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Hebrew language

Hebrew language

1 4.6
A language first used by ancient Jewish people, now the main language of Israel
  • noun
  • /ˈhiːbruː ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/
translation icon : idioma hebreo
  • In Israel, students learn to read and write in the Hebrew language from a young age.
  • Hebrew language and literature

If you know the Hebrew language, those letters and those words are very rich and they have multiple meanings.

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Examples

  • As the only Hebrew language specialist on the TU library staff, the author's language skill was invaluable for identifying, testing, verifying, and planning for the future addition of these items.

    Academic text (2014)
  • So for purposes of this discussion, I will assume that Hebrew language scholars as a whole regard it as a forgery.

    Blog text (12)
  • Our study was conducted in Israel in the Hebrew language.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Nothing in the Hebrew language indicates the sort of physical reaction you claim.

    Blog text (12)
  • If you know the Hebrew language, those letters and those words are very rich and they have multiple meanings.

  • Both the Greeks and Hebrew language use letters to represent numbers.

  • They sought it in the Hebrew language (especially at the beginning, it was difficult and dangerous to get instruction).

    Academic text (1991)
  • When they adopted the slogan, "Our world stands on three things: on Hebrew land, on Hebrew work, and on the Hebrew language," the first nucleus of a Hebrew-speaking society was established.

    Academic text (2009)
  • The enduring paradox of the revival of the Hebrew language lies in the tension between the language of the Bible and the requirements of a modern language for an advanced society, interconnected with the European and American world.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Despite the abundant textual evidence of Fray Luis' respect for and knowledge of the Hebrew language, there is very little that suggests that he used it as the basis for his Psalm translations.

    Academic text (2002)

Synonyms

Hebrew
vsHebrew language
6.0

An ancient language now used as the modern language of Israel

has identical meaning but is presented as the main entry
Modern Hebrew
vsHebrew language
4.9

The form of Hebrew spoken and written in Israel today, brought back from ancient Hebrew

is broader, covering ancient origins as well as the modern form

Surface Forms

Morphology

Hebrew + language

The meaning is directly compositional: 'Hebrew' identifies the particular group or adjective and 'language' names the system of speech, so together they mean the language of the Hebrews/modern Israel. This follows a common noun + noun/label pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand the phrase.

Etymology

Hebrew language may come from an old word Hebrew that meant 'one who crosses' or 'from the other side', because early groups crossed rivers to reach the land of Canaan. That's why the name came to mean the people and their speech, and today Hebrew language means the old language that was brought back as the modern language of Israel.