אם

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word אם. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word אם, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say אם in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word אם you have here. The definition of the word אם will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofאם, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

See also: אַם, Appendix:Variations of "am", and Appendix:Variations of "im"

Hebrew

Etymology 1

Root
א־מ־ם (ʾ-m-m)

From Proto-Semitic *ʔimm-.

Pronunciation

(Tiberian Hebrew) IPA^(key): /ˈʔeːm/,
(Yemenite Hebrew) IPA^(key): /ˈʔem/,
(Persian Hebrew) IPA^(key): /(ʔ)em/
(Ashkenazi Hebrew) IPA^(key): /ejm/
(Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA^(key): /(ʔ)em/
Rhymes: -em

Noun

אֵם • (em) f (plural indefinite אימהות / אִמָּהוֹת or אִמּוֹת, singular construct אֵם־, masculine counterpart אָב)

(formal, dated) mother (a female parent, especially of a human; a female who parents a child (which she has given birth to, adopted, or fostered))
- Tanach, Exodus 2:8, with translation of the King James Version:
  וַתֵּלֶךְ הָ עַלְמָה וַתִּקְרָא אֶת אֵם הַ יָּלֶד
  vatelékh ha'almá vatikrá et em hayáled
  And the maid went and called the child's mother.
mother, feminine originator or codifier (as in "the mother of all battles")

Declension

Declension of אֵם

Number	Isolated forms		With possessive pronouns
	State	Form	Person	singular		plural
	State	Form	Person	m.	f.	m.	f.
singular	indefinite	אֵם	first	אִמִּי		אִמֵּנוּ
	definite	הָאֵם	second	אִמְּךָ	אִמֵּךְ	אִמְּכֶם	אִמְּכֶן
	construct	אֵם־	third	אִמּוֹ	אִמָּהּ	אִמָּם	אִמָּן
plural	indefinite	אימהות / אִמָּהוֹת	first	אימותיי / אִמּוֹתַי		אימותינו / אִמּוֹתֵינוּ
	definite	האימהות / הָאִמָּהוֹת	second	אימותיך / אִמּוֹתֶיךָ	אימותייך / אִמּוֹתַיִךְ	אימותיכם / אִמּוֹתֵיכֶם	אימותיכן / אִמּוֹתֵיכֶן
	construct	אימות־ / אִמּוֹת־	third	אימותיו / אִמּוֹתָיו	אימותיה / אִמּוֹתֶיהָ	אימותם / אִמּוֹתָם	אימותן / אִמּוֹתָן

Synonyms

אִמָּא (íma) (more common, less formal)

Derived terms

אֵם הַדֶּרֶךְ (em hadérekh)
אַמְנוּן (amnún)
אֵם קְרִיאָה (em k'ri'á)
שְׂפַת אֵם (s'fát ém)

Etymology 2

From Proto-Semitic *šim.

Pronunciation

(Tiberian Hebrew) IPA^(key): /ʔim/,
(Yemenite Hebrew) IPA^(key): /ʔim/,
(Persian Hebrew) IPA^(key): /(ʔ)im/
(Ashkenazi Hebrew) IPA^(key): /im/
(Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA^(key): /(ʔ)im/
Rhymes: -im
Audio (Israel): (file)

Conjunction

אִם • (im)

if, whether
אם תצליחי או לא נהיה איתך.
im tatslíkhi o lo nihyé itákh.
Whether you (f) succeed or not we will be with you.
in case, if
אִם אַתָּה רוֹצֶה, אֲנִי אוּכַל לָבוֹא מָחָר.
im atá rotsé, aní ukhál lavó makhár.
If you want, I can come tomorrow.
or

Usage notes

Unlike English if, future tense commonly occurs after אִם (im).

Derived terms

אִם וְרַק אִם (im v'rák im)

References

“אם” in the Hebrew Terms Database of the Academy of Hebrew Language

Further reading

אם (משפחה) on the Hebrew Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^he

Wikious

Boobota

Sagapedia