Learn Hebrew: Family Members in Hebrew

Family, or mishpacha, is the cornerstone of life and culture in Hebrew-speaking communities. This lesson introduces you to the essential vocabulary needed to talk about your relatives, from immediate household members to extended kin. Mastering these terms is vital for basic social interaction, as questions about your parents, known as horim, or your children, called yeladim, are common in everyday conversation.

One important pattern to notice in Hebrew is how gender affects the form of a word. Often, a feminine version of a noun is created by adding a suffix to the masculine root. For instance, you will see this with uncle (dod) and aunt (doda), or with grandson (neched) and granddaughter (nechda). Another logical structure appears with compound terms; to express the word for cousin, Hebrew uses a descriptive phrase like son-of-uncle (ben-dod) or daughter-of-uncle (bat-dod).

This list covers immediate relationships such as brother (ach) and sister (achot), as well as more complex family ties like son-in-law (chatan) and daughter-in-law (kalla). You will even find terms for step-parents, such as stepfather (av choreg). Whether you are introducing your father (aba) and mother (ima) or talking about a new baby (tinok), these words provide the foundation for discussing the people who matter most. Building this vocabulary will help you navigate social gatherings and share your personal history with others in Hebrew.