how to say “heartburn” in Hebrew
צָרֶבֶת[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/צרבת-1.mp3″ /]
This one’s for my brother in law חנוך[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/צרבת-2.mp3″ /], who probably knows the technical term for heartburn.
That sharp pain sometimes felt near the heart, called heartburn, really takes place in the digestive system. The unpleasant occurrence is named for how it feels, rather than how it transpires.
Likewise, its Hebrew term – צרבת[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/צרבת-1.mp3″ /] – describes the experience. צרבת comes from the root צ.ר.ב (ts.r.b) referring to a stinging or burning feeling.
For example:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/צרבת-3.mp3″ /]אכלתי יותר מדי – עכשיו יש לי צרבת.
I ate too much – now I have heartburn.
צרבת follows a verbal structure found among other medical conditions as well, for example קדחת[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/צרבת-4.mp3″ /] – malaria/high fever, and שחפת[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/צרבת-5.mp3″ /] – tuberculosis.