how to say “oak” (and other people’s names) in Hebrew
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/אלון-1.m4a” /]אַלּוֹן
In English, names for babies such as Cedar, Ash and Aspen are not so common, even less so Apple (Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter) and the first name of Popeye’s beloved Olive Oil.
Israelis are far more liberal with such names, so that if you live in Israel, you’re likely to know more than one man or boy named אלון[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/אלון-1.m4a” /] – Oak, or ארז[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/אלון-2.m4a” /] – Cedar, as well as perhaps a girl or two named שקמה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/אלון-3.m4a” /] – Sycamore. These are just a few of the many names Israelis give their children after flora as well – as fauna, such as עופר[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/אלון-4.m4a” /] – Young Deer (male or female) and יעל[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/אלון-5.m4a” /] – Mountain (female) Goat.
You may recognize יעל from the Biblical book of Judges – indeed, this Jewish tradition of naming for animals goes that far back. Going even further back than Judges, we have the names of the Matriarchs – רחל[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/אלון-6.m4a” /] (Rachel) meaning Ewe (female sheep) and רבקה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/אלון-7.m4a” /] (Rebecca) meaning Yoke of Oxen – fond associations notwithstanding. A male contemporary of the Mothers is חמור[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/אלון-8.m4a” /] – Donkey, king of Shechem.
