how to say “to apologize” in Hebrew
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/להתנצל-#.m4a” /]לְהִתְנַצֵּל
The Hebrew word for to apologize is the התפעל verb להתנצל[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/להתנצל-#.m4a” /]. The word first appears in Biblical Hebrew in the context of removing jewelry in an act of shame and submission. This very physical act was down in the presence of someone else, so the word is followed with a form of בפני[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/להתנצל-#.m4a” /] – in the presence of or literally in face of.
Here it is in a Modern-Hebrew context:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/להתנצל-#.m4a” /]אני חייב להתנצל בפנייך.
I (a male) must apologize to you (a female).
