how to say “celeb” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/סלב-#.m4a” /]סֵלֵבּ, יְדוּעָן

In English, people who draw inordinate amounts of attention are called celebrities – or in short, celebs. Israelis giving those people such attention have borrowed סלב[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/סלב-#.m4a” /] for a single celebrity (male or female), while סלבס[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/סלב-#.m4a” /] is the plural form (yes, it defies Hebrew grammar).

There is, however, a proper Hebrew term for celebrity – ידוענית[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/סלב-#.m4a” /] if she’s female, and ידוען[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/סלב-#.m4a” /] if he’s male.

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/סלב-#.m4a” /]למסעדה הזאת מגיעים כל הידוענים.

All the celebs come to this restaurant.

ידוענית and ידוען come from the root י.ד.ע[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/סלב-#.m4a” /] meaning know, since celebrities are well known individuals.