how to say “legend” in Hebrew
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/אגדה-#.m4a” /]אַגָּדָה
I’m not referring to a legend on a map – that’s מקרא[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/אגדה-#.m4a” /], which is also the word for scripture. No, I’m talking about the stuff of great stories, fables – a legend. This in Hebrew is אגדה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/אגדה-#.m4a” /], as in:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/אגדה-#.m4a” /]האיש והאגדה
the man and the legend
You may have noticed the uncanny resemblance between אגדה and הגדה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/אגדה-#.m4a” /] – Haggadah, the Passover-table guide. Each comes from the word להגיד[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/אגדה-#.m4a” /] – to say, to tell. But while the pascal הגדה is a proper Hebrew word, its legendary counterpart אגדה derives from Aramaic.
אגדה might just as well refer to a legend as to a fable.
