how to say “martial arts” in Hebrew
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אָמָּנִיּוֹת לְחִימָה
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| highly recommended reference for further vocabulary growth |
The English word martial has to do with war and battle, as in the terms martial law and martial arts.
The Hebrew term for martial arts is אָמָּנִיּוֹת לְחִימָה ( ).
). אמניות ( ) is the plural form of the word for art – אָמָּנוּת ( ). Note that the ָ vowel is pronounced oh in this word, instead of the usual ah. Likewise, and אָמָּן ( )is a male artist, while an אָמָּנִית ( ) is a female artist.
) is the plural form of the word for art – אָמָּנוּת ( ). Note that the ָ vowel is pronounced oh in this word, instead of the usual ah. Likewise, and אָמָּן ( )is a male artist, while an אָמָּנִית ( ) is a female artist.And לְחִימָה ( ) refers to the act of warring or battling. It comes from the root ל.ח.מ (l.kh.m) of the same meaning.
) refers to the act of warring or battling. It comes from the root ל.ח.מ (l.kh.m) of the same meaning. But if you know even the most basic Hebrew phrases, you surely recognize that the root ל.ח.מ also means bread and sustenance – לֶחֶם ( ). What is the connection between war and food?
). What is the connection between war and food?Yaacov Etsion in this article (if you’re an advanced Hebrew learner, give reading it a try) teaches that the early swords used in what is today known as the Middle East looked like a sickle, sporting a rounded blade – so that when one attacked, it was as if the sword was eating the victim.
Etsion also suggests a less graphic explanation. He quotes 19th-century Biblical-Hebrew linguist Joshua Steinberg, who remarked that people must struggle – or battle – to obtain their livelihood, best represented by bread itself.
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