Soccer כדורגל
10 advanced Hebrew words on soccer — with pictures, native audio and example sentences. The most popular game in the country — and its Saturday-night vocabulary.
| Image | English | Hebrew | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
 | soccer | כדורגל | 🔗 Rootכדור (ball) + רגל (foot) — a calque of 'football'. |
 | goal | שער | 🔀 Several meaningsThe basic meaning is a gate — and also an exchange rate, שער חליפין. |
 | goalkeeper | שוער | 🔗 RootFrom שער, a gate — literally a gatekeeper. 🔀 Several meaningsAlso a doorman. |
 | referee | שופט | 🔀 Several meaningsOne word for a referee and a judge in court. 🔗 RootFrom לשפוט, to judge. |
 | penalty | פנדל | 🌎 RegionColloquial, a mangled borrowing of 'penalty'. The formal term is בעיטת עונשין. |
 | foul | עבירה | 🔀 Several meaningsAlso a legal or traffic offence. 🔗 RootFrom לעבור — to cross a line. |
 | fan | אוהד | 🔗 RootFrom לאהוד, to support. The noun אהדה is sympathy. |
 | stadium | אצטדיון | 🔗 RootFrom Greek stadion, borrowed as early as Mishnaic Hebrew. |
 | national team | נבחרת | 🔗 RootLiterally 'the chosen one', from לבחור. |
 | World Cup | מונדיאל | 🌎 RegionBorrowed from Spanish mundial. The formal term is גביע העולם. |
See also:SportsThe Gym