אלף

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See also: אַלף and אל״ף

Hebrew

Etymology 1

Root
א־ל־ף (ʾ-l-p)

From Proto-Semitic *ʔalp- (thousand; cattle). Cognate with Arabic ألف (ʔalf).

Pronunciation

Numeral

Hebrew numbers (edit)
 ←  100  ←  900 1,000 1,000,000 (106)  →  1,000,000,000 (109)  → 
100
    Cardinal: אלף ('élef)

אֶלֶף (élefm or f (dual אלפיים / אַלְפַּיִם, plural אֲלָפִים, Biblical Hebrew pausal form אָלֶף)

  1. thousand, one thousand

Noun

אֶלֶף (élefm (plural indefinite אֲלָפִים, singular construct אֶלֶף־, plural construct אַלְפֵי־)

  1. millennium
  2. thousandship, a part of thousand of a tribe
    Synonym: מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpakhá)
  3. (chiefly in the plural) head of cattle, animal living in company

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

Noun

אָלֶף (áleff

  1. Alternative spelling of אל״ף
Derived terms

Etymology 3

Verb

אִלֵּף (iléf) (pi'el construction, passive counterpart אֻלַּף)

  1. defective spelling of אילף

Yiddish

Etymology 1

From Hebrew אלף.

Numeral

אלף (elef)

  1. thousand (pl. אַלפֿים)

Etymology 2

Unpointed form of אַלף.

Noun

אלף (alef)

  1. (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