how to say “owner” in Hebrew
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/בעלים-#.m4a” /]בְּעָלִים
Hebrew doesn’t have words for to own or to have. Rather, I have is יש לי[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/בעלים-#.m4a” /] – literally, there is to me. And ownership is בעלות[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/בעלים-#.m4a” /], deriving from the Biblical word בעל[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/בעלים-#.m4a” /] meaning master (also husband).
When referring to the owner of a piece of real estate or a company, the word is בעלים[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/בעלים-#.m4a” /]. This word is used in the masculine plural regardless of whether the owner is a single person or more than one, male or female.
For example:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/בעלים-#.m4a” /]היא הבעלים של אולם אירועים.
She is the owner of an events hall.
Why the plural? Think אלהים[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/בעלים-#.m4a” /] – God: a single entity with great authority, and therefore a plural ending.