חמרמורת

Hebrew

Etymology

The Academy of the Hebrew Language searched for a suitable translation for hungover. In the end it was decided to use the root ח־מ־ר (kh-m-r) for two reasons, the first: wine is also called חֶמֶר (khemér), the second: because in Biblical Hebrew the root is used to mean turning of the bowel: רְאֵה ה' כִּי צַר לִי מֵעַי חֳמַרְמָרוּ נֶהְפַּךְ לִבִּי בְּקִרְבִּי (Lamentations 1:20). The word חמרמורת was chosen based on the words סְחַרְחוֹרֶת and צְמַרְמוֹרֶת which also describe body pains.

Noun

חמרמורת / חֲמַרְמֹרֶת • (khamarmóret) f (plural indefinite חֲמַרְמוֹרֶוֹת / חֲמַרְמֹרֶוֹת, singular construct חֲמַרְמֹרֶת־, plural construct חֲמַרְמוֹרוֹת־)

1. hangover (illness caused by heavy alcohol drinking)

Usage notes

• Although this is the recommend word by Academy of the Hebrew Language, הֶנְגְּאוֹבֶר m (“heng'óver”) is still common in Hebrew.

Synonyms

• הֶנְגְּאוֹבֶר m (“heng'óver”)