how to say “backbone” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/עמוד-שדרה-#.m4a” /]עַמּוּד שִׁדְרָה

The backbone or the spinal column, in Hebrew is עמוד השדרה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/עמוד-שדרה-#.m4a” /].

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/עמוד-שדרה-#.m4a” /]עמוד השדרה מורכב מחוליות.

The spinal column is made up of rings/vertebrae.

You might also remark about someone lacking in character:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/עמוד-שדרה-#.m4a” /]אין לו עמוד שדרה.

He has no backbone.

עמוד[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/עמוד-שדרה-#.m4a” /] means column (also page), coming from the root ע.מ.ד[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/עמוד-שדרה-#.m4a” /] meaning standing.

שדרה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/עמוד-שדרה-#.m4a” /] appears in Mishnaic Hebrew and comes from the root ש.ד.ר[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/עמוד-שדרה-#.m4a” /]. This root has an Aramaic (and later, Modern-Hebrew) meaning of sending, but I’m not sure whether that meaning is related to שדרה.