Family משפחה

16 Hebrew words on family — with pictures, native audio and example sentences. The closest ones.

English	Hebrew	Note
family	משפחה	שם משפחה = family name, surname.
dad	אבא	🌎 RegionInformal, from Aramaic. The formal word is אב.
mom	אמא	🌎 RegionInformal, from Aramaic. The formal word is אם.
parents	הורים	🌎 RegionThe singular הורה exists but sounds official — the plural is the everyday word.
son	בן	Also used for age: בן חמש = five years old. And in names — בן גוריון, 'son of a lion cub'.
daughter	בת	For age: בת חמש = five years old (f.). As in bat mitzvah, בת מצווה. Plural בנות.
children	ילדים	ילדים = children in general; בנים = someone's sons, or boys.
brother	אח	The plural אחים also means 'siblings'. 🔀 Several meaningsאח is also a male nurse — and, with different vowels, a fireplace.
sister	אחות	🔀 Several meaningsאחות is both sister and nurse — context decides.
grandfather	סבא	🌎 RegionAn Aramaic form like אבא. The formal word is סב.
grandmother	סבתא	Pronounced savta — the ב here sounds 'v'.
husband	בעל	🔀 Several meaningsLiterally 'owner', which is why many now prefer בן זוג.
wife	אישה	🔀 Several meaningsBoth 'woman' and 'wife' — context decides. ⚠️ IrregularIrregular plural: נשים.
boyfriend	חבר	🔀 Several meaningsBoth 'friend' and 'boyfriend' — context decides.
girlfriend	חברה	🔀 Several meaningsGirlfriend, a female friend, and — read chevra — a company. Three words in one spelling.
baby	תינוק	⚠️ GenderFeminine תינוקת. The plural תינוקות is masculine despite the ־ות ending.