how to say “to fall” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ליפול-1.m4a” /]לִפּוֹל

The root of the word ליפול[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ליפול-1.m4a” /] is נ.פ.ל[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ליפול-2.m4a” /] – since early Hebrew speakers found it troublesome to say לנפול[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ליפול-7.m4a” /], the nasal n sound disappeared, leaving only a trace in the hardening of the פ[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ליפול-3.m4a” /] – from a f sound to p.

In variations of ליפול, though, the n sound remains. One example is in the past tense – for instance, הוא נפל[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ליפול-4.m4a” /] – he fell.

Just like in English, to fall might refer to simply dropping from a high place to a low one, or it might refer figuratively to a person falling in battle.

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ליפול-5.m4a” /]מיטב בנינו ובנותינו נפלו בקרב.

The best of our sons and daughters fell in battle.

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ליפול-6.m4a” /]יהי זכרם ברוך.

May their memories be blessed.