how to say “two thousand” in Hebrew
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/אלפיים-#.m4a” /]אַלְפַּיִים
The Hebrew word for one thousand is אלף[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/אלפיים-#.m4a” /], as in:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/אלפיים-#.m4a” /]אלף תודות על המתנה הנפלאה!
A thousand thanks for the wonderful gift!
Likewise, three thousand is שלושת אלפים[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/אלפיים-#.m4a” /], using the masculine-plural ים-[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/אלפיים-#.m4a” /] ending.
But what about two thousand? That’s אלפיים[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/אלפיים-#.m4a” /], which uses the dual יים-[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/אלפיים-#.m4a” /] ending.
For example:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/אלפיים-#.m4a” /]אלפיים שנה עם ישראל שוטט בגלות.
(For) two thousand years the People of Israel wandered in exile.
More on this dual form in today’s video.
