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10 Hebrew Words That Sounds Like English Words, But Have Different Meaning

We always compare a new language we learn to the one we already know, and sometimes words sound the same - sometimes because it's actually the same word and the same meaning, or just by coincidence and they mean a whole different thing.


In this blog post we will show you some funny examples from Hebrew and English, on how words sound the same* but mean something else.


* note that phonetics differ between the languages (for example how to pronounce "R"), so always imagine the English counterpart being said with heavy Israeli accent :)

Every word is clickable and you can hear its pronunciation by Forvo.


  1. The word הִיא pronounced like "He", but means the opposite! The translation of the word is "She", this one really messes up students minds sometimes :) Click here to hear how הִיא is pronounced

  2. The word תֵּן pronounced exactly like "Ten", but means "Give". Click here to hear how תֵּן is pronounced

  3. The word שֵׁד pronounced exactly like "Shed", but means "Demon".

  4. The word דּוֹר pronounced like "Door", but means "Generation". Click here to hear how דּוֹר is pronounced

  5. The word קוֹר pronounced like "Core", but means "Cold". Click here to hear how קוֹר is pronounced

  6. The word מֵת pronounced exactly like "Met", but means "Dead". Click here to hear how מֵת is pronounced

  7. The word בּוּל pronounced exactly like "Bull", but means "Stamp" or "Exactly". Click here to hear how בּוּל is pronounced

  8. The word עִיר pronounced exactly like "Ear", but means "City". Click here to hear how עִיר is pronounced

  9. The word גַּס pronounced exactly like "Gas", but means "Vulgar" or "Inappropriate. Click here to hear how גַּס is pronounced

  10. The word בַּת pronounced exactly like "But", but means "Girl". Click here to hear how בַּת is pronounced

And these are only 10 words, there are much more!

Can you think of other examples? Comment them in the comment section below!


* Special thanks to Kevin Lew (קֵווִין לוּ) who thought of some of these wonderful examples!


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11. The word דַּק pronounced exactly like "Duck", but means "Thin".

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