how to say “backup” in Hebrew

The first Torah portion to be read this Shabbat by Jews around the world tells the story of two and a half Israelite tribes who wish to settle the land conquered on east bank of the Jordan River, while their brethren would settle the land on the west bank and westward. Moses expresses to these tribes his fear that they would abandon the others in the struggle to settle the promised land and therefore dramatically lower the morale necessary for the struggle. These tribes then assure Moses that their forces would not return to their families on the east bank until the job is done.


In effect, they say, we’ll back you up.


The Modern-Hebrew word for to backup is לְגַבּוֹת (leh-gah-BOHT), from the originally-Aramaic word for back – גַּב (gahv). This active-intensive פִּעֵל verb becomes גִּבּוּי (ghee-BOO-ee) in noun form – backup.


For example:

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