how to say “wasp” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/צרעה-1.m4a” /]צִרְעָה

The Hebrew word for a bee is דבורה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/צרעה-2.m4a” /]. But the larger, perhaps more intimidating species is צרעה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/צרעה-1.m4a” /] – wasp or hornet (which is also called a דבור[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/צרעה-3.m4a” /]).

Though in Biblical Hebrew this insect appears in the generic plural form הצרעה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/צרעה-4.m4a” /], Modern Hebrew uses the plural form צרעות[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/צרעה-5.m4a” /].

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/צרעה-6.m4a” /]הצרעות הן האב הקדמון של הדבורים והנמלים.

Wasps are the ancestor of bees and ants.

Note that צרעה is spelled without a י[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/צרעה-7.m4a” /], as is the case with most words whose first vowel sound is ee.