how to say “profession” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/משלח-יד-#.m4a” /]מִקְצוֹעַ, מִשְׁלַח יָד

Hebrew has two terms for profession.

The one that most people use in day-to-day conversation is מקצוע[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/משלח-יד-#.m4a” /], as in:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/משלח-יד-#.m4a” /]הוא צריך ללכת ללמוד מקצוע.

He needs to go and learn a profession.

מקצוע also refers to a school subject that is not necessarily vocational, such as language.

Another term that appears primarily on forms to be filled out is משלח יד[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/משלח-יד-#.m4a” /]. This is a biblical expression that means literally, sending of the hand, since the hand is what has always allowed people to create, especially in ancient times.

Even though it’s a formal expression, you might hear it from time to time in polite conversation, such as in:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/משלח-יד-#.m4a” /]מה משלח ידה?

What’s her profession?