how to say “old” in Hebrew
זָקֵן, יָשָׁן, וכו.
In English, we might call a person old (albeit not very politely) just as we might call a tree old.
In Hebrew, we’ve got different terms for old people, animals and things.
זקן, זקנה
An old or elderly person might be called זָקֵןif he’s a man and זְקֵנָהif she’s a woman. This term connotes a status of having reached the milestone of aging. This is the Biblical-Hebrew term for elder.
if he’s a man and זְקֵנָהif she’s a woman. This term connotes a status of having reached the milestone of aging. This is the Biblical-Hebrew term for elder.This term is not reserved for humans – an animal might also be referred to as זקן or זקנה.
For example:
בְּגִיל שְׁבַע עֶשְׂרֶה, הוּא הַכֶּלֶב הַזָּקֵן בְּיוֹתֵר בַּשְׁכוּנָה.
At age seventeen, he’s the oldest dog in the neighborhood.
Synonyms include (in the masculine) מְבֻגָּר– literally, someone mature – and קָשִׁישׁor יָשִׁישׁ
– literally, someone mature – and קָשִׁישׁor יָשִׁישׁישן, ישנה
To describe an object as old, in contrast, you’d use a different term: יָשָׁןfor a masculine object, and יְשָׁנָה for a feminine one.
for a masculine object, and יְשָׁנָה for a feminine one.For example:
זֶה סֵפֶר יָשָׁן מְאֹד.
It’s a very old book.