how to say “five individuals” in Hebrew
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/חמש-נפשות-1.m4a” /]חָמֵשׁ נְפָשׁוֹת
You may know the word נפש[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/חמש-נפשות-2.m4a” /] – soul or mind – from the name of the organization Nefesh B’Nefesh – literally, soul with soul. In Biblical Hebrew it refers to the soul or the self, as well individuals.
Thus when speaking of occupants of a home, the word is נפשות[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/חמש-נפשות-3.m4a” /] – souls.
For example:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/חמש-נפשות-4.m4a” /]אצלנו בדירה יש חמש נפשות.
In our apartment there are (living) five individuals.
נפש is a feminine noun.
