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אלף. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
אלף, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
אלף in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
אלף you have here. The definition of the word
אלף will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
אלף, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Hebrew
Etymology 1
From Proto-Semitic *ʔalp- (“thousand; cattle”). Cognate with Arabic ألف (ʔalf).
Pronunciation
Numeral
אֶלֶף • (élef) m or f (dual אלפיים / אַלְפַּיִם, plural אֲלָפִים, Biblical Hebrew pausal form אָלֶף)
- thousand, one thousand
Noun
אֶלֶף • (élef) m (plural indefinite אֲלָפִים, singular construct אֶלֶף־, plural construct אַלְפֵי־)
- millennium
- thousandship, a part of thousand of a tribe
- Synonym: מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpakhá)
- (chiefly in the plural) head of cattle, animal living in company
Etymology 2
Pronunciation
Noun
אָלֶף • (álef) f
- Alternative spelling of אל״ף
Derived terms
Etymology 3
Verb
אִלֵּף • (iléf) (pi'el construction, passive counterpart אֻלַּף)
- defective spelling of אילף
Yiddish
Etymology 1
From Hebrew אלף.
Numeral
אלף • (elef)
- thousand (pl. אַלפֿים)
Etymology 2
Unpointed form of אַלף.
Noun
אלף • (alef)
- (nonstandard) Unpointed form of אַלף (alef).
References
- Steven A. Jacobson (1998) A Guide to the More Common Hebraic Words in Yiddish, 5th edition, Fairbanks, AK: National Yiddish Book Center, →ISBN, page 23