צפון

See also: צפֿון

Hebrew

Root
צ־פ־ן (ts-p-n)

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• (Biblical Hebrew) IPA^(key): /sˤaːˈɸoːn/, /sˤaːˈpoːn/
• (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA^(key): /tsaˈfon/
• (Tiberian Hebrew) IPA^(key): /sˤɔˈfon/

• Audio (Israel):

  (file)

Noun

צָפוֹן • (tsafón) m (no plural forms, singular construct צְפוֹן־)

1. north
   • Tanach, Genesis 28:14, with translation of the New International Version:

     וּפָרַצְתָּ יָמָּה וָקֵדְמָה וְצָפֹנָה וָנֶגְבָּה

     ufarátzta yámma vaqédma vətzafóna vanégba

     and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.

2. (צְפוֹן־, ts'fón-) singular construct state form of צָפוֹן (tsafón)‎.

Usage notes

According to the Babylonian Talmudic teaching (at Baba Kama, 93:70b), צָפּוֹן (tsapón) is apparently connected to the word סבון, for soap. Normally, in the Mishnaic text, the word בורית is associated with soapery or cleanse-washing.

Coordinate terms

• (compass points)

	צָפוֹן (tsafón)
מַעֲרָב (ma'aráv)		מִזְרָח (mizrakh)
	דָּרוֹם (daróm)

Derived terms

• זוהר הצפון / זֹהַר הַצָּפוֹן (zóhar hatsafón)
• צְפוֹנִי (tsfoní)

Adjective

צָפוּן • (tsafún) (feminine צְפוּנָה, masculine plural צְפוּנִים)

1. hidden

Descendants

• → Yiddish: צפֿון (tsofn)

See also

• הצפין
• יַרְכְּתֵי צָפוֹן

Proper noun

הַצָּפוֹן • (hatsafón) m

1. The northern parts of Israel: the Galilee and the Golan Heights.