how to say “children” in Hebrew
יְלָדִים, בָּנִים
1 – ילדים, ילדות
The Hebrew words for boy and girl are יֶלֶדand יַלְדָה, respectively. Likewise, a group of boys and girls – children* – are יְלָדִים.
and יַלְדָה, respectively. Likewise, a group of boys and girls – children* – are יְלָדִים. For example:
כַּמָּה יְלָדִים יֵשׁ לָהּ?
How many children does she have?
Strictly speaking, יְלָדוֹתmeans girls, but this term is not used as often as the one you’ll find below.
means girls, but this term is not used as often as the one you’ll find below.2 – בנים, בנות
Son and daughter have different words: בֵּןand בַּת. In the plural, these also refer to boys and girls, as in the following statements you might hear on the Israeli schoolyard:
and בַּת. In the plural, these also refer to boys and girls, as in the following statements you might hear on the Israeli schoolyard:הִגִּיעַ הַזְּמַן לַחְזוֹר לַכִּתָּה, בָּנוֹת!
It’s time to come back to the classroom, girls!
בָּנִים, תֵּרְדוּ מֵהַגָּדֵר!
Boys, get down from the fence!
*I can’t help but notice the similarity between the word child and ילד, and wonder whether this etymological dictionary doesn’t go far back enough in history.
