A unique Hebrew word about holding someone else’s feelings
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/להכיל-#.m4a” /]לְהָכִיל
This word truly has no equal in English, and yet it’s a common word when speech gets tender and loving.
להכיל[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/להכיל-#.m4a” /] means literally to contain, as in:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/להכיל-#.m4a” /]המוצר הזה עלול להכיל אגוזים.
This product may contain nuts.
But on a metaphorical level, להכיל means to contain someone else’s feelings, to be able to withstand emotional torrents and be there as a support.
For example:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/להכיל-#.m4a” /]היא יודעת להכיל אותו עם כל הצרכים שלו.
She knows how to hold his space with all his needs.
להכיל is a הפעיל verb of the root כ.ו.ל[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/להכיל-#.m4a” /] meaning all.
