how to say “vulnerable” in Hebrew
Brené Brown, in a video that I (you too, undoubtedly) can relate to so well, says that at the core of being able to love is the willingness to be vulnerable – to put oneself “out there” where one might get hurt.
Vulnerable, in Hebrew, is פָּגִיע (pah-GHEE-ah) for a male and פְּגִיעָה (peh-ghee-AH) for a female.
Likewise, vulnerability is פְּגִיעוּת (peh-ghee-OOT).
These words come from the root פ.ג.ע (p.g.a), whose basic meaning is contact, usually the type that hurts. For example, אָנוּ פּוֹגְעִים בְּמִי שֶׁאָנוּ הֲכִי אוֹהֲבִים – we hurt whom we love most (AH-noo pohg-EEM beh-MEE sheh-AH-noo hah-KHEE oh-hah-VEEM).
It’s the same root as פִּגּוּע (pee-GOO-ah), the official Hebrew term for terror attack – vulnerability is also about taking risks, where the results could be terrible… but they could also be wonderful.
And, according to Brené, vulnerability is necessary if one is to really love.
If you’re up for it, I recommend watching the video with Hebrew subtitles, which you can choose to activate under the “play” button.
I’ve seen his amazing art at Hechal Shlomo and even acquired a piece myself.
It’s open throughout the summer.
