Hebrew Vocabulary: The tiny world of insects

We bet you have heard many times that human beings are, at the same time, tiny and immense. In literature and research that is closely related to divinity, spirituality and even science, it is clear how tiny we are, and how huge the universe that surrounds us is.

Now, we want to focus on a world that is even smaller than ours. In this Hebrew vocabulary article, we want to expand your knowledge of all the Hebrew words related to insects, small bugs, and the little lovely animals that share this planet with us.

Do you know how to say bee in Hebrew? Or how to complain in Hebrew because there are tons of ants on your sandwich? Well, through this article we aim to help you become fluent in Hebrew, at least when it comes to insects, bugs, and tiny creatures.

If you are entomophobic, this is the time to stop reading this article and jump to another one from our collection. Don’t test yourself, because we are also going to share some pictures. So, if you are afraid of insects, start expanding your Hebrew vocabulary with big animals, or begin to learn how to say each and every fruit in Hebrew.

You have been warned. Let’s learn about the tiny world of insects and bugs!

Insects and bugs: Hebrew vocabulary!

Many of us hate bugs, but when we realize how important they are for our ecosystem, we start respecting them a bit more. Even though bees can mean danger for our kids during pool season, their important function makes us love them and their organized lifestyle.

Maybe it was Disney’s “A Bug’s Life”, or Dreamworks’ “Antz”, but at some point or another we began to love insects in a way our grandparents didn’t. Now, how do you say their names in Hebrew? Let’s learn.

1. Bee: The queen of insects in Hebrew is called דבורה, it is pronounced d-voh-rah, and it is one of the most important insects in our ecosystem. According to the “Friends of the Earth” organization, Bees are perfectly adapted to pollinate, helping plants grow, breed and produce food. They do so by transferring pollen between flowering plants and so keep the cycle of life turning.

2. Ant: Ant in Hebrew is נְמָלָה, and it is pronounced neh-mah-lah. If you decide to walk around Tel Aviv in flip-flops you might run into several ants walking all over your feet. But don’t you worry! In general, we don’t have those giant ants in Israel, they are super, super tiny… unless you are in the middle of the desert.

3. Fly: A very common guest during the summer in Israel, in all cities. Fly in Hebrew is זבוב, and it is pronounced z’voov. Make sure to pronounce the Z correctly, since its name comes from the sound flies make. Cool, right?

4. Ladybug: What a gorgeous bug, right? In Hebrew, a ladybug is מושית השבע (pronounced moh-sheet ha-sheh-vah). In the gorgeous fields in the north of the Land of Milk and Honey you can find tons of them, and enjoy their company. Don’t forget there is an urban legend that assures us that these bugs bring luck.

5. Cockroach: If you have ever lived in Tel Aviv, you most likely had them as roommates. There are thousands of cockroaches in Israel, and throughout the year you’ll see them in the streets, and even inside your house. Some of them fly, but they are absolutely harmless, not dangerous at all, so don’t get scared! Cockroach in Hebrew is מקק or ג׳וק, and it is more commonly pronounced as jook.

6. Mosquito: Mosquito in Hebrew is יַתוּשׁ, it is pronounced ya-toosh and there are many of them flying around Israel. As you might have experienced during summer camp, mosquitos can be very annoying, but instead of killing them, we recommend using smells that keep them away. Do a little research on Google and you will find everything you need to do to make them move directly to your neighbor’s house, and skip yours.

7. Butterfly: We don’t know if this lovely animal should be in this article or not, but since we also added the gorgeous ladybug, we thought it would be relevant to also add the butterfly. Butterfly in Hebrew is פרפר, it is pronounced par-par, and when it’s calaneet season (Israel’s local flower), you can see thousands of פרפרים flying around northern Israel.

Learn some Hebrew and love our bugs!

This is a unique opportunity to learn some Hebrew. The time is now. Enroll in one of the Rosen School of Hebrew’s online courses, and discover how fun, engaging and encouraging learning Hebrew can be.

Our extraordinary instructors will walk with you through the process of learning the language of our ancestors in a way you have never experienced before. Give Hebrew an opportunity. Now, it is up to you!