocabulary, providing us with quite a few verbs. Some of these verbs stem from borrowing the animal’s name to indicate a human trait, and while many were born in slang and colloquial speech, some have maintained a long-standing grip on our language.

Verbs from Spoken Language

The verb הִתְחַזֵּר This means to behave rudely (especially in the context of food) or wickedly—in short, to act like a חֲזִיר. The animal חֲזִיר is perceived as dirty and gross due to its tendency to wallow in mud. In Jewish tradition, the pig is a symbol of impure animals (even though it is just one of a long list). Biblical imagery gives us the negative comparison: "נֶזֶם זָהָב בְּאַף חֲזִיר אִשָּׁה יָפָה וְסָרַת טָעַם" (Proverbs 11:22), and in the Sages' literature, the pig also has a bad reputation. In Hebrew and other languages (Yiddish, German, English, Slavic languages, etc.), 'חזיר' is used to describe a rude and wicked person. It seems that European languages adopted the link between pigs and negative traits from Judaism via Christianity. From the word 'חזיר' in this sense, the abstract noun חֲזִירוּת was derived.

The verb הִתְפַּרְפֵּר This means to evade a duty or presence; or to not remain faithful to one's partner and act with sexual freedom—basically, to act like a פַּרְפַּר. A פַּרְפַּר is a nickname for a person who is not strict about fulfilling their duties or, alternatively, a person who is unfaithful and promiscuous. The word פַּרְפַּר itself was renewed in modern times based on the verb פִּרְפֵּר, which appears in the Sages' literature meaning "convulsed/wiggled," and was inspired by farfalla in Italian, perhaps papillon in French, and "furfur" (a small bird) in Arabic. Scholars assume that the innovator of the word was Eliezer Ben-Yehuda or his son Itamar, even though Ben-Yehuda’s dictionary does not mark the word as the author's innovation.

The verb הִשְׁתַּבְּלֵל To do this means to withdraw into oneself or to stay inside one's home. The verb is derived from the animal name שַׁבְּלוּל—a mollusk that retreats into a spiral shell. In the name שַׁבְּלוּל, the letter Bet has a dagesh (dot), and consequently, the four-letter root verb is pronounced with a hard Bet, disregarding the standard grammatical rules of "Beged Kefet."

The verb הִשְׁתַּפֵן This means to act with cowardice, like a שָׁפָן. A שָׁפָן is a nickname for a cowardly person (similar to the usage regarding rabbits in several European languages like Russian and German). As with other noun-derived verbs used in slang, speakers do not strictly adhere to the standard pronunciation of the dagesh as usually required in the Hitpa'el form.

The verb הִתְעַלֵּק This refers to latching onto someone like a עֲלוּקָה. In literature, one can also find the verb עָלַק in the Pa'al form with a similar meaning. For instance, the lexicographer Avraham Even-Shoshan cites the author Gershon Shofman in his dictionary: "The sweet nightmare that shook the youth of us both וְעָלַק (and leeched) their marrow."

The verb הִתְקַרְצֵץ This means to latch on and annoy incessantly, like a tick. It is worth mentioning that the standard term is קַרְצִית (and not קַרְצִיָּה—a form created by back-formation from the plural קרציות). A קַרְצִית is a parasite that sucks the blood of animals, and metaphorically in slang, it is a person who clings and pesters. This term is generally adopted by older Hebrew speakers.

The verb הִתְכַּלֵּב This means to live in inadequate conditions, such as sleeping in clothes without showering, like a כֶּלֶב. The verb was created under the inspiration of the idiom "lives of a dog."

The verb הִתְחַרְדֵּן This means to lie down or sit in the sun for pleasure. The verb is derived from the noun חַרְדּוֹן—a lizard known for standing motionless in the sun.

In Conclusion

To wrap things up, the Hebrew language acts as a lively zoo where human behaviors are constantly mirrored by the animal kingdom. From the rude behavior associated with the חֲזִיר to the relaxed sunbathing of the חַרְדּוֹן, these verbs add unique flavor to daily conversation. They bridge the gap between ancient biblical imagery and modern Israeli slang, proving that the language is always evolving and adapting. Ultimately, these animal-based verbs allow speakers to express complex human traits and social situations with just a single, vivid word.