how to say “cream” in Hebrew
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The Torah portion to be read tomorrow by Jews around the world mentions the high priest upon whose head the anointment oil has been poured – אֲשֶׁר יוּצַק עַל רֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה (ah-SHEHR yoo-TSAHK ahl roh-SHOH SHEH-men hah-meesh-KHAH).
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The word משחה means anointment, cream which is smeared on the body, sometimes to soothe and other times to cleanse. Hebrew speakers also borrow the word קְרֶם (krem) from English.
Three practical usages of משחה are:
- מִשְׁחָה לָעוֹר – cream for the skin – (meesh-KHAH lah-OHR)
- מִשְׁחַת יָדַיִם – hand cream (literally, cream of hands) – (meesh-KHAHT yah-DAH-yeem)
- מִשְׁחַת שִׁנַּיִם – toothpaste (literally, cream of teeth) – (meesh-KHAHT shee-NAH-yeem)
2. and 3. are examples of two (or more) words connected in an “of relationship” – the construct state or סְמִיכוּת (smee-KHOOT), which is why the ה (heh) from the word משחה becomes a ת (tav).
שבת שלום, וסוף שבוע נעים לכולם!
Shabbat Shalom, and a pleasant weekend to all!
Hebrew vocabulary with…
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