how to say “to age” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להזדקן-1.m4a” /]לְהִזְדַּקֵּן

The Hebrew word for old age is זקנה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להזדקן-2.m4a” /], while an elderly man is זקן[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להזדקן-3.m4a” /] and an elderly woman is זקנה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להזדקן-4.m4a” /]*.

To age or to get old is the reflexive-intensive verb להזדקן[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להזדקן-1.m4a” /].

Here’s an example from Arik Einstein’s song, עוף גוזל[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להזדקן-5.m4a” /] – Fly Away, Little Bird:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להזדקן-6.m4a” /]אל תדאגי, ביחד כיף להזדקן.

Don’t worry (my wife), together it’s fun to get old.

If you don’t know the gender of the Hebrew word for bird – ציפור[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להזדקן-7.m4a” /], you can deduce it from the song as well.

* If you don’t see the sound icons to listen to the difference, click the button above that says “listen to the Hebrew”