1/10 Did you know Modern Hebrew underwent a major vowel shift in the late 20th century? Most speakers don't even realize it happened! Let's explore this fascinating change through popular songs. #HebrewLanguage #Linguistics 2/10 Listen to Mashina's "Balada L'Sochen Kaful" (1986). They pronounce הגיע ("arrived") as "higiya" with an "ee" sound.

1/7 David Remez, Israel's Minister of Education who passed away on May 19, 1951, was a prolific contributor to the Hebrew language. Let's explore some of his linguistic innovations! 2/7 In 1924, Remez coined "נִקּוּז" (nikuz, drainage), expanding the root נק"ז from bloodletting to water drainage. This was just the beginning of his linguistic journey.

1/14 "dafka" (דווקא) is one of the most common and interesting words in Hebrew. Its primary use is as an adverb, indicating that the following clause, phrase, or word is correct, appropriate, or worthy - and not others. 2/14 For example, in the sentence "Ducks fly south in winter," adding "dafka" before "ducks" clarifies that it's ducks, not other animals, that fly. Placing it before "winter" indicates their flight doesn't occur in autumn, spring, or summer.

1/7 Today I'm taking my car to the garage, which got me thinking: where did the Hebrew word for "garage" come from? Buckle up for a quick linguistic road trip! 🚗💨 2/7 It's 1921. The British have just arrived in Palestine, bringing their cars. Suddenly, there's a need for a place to park and repair these new machines. But ancient Hebrew had no word for this modern concept. 🤔

1/ 🧵 Let's dive into the fascinating history of the Hebrew word "קרנן" (karnan), meaning "cuckold" – a man whose wife is unfaithful. The story begins in 11th-century Troyes, France. 📜 2/ The Jewish community in Troyes faced a troubling situation and wrote to Rabbi Judah ben Meir HaKohen of Mainz, seeking advice on whether they could ostracize an unwelcome individual from their community. 🤔

1/ 🧵 Did you know the Hebrew word for car, "מכונית" (mechonit), has roots in both biblical Hebrew and ancient Greek? Here's the fascinating story of how it came to be! 🚗📜 2/ In the 19th century, the biblical word "מכונה" (mechona), which meant "stand," was adapted to mean "machine." This was because it sounded similar to the word "machine" in many European languages, especially the Greek word "machina."

1/ It's loquat season in Israel! 🍈 This tasty Japanese fruit has an ancient and beautiful name in Hebrew: שֶׁסֶק. 2/ The word שֶׁסֶק is as obscure as any in ancient Judaic texts, appearing in but one Talmudic disputation.

1/ Everyone in Israel has been talking about the interceptions, but do you know why the Hebrew word for “interception” is יֵרוּט (jɛˈʁut)? 2/ Well, it all started with a talking donkey. In the Book of Numbers, we are told that the Prophet Balaam was riding his donkey through a vineyard when she suddenly stops because an angel appeared before her blocking the way.

1/ The biblical term מִפְלֶצֶת (mifˈlɛ.t͡sɛt) has intrigued translators and commentators for generations. Found in I Kings 15:13 and II Chronicles 15:16, it describes a ritual object associated with the Asherah that King Asa removed from the temple. 🏛️ 2/ Given its rarity and context, scholars struggled to pinpoint its precise meaning. Rooted in the Hebrew פל״ץ, which often conveys a sense of fear, it was commonly interpreted as something frightening. 📜

1/ Today is Purim and across Israel, street costume parties called עַדְלָיָדַע (ɑd.loˈjɑ.da) are in full swing. This tradition dates back to 1912, when a Tel-Aviv school held the first Purim parade. Parades were a popular mode of celebration back then for any joyous occasion. 2/ Initially, these parades were simply called צְעָדָה (t͡ʃɛ.ɑˈdɑ) meaning “march, parade” but as they grew larger and more carnival-like, they became known as קַרְנָבָל (ˈkɑʁ.nɑ.vɑl), a non-Hebrew term for a Hebrew celebration.

1/ The pansy has a unique Hebrew name: אַמְנוֹן וְתָמָר (ɑmˈnon vɛ.tɑˈmɑʁ). But this name hides a dark origin story. 2/ In 2 Samuel 13, Amnon, the eldest son of King David, develops an obsession with his half-sister Tamar. He deceives her by pretending to be sick and needing her help. When Tamar arrives, Amnon rapes her. Why did Hebrew link such a beautiful flower with such a heinous act?

1/ 🌽 Curious about the Hebrew word for "corn"? Its journey is a fascinating tale of biblical roots, linguistic evolution, and cultural connections. Join me as we explore the captivating story behind this grain's Hebrew name! #HebrewEtymology #CornHistory 2/ In the 15th century, Rabbi Isaac Abarbanel – not knowing the Turks were recent arrivals to the area now known as Turkey – identified the people of תִּירָס as the Turks due to the similarity of the names.

1/ Each of the five fingers has a unique name in Hebrew, and here's what they mean! 🤚 2/ Let's start with the thumb. In Hebrew, it's called אֲגוּדָל (ɑ.guˈdɑl), derived from גָּדוֹל (gɑˈdol) meaning “big.” 🖐️

1/ The @HebAcademy fought long and hard against the Hebrew word for 'backing' and 'backup' – and lost. But why? Dive into the fascinating story of גִּבּוּי (giˈbuj) and its battle for acceptance! 💥 #LanguageDrama 2/ The word was coined by Haim Laskov, commander of the Israeli Air Force, in 1950, based on the Hebrew word for "back" גַּב (gɑv) and has the same noun pattern as the words for "experiment" and "change" – נִסּוּי (niˈsuj) and שִׁנּוּי (ʃiˈnuj). So why did the @HebAcademy object?

1/ Ever wonder how the Hebrew word for "doll" came to be? 🤔 Meet בֻּבָּה (buˈbɑ), coined by Eliezer Ben-Yehuda in 1904! #LanguageHistory 2/ Ben-Yehuda based בֻּבָּה on the obscure word בָּבַה in Zachariah 2:12 thought to mean "pupil" (of an eye). But why choose this word? 🧐 #Etymology

1/ The Hebrew word for “boat,” סִירָה (siˈʁɑ), traces its origins to an enigmatic verse in the Book of Amos. 🚣‍♂️ 2/ In Amos 4:2, the plural form סִירוֹת is used. It is translated as “hooks” in the King James Version: "The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks."

1/ In modern Hebrew, נֶכֶד (ˈnɛ.χɛd) signifies a grandchild, while נִין (nin) is reserved for the great-grandchild. However, Biblical Hebrew paints a different picture. These terms, always paired as נִין וָנֶכֶד, convey the broader notion of "descendants" or "offspring." 2/ The translation of these terms in the Septuagint gives us "seed and name," emphasizing the generational continuity. While Aramaic translations give us "sons and grandsons."

1/ 🦈 Ever wondered about the origins of the Hebrew word for "shark"? Let's dive into the linguistic depths, which begins with a tale of a daring sea diving to retrieve a chest of treasure recorded in the Babylonian Talmud (Bava Batra 74a-b). 2/ 📜 According to the Aramaic text, the diver was attacked by a fish called כַּרְשָׁא (kɑrˈʃa), but managed to escape unharmed by using a jug of vinegar. This כרשא is not mentioned anywhere else so we don't know what it was.

1/ 🌟 Tracing "Mazal": The Hebrew word for luck, מַזָּל (mɑˈzɑl), has an intriguing journey. Its roots lie in the Akkadian term 𒌓𒁕 (mazˈzaz.tum), signifying "stand" or "position," which evolved into the Aramaic מַזָּלָא (mazzālā). 2/ ✨ Celestial Connections: In Aramaic, מַזָּלָא shifted to mean "constellation." This celestial twist persisted as the word migrated into Hebrew, where it retained its cosmic connotations.

1/ 🎯 Exploring the Lexicon of Precision! In this thread, let's delve into the Hebrew words for marksman and sniper – קַלָּע (kɑˈlɑ) and צָלָף (t͡sɑˈlɑf). 2/ 🚀 Both terms emerged in the late 1920s within the Jewish paramilitary underground, Hahagannah. קַלָּע draws from the biblical word for a slingshot shooter and the verb קָלַע, meaning to hurl in biblical times and to hit a target in contemporary Hebrew.

1/ Hanukkah Delights! 🍩✨ On this second night, let's explore the Hebrew word for the delightful treats often enjoyed during the holiday – סֻפְגָּנִיָּה (suf.gɑ.niˈjɑ). 2/ Doughy Origins: These delectable donuts, akin to German Berliner Pfannkuchen, had their Yiddish counterpart as פּאָנטשקע (ˈpɔnt͡ʃkə) from Polish pączka (ˈpɔnt͡ʂ.ka).