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כואב — meaning in English: painful

ko'ev · Learn this word with quizzes, examples and more on Maspeak.

Guess the translation for painful
תפוצה
tfutsa
בהתאם
behet'em
כואב
ko'ev
פקדה
pakda
חמה
khama
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neutral common
Usage
Native speakers use the word כואב (ko'ev) when discussing physical sensations such as injuries or illnesses, as well as emotional distress. You might hear it in a conversation about a recent accident, where someone describes their pain, or in a more abstract sense, when discussing heartbreak or loss.
Synonyms & nuances
While כואב (ko'ev) specifically refers to something that causes pain, the word עצוב (atzuv) means sad and might be used in an emotional context. Choose כואב when referring to physical pain or when the emotional pain is very acute, highlighting the depth of the experience.
Culture
The word כואב (ko'ev) comes from the root כ-א-ב, which is related to both pain and suffering in Hebrew. In Israeli culture, where expressing emotions is often encouraged, discussing one's pain openly is a common practice, bridging both physical and emotional experiences.
FAQ
Q.What is the meaning of כואב in English?
The Hebrew word כואב (ko'ev) translates to 'painful' in English, referring to both physical and emotional states of discomfort.
Q.How do you use כואב in a sentence?
You can use כואב to describe situations like 'הראש שלי כואב' (my head hurts) or 'הפרידה הייתה מאוד כואבת' (the breakup was very painful).
Q.Are there any common mistakes with the word כואב?
A common mistake is to confuse כואב (ko'ev) with the word עצוב (atzuv), which means sad. Remember that כואב specifically pertains to pain, whether it's physical or emotional.
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