how to say “draft” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/גיוס-#.m4a” /]גִּיּוּס

This post is not about a draft of a written piece – that’s a טיוטה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/גיוס-#.m4a” /]. Nor is it about a draft coming in from the window – that’s בריזה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/גיוס-#.m4a” /] (breeze).

Rather, this post is about a word that is on the lips of every Israeli teen – גיוס[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/גיוס-#.m4a” /], draft to the military, conscription.

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/גיוס-#.m4a” /]מתי הגיוס?

When are you getting drafted? (literally, when is the draft?)

גיוס comes from the פיעל verb לגייס[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/גיוס-#.m4a” /] – to draft, to conscript, which itself comes from the word גַיס[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/גיוס-#.m4a” /] meaning large military unit. גיס first appears in Mishnaic Hebrew. Arabic speakers may recognize גיס in their word for army – جيش (jaysh).

To get drafted is the התפעל verb להתגייס[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/גיוס-#.m4a” /].