how to say “experiment” in Hebrew

You may know the Hebrew word (an active-intensive פִּעֵל verb) for to try – לְנַסּוֹת (leh-nah-SOHT). This is to try both in the sense of to attempt and in the sense of to test and see whether something will work. The Torah portion to be read this Shabbat by Jews around the world mentions several instances in which the People of Israel in their desert journey try G-d, so to speak, testing his patience.

Now, scientific testing is a relatively new activity and concept, one that doesn’t have a corresponding word appearing in the Bible. So those who breathe life into the Hebrew language, giving it relevance and usefulness today, created a term for experiment by taking the authentic Biblical Hebrew verb, לנסות, and using its abstract noun form, נִסּוּי, to mean experiment or trial. After all, an experiment in its purest form is just a trial – the abstract noun in English of the verb to try.


For example:

Shabbat Shalom, and a pleasant weekend to all!
(shah-BAHT shah-LOHM, veh-SOHF shah-VOO-ah nah-EEM leh-khoo-LAHM)  

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