how to say “espionage” in Hebrew
רִגּוּל
Ilan Grapel, a dual US-Israeli citizen interning in Cairo, is being accused of spying for Israel.
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| http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4081731,00.html |
It’s an international scandal – שַׁעֲרוּרִיָּה בֵּינְלְאֻמִּית (shah-ah-roo-ree-YAH BEH-een-leh-oo-MEET).
Strangely, à propos this week’s Torah portion, the word for espionage in Hebrew is רִגּוּל (ree-GOOL). A spy is a מְרַגֵּל (meh-rah-GHEL) or, if she’s a female, a מְרַגֶּלֶת (meh-rah-GHE-let).
The root is ר.ג.ל (r.g.l), meaning leg or foot. By nature of their job, מְרַגְּלִים (meh-rahg-LEEM) follow the footsteps of locals of the place they’re scouting.
