Etymology Explorer
באסה
Baasa
Disappointment, frustration, a "bummer", bad situation
Ancient Arabic
باس (ba's)
Modern Arabic Dialects
باسة (ba'sa)
Modern Hebrew (1980s-present)
באסה
תירס
Tiras
Corn, maize (Zea mays)
Biblical Era
תירס
Late 19th century
חיטי תירס
20th century to present
תירס
דגדגן
Dagdegan
Clitoris
1533
דגדוג
Early 20th century
דגדגן
1960s-2009
דגדגן
2009-present
דגדגן
ריצ'רץ'
Richrats
Zipper, slide fastener
18th century German
ritsch-ratsch
1933 in Israel
ריצ'רץ'
1933-1936
רוכסן
1984
רוכסן
Present
ריצ'רץ'
דייל
Dayal
Flight attendant (male)
Ancient Greek
doulos
Talmudic Aramaic
דיילא
Ben-Yehuda's Dictionary
דייל
1949
דיילת
1953-present
דייל/דיילת
אפס
Efes
Zero, the numeral 0
12th century
גלגל (galgal)
17th-18th centuries
נול (nul)
1796
אפס
1834-present
אפס
גִּהֵק
Gihek
To burp, belch
Talmudic Period (3rd century)
גיהק
Medieval Period
גיהק
Modern Hebrew (18th century-present)
גיהק
סַנְטֵר
Santer
Chin
Talmudic Period (3rd century)
סנטר
Medieval Period
סנטר
Modern Hebrew
סנטר
שִׁהֵק
Shihek
To hiccup
Early 20th century
שַׁהֵק
Modern Hebrew
שִׁהֵק
יֻקְרָה
Yukra
Prestige, high social status, esteem
1949
יֻקְרָה
1961
יֻקְרָה
Late 20th century to present
יֻקְרָה/יָקְרָה
אוֹנְנוּת
Onnut
Masturbation
Talmudic Period
הוצאת שכבת זרע לבטלה
19th century
מעשה אונן
1928
אוננות
דַּרְדָּלֶה
Dardale
Weak, ineffective, small or feeble
1960s
דרדלה
Late 20th century
דרדלה
Present
דרדלה
יַמְבָּה
Yamba
A lot, many, a large amount
Arabic spoken dialects
يا ما (yama)
Some Arabic dialects
يمبا (yamba)
Early 1990s
יַמְבָּה
Present
יַמְבָּה
מִקְלֶדֶת
Mikledet
Computer keyboard
Ancient Greek
κλαβίς (klavis)
Aramaic (Talmudic)
אַקְלִידָא (aklida)
1952
קְלִיד (klid)
1952
מִקְלֶדֶת (mikledet)
1960s-1970s
מִקְלֶדֶת (mikledet)
1970s-present
מִקְלֶדֶת (mikledet)
סְתַלְבֵּט
Histalbet
1. To enjoy idleness, hang out lazily 2. To mock someone, pull someone's leg
Ottoman Turkish
caba
Greek
τσάμπα (tsamba)
Greek
τσαμπατζής (tsambatzis)
19th century Egyptian Arabic
سلباط (silbāṭ)
19th-20th century Egyptian Arabic
استلبط (istaləbaṭ)
1977
מסתלבט
1980s-present
מסתלבט
כִּנּוֹר
Kinnor
Violin, a four-stringed musical instrument played with a bow
Ancient Near East (3000 BCE)
kinaruhuli, kinirtalaš, zinar, zanaru, kinārum, ginarum
Biblical Hebrew
כִּנּוֹר
1807
כִּנּוֹר
19th century
כִּנּוֹר/נֶבֶל
Early 20th century to present
כִּנּוֹר
הַרְבֵּה
Harbe
A lot, many, much
Biblical Hebrew
הַרְבֵּה
Rabbinic Hebrew
הַרְבֵּה
Modern Hebrew
הַרְבֵּה
הָמוֹן
Hamon
A lot, plenty, multitude
Biblical Hebrew
הָמוֹן
Modern Hebrew
הָמוֹן
שֶׁפַע
Shefa
Abundance, plenty
Biblical Hebrew
שֶׁפַע
Modern Hebrew
שֶׁפַע
מָלֵא
Male
1. Full, filled 2. A lot, many (slang)
Biblical Hebrew
מָלֵא
Arabic influence
מַלַאן (malan)
1970s-present
מָלֵא
יָם
Yam
1. Sea, ocean 2. A lot, many (slang)
Biblical Hebrew
יָם
Late 1980s-present
יָם
יַהֲלֹם
Yahalom
Diamond, an extremely hard gemstone made of pure carbon in a crystalline form
Biblical Hebrew
יַהֲלֹם
12th century
יַהֲלֹם
16th century
יַהֲלֹם
19th century
יַהֲלֹם/שֹׁהַם/בדולח/שמיר
Early 20th century-present
יַהֲלֹם
דַּרְדָּלֶה
Dardale
Weak, ineffective, small or feeble
Arabic influence
ضربة (darba)
1960s
דרדלה
Late 20th century
דרדלה
Present
דרדלה
קְלִיד
Klid
Key on a musical instrument like a piano, or on a device like a computer keyboard
Ancient Greek
κλαβίς (klavis)
Aramaic (Talmudic)
אַקְלִידָא (aklida)
1952
קְלִיד (klid)
Modern Hebrew
קְלִיד (klid)
מַקֵּשׁ
Makesh
Key on a typewriter or computer keyboard
1866
גּוּפִים מְשַׁמְשִׁים
1904
גְּשִׁישִים
1906
מַכּוֹשִׁים
Early 20th century
מְנַעַנְעִים
1945
מַקֵּשׁ
1947-present
מַקֵּשׁ
מְנַעַנְעִים
Mena'ane'im
1. Unidentified biblical musical instrument 2. (historical) Piano keys
Biblical Hebrew
מְנַעַנְעִים
1872
מְנַעַנְעִים
Early 20th century
מְנַעַנְעִים
1945-1952
מְנַעַנְעִים
Late 20th century
מְנַעַנְעִים
מָלַאנְתַּלָּפִים
Malantalafilm
A vast quantity, countless, innumerable
Arabic spoken dialects
ملان (malān)
1940s
מלאן
1970s
מלאנתלפים
Present
מלאנתלפים
נֶבֶל
Nevel
Harp, a stringed musical instrument with a triangular wooden frame, in which the strings are stretched perpendicular to the resonance surface
Biblical Hebrew
נֶבֶל
1807
נֶבֶל
19th century
נֶבֶל/כִּנּוֹר
Early 20th century to present
נֶבֶל
פְּסַנְתֵּר
Psanter
Piano, a keyboard musical instrument in which the strings are struck by hammers operated by keys
Ancient Greek
ψαλτήριον (psaltērion)
Biblical Aramaic (Book of Daniel)
פְּסַנְתֵּרִין (pesanterin)
19th century
פְּסַנְתֵּר
Modern Hebrew
פְּסַנְתֵּר
כְּלֵיזְמֶר
Klezmer
1. Musician, instrumentalist 2. Traditional Jewish music style of Ashkenazi Jews
Classical Hebrew
כלי זמר
17th century Eastern Europe
כליזמר/klezmer
20th century
כליזמר/klezmer
1970s-present
כליזמר/klezmer
אֹדֶם
Odem
1. Ruby, red gemstone 2. One of the stones in the High Priest's breastplate
Biblical Hebrew
אֹדֶם
Greek translation (Septuagint)
σάρδιον (sardion)
Medieval period
אֹדֶם
Modern Hebrew
אֹדֶם
בָּרֶקֶת
Bareket
1. Emerald, green gemstone 2. One of the stones in the High Priest's breastplate
Biblical Hebrew
בָּרֶקֶת
Greek translation (Septuagint)
σμάραγδος (smaragdos)
Latin translation (Vulgate)
smaragdus
Modern Hebrew
בָּרֶקֶת
סַפִּיר
Sapir
1. Sapphire, blue gemstone 2. One of the stones in the High Priest's breastplate
Akkadian
sapparu
Biblical Hebrew
סַפִּיר
Greek translation (Septuagint)
σάπφειρος (sapheiros)
Latin
sapphirus
Modern Hebrew
סַפִּיר
אַחְלָמָה
Achlama
1. Amethyst, purple gemstone 2. One of the stones in the High Priest's breastplate
Biblical Hebrew
אַחְלָמָה
Greek translation (Septuagint)
ἀμέθυστος (amethystos)
Modern Hebrew
אַחְלָמָה
לוּחַ מַקֵּשִׁים
Luach Makeshim
(obsolete) Computer keyboard
1947
מַקָּשׁ
1970s
לוּחַ מַקֵּשִׁים
1960s-1970s
לוּחַ מַקֵּשִׁים/מִקְלֶדֶת
Modern Hebrew
לוּחַ מַקֵּשִׁים
הִקְלִיד
Hiklid
To type, to key in text using a keyboard
1952
קְלִיד
1970s
מִקְלֶדֶת
1970s
הִקְלִיד
Modern Hebrew
הִקְלִיד
שֹׁהַם
Shoham
1. Gemstone, probably onyx 2. One of the stones in the High Priest's breastplate 3. (historical) Term for diamond during the Haskalah period
Biblical Hebrew
שֹׁהַם
Greek/Latin translations
ὄνυξ/onyx
19th century (Haskalah)
שֹׁהַם
Modern Hebrew
שֹׁהַם
שָׁמִיר
Shamir
1. Mysterious creature or substance described in rabbinical literature, capable of engraving or cutting stone 2. (historical) Term for diamond during the Haskalah period
Biblical Hebrew
שָׁמִיר
Talmudic period
שָׁמִיר
Late 19th century
שָׁמִיר
Modern Hebrew
שָׁמִיר
זֵר
Zer
Wreath, garland, flower arrangement
Biblical Hebrew
זֵר
Medieval Period
זֵר
1853
זֵר פְּרָחִים
Late 19th century
זֵר פְּרָחִים
20th century-present
זֵר פְּרָחִים
גִּבְסָנִית
Givsanit
Baby's breath, Gypsophila (plant used as filler in flower arrangements)
1751
Gypsophila
1930
גִּפְסוֹן (Gipson)
1931
גִפְּסָנִית (Gipsanit)
1939
גִבְּסוֹנִית (Gibsonit)
1946
גִּבְסָנִית (Givsanit)
1979-present
גִּבְסָנִית (Givsanit)
צִבְעוֹנִי
Tzivoni
Tulip, flower of the genus Tulipa
Biblical Hebrew
צִבְעוֹן (Tzivon)
1902
צִבְעוֹנִים (Tzivʿonim)
Early 20th century
צִבְעוֹנִי (Tzivoni)
Modern Hebrew
צִבְעוֹנִי (Tzivoni)
חַרְצִית
Chartzit
Chrysanthemum flower
Biblical Hebrew
חָרוּץ (Charutz)
Ancient Greek
χρυσός (chrysos)
Scientific Latin
Chrysanthemum
1913
חַרְצִית (Chartzit)
תַּרְנְגוֹל
Tarnegol
Rooster, cock (male chicken)
Sumerian
דַרְלֻגַל (dar-lugal)
Akkadian
תַרְלֻגַלֻּ (tarlugallu)
Aramaic/Ancient Hebrew
תַּרְנְגוֹל (tarnegol)
Modern Hebrew
תַּרְנְגוֹל (tarnegol)
אֵד
Ed
1. (biblical) Groundwater spring, water surge 2. (modern) Steam, vapor
Sumerian
אַדֶאַ (a-de-a)
Akkadian
אֶדוּ (edu)
Biblical Hebrew
אֵד (ed)
Medieval Hebrew
אֵד (ed)
Modern Hebrew
אֵד (ed)
סְנָאִי
Senai
Squirrel, small rodent of the family Sciuridae
Late 18th century
כּוֹחַ (koach)
1841
אייכהאָרן (Eichhorn)
1862
קֶרֶן הָאַלוֹנִי (keren ha'aloni)
1880s
חולדת הסנאים (chuldat hasna'im)
Late 19th century
סְנָאִי (senai)
מִשְׁמֵשׁ
Mishmesh
Apricot, stone fruit of the Rosaceae family
Biblical Hebrew
כָּמַשׁ (kamash)
Syriac Aramaic
כְּמִשְׁמִשָׁא (kmishmisha)
Arabic
مِشْمِش (mishmish)
13th century
מִשְׁמֵשׁ (mishmesh)
Late 19th century-present
מִשְׁמֵשׁ (mishmesh)
אֲפַרְסֵק
Afarsek
Peach, stone fruit of the Rosaceae family with fuzzy skin and sweet flesh
Ancient Greek
μῆλον περσικόν (melon persikon)
Latin
persica
Mishnaic Hebrew
פרסק (persek)
Talmudic Hebrew
אפרסק (afarsek)
Modern Hebrew
אפרסק (afarsek)
שָׁזִיף
Shazif
Plum, stone fruit of the Rosaceae family with thin skin and sweet flesh
Roman period
דורמסקין (dormeskin)
Talmudic period
שזפין (shezafin)
Late 18th century
שזף/שזוף (shazaf/shazuf)
19th century
שזיף/שזוף (shazif/shazuf)
Modern Hebrew
שזיף (shazif)
דּוּבְדְּבָן
Duvdevan
Cherry, bright red stone fruit of the Rosaceae family
Talmudic period
גודגוניות/דבדבניות (gudgoniyot/davdavaniyot)
Medieval period
דובדבניות (duvdevaniyot)
Late 18th century
גודגוניות (gudgoniyot)
Mid-19th century
דבדבניות (davdavaniyot)
Late 19th century
דובדבן (duvdevan)
נִין
Nin
Great-grandchild, third generation of descendants
Biblical Hebrew
נִין
Gaonic period
נִין
Medieval period
נִין
Early 20th century
נִין
1950s-present
נִין
סְטֵפָה
Stefa
Stack of banknotes, wad of cash
Ancient Greek
στίβα (stiva)
Ladino (15th-20th century)
סְטֵפָה (stefa)
Modern Hebrew
סְטֵפָה (stefa)
סְטוּץ
Stutz
One-night stand, casual sexual encounter; historically: affair, event, happening
Yiddish
שטוס (shtus)
1972
סטוץ (stutz)
1970s-1980s
סטוץ (stutz)
Late 1980s-present
סטוץ (stutz)
רוֹדָן
Rodan
Tyrant, dictator, cruel autocratic ruler
Biblical Hebrew
רָדָה (radah)
1931
רוֹדָן (rodan)
Modern Hebrew
רוֹדָן (rodan)
חָרָא
Chara
Excrement, feces
Biblical Hebrew
חָרָא (chara)
Rabbinic period
צוֹאָה/גָּלָל/פֶּרֶשׁ/רְעִי
Haskalah (18th-19th century)
צוֹאָה/גָּלָל/פֶּרֶשׁ
Modern Hebrew
חָרָא (chara)
אַחְיָן
Achyan
Nephew
Biblical Hebrew
אַחְיָן (Ahian)
1932
אַחְיָן (achyan)
1930s-1940s
אַחְיָן/נִין/נֶכְדָּן
1950s-present
אַחְיָן (achyan)
דֶמִיקוּלוֹ
Demikulo
Lousy, worthless, terrible
Latin
dē meus cūlus
Spanish/Ladino
de mi culo
Modern Hebrew
דֶמִיקוּלוֹ (demikulo)
סְפּוֹנְגָ'ה
Sponj'a
Floor mopping, thorough floor cleaning with water
Ancient Greek
σπόγγος (spongos)
Latin
spongia
Spanish/Ladino
esponja/esponjado
Modern Hebrew
סְפּוֹנְגָ'ה (sponj'a)
פַּלַבְּרָה
Palabra
Empty talk, idle chatter, nonsense
Classical Latin
parabola
Late Latin/Early Romance
parabola/palabra
Spanish/Ladino
palabra
Modern Hebrew
פַּלַבְּרָה (palabra)
פּוּסְטֵמָה
Pustema
Stupid or unpleasant woman; slur, curse
Ancient Greek
ἀπόστημα (apostema)
Latin
apostema
Spanish/Ladino
pustema
Modern Hebrew
פּוּסְטֵמָה (pustema)
צַ'פַּצ'וּלָה
Chapchula
Woman lacking taste or style, vulgar in behavior or appearance
Persian
çapan
Turkish
çapçul
Ladino
çapçul
Modern Hebrew
צַ'פַּצ'וּלָה (chapchula)
טַרַפַּפּוּ
Tarapapu
Great-grandfather
Ancient Greek
πάππος (pappos)
Latin
trans
Spanish/Ladino
tarapapu
Modern Hebrew
טַרַפַּפּוּ (tarapapu)
צוֹאָה
Tzo'ah
Excrement, feces
Biblical Hebrew
צֵאָה (tze'ah)
Rabbinic Hebrew
צוֹאָה (tzo'ah)
Modern Hebrew
צוֹאָה (tzo'ah)
גָּלָל
Galal
Animal dung, droppings
Biblical Hebrew
גָּלָל (galal)
Rabbinic Hebrew
גְּלָלִים (glalim)
Modern Hebrew
גְּלָלִים (glalim)
פֶּרֶשׁ
Peresh
Excrement, especially the stomach contents of animals
Biblical Hebrew
פֶּרֶשׁ (peresh)
Akkadian/Aramaic parallels
paršu/partā
Modern Hebrew
פֶּרֶשׁ (peresh)
רְעִי
Re'i
Excrement (Aramaic term)
Aramaic
רְעִי (re'i)
Rabbinic Hebrew
רְעִי (re'i)
Haskalah period
רְעִי (re'i)
Modern Hebrew
רְעִי (re'i)
חִרְבּוּן
Chirbun
Excrement; act of defecation (slang)
Early 20th century
חִרְבּוּן (chirbun)
Modern Hebrew
חִרְבּוּן (chirbun)
קָקִי
Kaki
Poop (in children's language)
Ancient Germanic
kacken
German
Kacke
Early 20th century Hebrew
קָקִי (kaki)
Modern Hebrew
קָקִי (kaki)