אלף — meaning in English: Thousand

elef · Learn this word with quizzes, examples and more on Maspeak.

Guess the translation for Thousand

אלף

elef

החיים

hachayim

כלב

kelev

בין

Ben

Skip this question

🎓

Learn Hebrew for free

Quizzes, examples, audio & daily challenges. No password needed — just your email.

Start learning →

Already have an account? Log in

neutral very common

Usage

Native speakers use 'אלף' (elef) predominantly in everyday conversation, especially when discussing quantities, finances, or counting. For instance, one might say, 'יש לי אלף שקלים' (I have a thousand shekels) when talking about money, or refer to a group size, such as 'יש אלף אנשים בכנס' (There are a thousand people at the conference).

Synonyms & nuances

'אלף' (elef) specifically means 'thousand,' while 'מאות' (me'ot) refers to 'hundreds.' When you want to express a quantity specifically in the thousands, 'אלף' is the precise choice, whereas 'מאות' would not convey the exact same magnitude.

Culture

'אלף' has a fascinating historical significance as it is also used in Hebrew numerology and gematria, where each letter corresponds to a numerical value. This word is derived from the Proto-Semitic root *ʔlp, reflecting its ancient origins and its consistency in denoting large quantities throughout Hebrew texts and conversation.

FAQ

Q.How do you say 'thousands' in Hebrew?

'Thousands' in Hebrew is 'אלפים' (alafim), which is the plural form of 'אלף' (elef). You would use this to refer to multiple thousands, for example, 'יש אלפים של אנשים' (There are thousands of people).

Q.What is the numerical value of 'אלף' in Hebrew?

'אלף' corresponds to the number 1000 in Hebrew numerals. In gematria, it also holds significant value, often used in various interpretations within Hebrew texts.

Q.Are there any common mistakes when using 'אלף'?

A common mistake is to confuse 'אלף' with other numerical words like 'שניים' (two) or 'מאות' (hundreds). It's essential to use 'אלף' specifically when referring to quantities in the thousands to maintain clarity in communication.

Learn hebrew with Maspeak →

1000 frequent Hebrew Words