רִיצְ'רָץ' (Rich-rach) — zipper
Etymology
The journey of the zipper into Hebrew begins with the arrival of the technology itself in 1933. Two immigrants from Germany, Yehezkel Kreistman and David Shochat, established the "Raz" factory in Tel Aviv, the first local manufacturer of metal fasteners. The public struggled with the technical German name, Reißverschluss (literally "tear-closure," where "tear" also implies moving quickly). Through a process of linguistic naturalization, the word was simplified to Rich-rach, aided by the onomatopoeic sound of the device in use and the Hebrew word ratz (runs), suggesting the speed of the mechanism.
While Rich-rach became the popular choice, the factory owners sought a formal Hebrew name and turned to the poet Avraham Shlonsky. He proposed the word Rochsan (רוֹכְסָן), derived from the root ר-כ-ס (to fasten/bind), which appears in the Bible in the context of the High Priest's breastplate. Interestingly, the Language Council (Va'ad HaLashon) was unaware of Shlonsky's suggestion in 1936 and proposed their own alternatives, such as Sigrur or Sgoratz, though neither gained any traction with the public.
Before the zipper, the "fly" of trousers was often referred to as the chanut (shop), a direct translation of the Yiddish slang "fayrmach di kram" (close the shop). The column also traces the evolution of the button (kaftor), which migrated from a biblical term for decorative ornaments in the Tabernacle to a general term for clothing fasteners. This transition was facilitated by 18th-century translators like Moses Mendelssohn, who matched the biblical kaftor with the German Knopf. It wasn't until 1984 that the Academy of the Hebrew Language officially codified Rochsan as the standard term, though Rich-rach remains the dominant colloquial expression.
Key Quotes
"סגור את החנות" — Popular Slang (from Yiddish: "פאַרמאַך די קראָם")
"בית חרושת לווי השחלה ושאר מהדקים של מתכת למלבושים" — Description of the 'Raz' factory, 1933
"ועדת מונחי ההלבשה... הציעו לכנות את המוצר סִגְרוּר או סְגוֹרָץ" — Language Council records, 1936
Timeline
- 12th Century: Trousers enter European fashion, creating a need for a "fly" mechanism.
- 1534: Martin Luther translates the biblical kaftor as Knauf (knob/handle).
- 1783: Moses Mendelssohn's "Bi'ur" uses Knopf for kaftor, linking it to buttons.
- 1912: Gideon Sundback patents the first modern zipper.
- 1933: The zipper arrives in Israel via the 'Raz' factory; Rich-rach emerges and Shlonsky coins Rochsan.
- 1936: The Language Council suggests Sigrur and Sgoratz.
- 1984: The Academy of the Hebrew Language officially adopts Rochsan.
Related Words
- רוֹכְסָן (Rochsan) — the formal, Academy-approved word for zipper.
- חֲנוּת (Chanut) — colloquial term for a trouser fly.
- כַּפְתּוֹר (Kaftor) — button; originally a biblical architectural/decorative term.
- סִגְרוּר (Sigrur) — a failed historical suggestion for the zipper.