Hebrew edit

Etymology edit

From Aramaic דווקא (dawqā, exactness), through Yiddish דווקא (davke).

Adverb edit

דווקא / דַּוְקָא (dávka)

  1. (colloquial) unexpectedly
  2. (colloquial) just to spite
  3. (colloquial) specifically, precisely
  4. (colloquial) in fact, actually
    • 1996, לימור נחמיאס (Limor Nachmias), “צְבוֹטוֹתִי” (ts'vototi, “Tweedle'dee”), Keter Publishing House Ltd. (2002), →ISBN, page 110:
      “אני דווקא אוהב חזה שנופל.”
      “aní dávka ohév khazé shenofél.”
      “I actually love sagging breasts.”

Usage notes edit

  • When a negation directly precedes this word, Aramaic לָאו (lav) is typically used instead of the native Hebrew לֹא (lo), which is used when the negation is in any other position.

Yiddish edit

Etymology edit

From Aramaic דווקא.

Adverb edit

דווקא (dafke)

  1. necessarily
  2. deliberately
  3. precisely