כלום
Hebrew
editEtymology
edit(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “see extensive etymology section at Hebrew Wiktionary”)
The popular folk etymology כְּ־ (k'-, “like”, comparative prefix) + *לוּם (lúm), a supposedly rare word meaning "olive pit", thus "something as small as an olive pit; anything at all," is unsupported.
Pronunciation
edit- (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA(key): /klum/
- (Tiberian Hebrew) IPA(key): /kă.ˈlum/
Audio: (file)
Pronoun
editכְּלוּם • (k'lum)
Usage notes
edit- Used with a negative word, so the combination means "nothing".
Synonyms
editParticle
editכְּלוּם • (k'lum)
- (archaic) Used to turn a statement of fact into a question of fact.
- Talmud Bavli, Maseches Pesachim 87b
- כלום אדם זורע סאה אלא להכניס כמה כורין
- A man sows a se'a but to gain several korim...? [i.e., Does a man sow a small amount for a reason other than to gain many times the original amount?]
- Talmud Bavli, Maseches Pesachim 87b