how to say “that’s an understatement” in Hebrew

ByAmi Steinberger

בִּלְשׁוֹן הַמְעָטָה

What’s the basic Hebrew word for a little bit? קצת
.

It also means some, as in:

אפשר קצת מים?

Can I have some water?

Another word for קצת is מעט
. It’s more formal, though it does appear in the common phrase עוד מעט
– in a little bit (of time). 

מעט also appears as a root in the expression בלשון המעטה
– to say the least, or that’s an understatement. It means literally, in diminishing terms.

For example:

הדירה הזאת קטנה, בלשון המעטה…

This apartment is small, and that’s an understatement… 

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