מצרים

Hebrew

Etymology

From a common Semitic source; compare Arabic مِصْر (miṣr) and Ugaritic 𐎎𐎕𐎗𐎎 (mṣrm). The ending is the standard dual form, perhaps related to the ancient conceptualization of Egypt as two realms: Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt. Connections have also been drawn to מֶצֶר (métser, “border, limit”) and מיצר / מֵצַר (meitsár, “sea strait”).

Pronunciation

• (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA^(key): /mit͡sˈʁajim/
• (Tiberian Hebrew) IPA^(key): [misˤˈrˤɑːjim]

• Audio (Israel):

  (file)

Proper noun

מִצְרַיִם • (mitsráyim) f (Biblical Hebrew pausal form מִצְרָיִם)

1. Egypt (a country in North Africa and Western Asia)
2. Egyptians
3. (biblical) Mizraim, son of Ham and grandson of Noah

Derived terms

• יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם (y'tsi'át mitsráyim)

Yiddish

Etymology

From Hebrew מִצְרַיִם (mitsráyim).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mɪt͡sˈʁajəm/

Proper noun

מצרים • (mitsrayem) n

1. Egypt (a country in North Africa and Western Asia)

Derived terms

• מצרימער (mitsreyemer)
• מיצריש (mitsrish)

Related terms

• יציאת מצרים (yetsies mitsrayem)
• מיצרי (mitsri)