how to say “terrorist” in Hebrew
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מְחַבֵּל, מְחַבֶּלֶת
Mid-Fall Hebrew
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The most widely-used Hebrew word for terrorist is מְחַבֵּל for a male and מְחַבֶּלֶת for a female.
for a male and מְחַבֶּלֶת for a female. These words are participle forms (also present-tense) of the active-intensive verb לְחַבֵּל , which means to sabotage. In effect, a terrorist is called, by Israelis, saboteurs.
, which means to sabotage. In effect, a terrorist is called, by Israelis, saboteurs.  |
| מְחַבֶּלֶת מִתְאַבֶּדֶת(female) suicide terrorist |
From a socio-linguistic point of view as well as a personal one, מחבל and מחבלת are too soft. I prefer the other terms that show up in the bilingual dictionary: טֶרוֹרִיסְט – literally, terrorist, and מְפַגֵּעַ (a male)/ מְפַגַּעַת (a female).
– literally, terrorist, and מְפַגֵּעַ (a male)/ מְפַגַּעַת (a female). The latter terms come from the root פ.ג.ע (p.g.a) meaning strike, harm, the same root as that of the word for terror attack – פִּגּוּעַ . I believe מגפע and מפגעת more accurately capture the horrific severity of the actions of such people.
. I believe מגפע and מפגעת more accurately capture the horrific severity of the actions of such people.
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