[Eliezer] Ben-Yehuda founded [the Academy of the Hebrew Language] in 1890 under the name Va’ad Halashon (the Committee of the Hebrew Language) to revive the Jewish tongue, for it had not been spoken since 200 CE, 130 years after the destruction of the Second Jewish Commonwealth. The first Modern Hebrew word that he created was “millon” מילון for dictionary, and it was the beginning of a 50-year journey to create a Hebrew dictionary including all biblical and Modern Hebrew words.
Starting in 1908, he published five volumes of A Complete Dictionary of Ancient and Modern Hebrew, and edited an additional two that were published posthumously. It eventually grew to 16 volumes (plus an introductory tome) chronicling more than 2,000 years of Hebrew language development.
The academy is divided into two branches – the Historical Dictionary Project and the Scientific Secretariat. The former, established in 1959, catalogues all Hebrew words in its online database, including their definitions and historical backgrounds, while the latter deals with normative work, such as how to spell Hebrew words. The Scientific Secretariat is also in charge of coining new words, a process which takes place in its many subcommittees. Between 10 and 20 Hebrew words are created each year, including technical terms in fields such as biology and banking.
Starting in 1908, he published five volumes of A Complete Dictionary of Ancient and Modern Hebrew, and edited an additional two that were published posthumously. It eventually grew to 16 volumes (plus an introductory tome) chronicling more than 2,000 years of Hebrew language development.
The academy is divided into two branches – the Historical Dictionary Project and the Scientific Secretariat. The former, established in 1959, catalogues all Hebrew words in its online database, including their definitions and historical backgrounds, while the latter deals with normative work, such as how to spell Hebrew words. The Scientific Secretariat is also in charge of coining new words, a process which takes place in its many subcommittees. Between 10 and 20 Hebrew words are created each year, including technical terms in fields such as biology and banking.
How are words constructed?
The words are constructed in a variety of ways.
Some are created through the combination of a shoresh (root) and mishkal (pattern) from a biblical word, often found in the Mishna (oral Torah that has since been written down).
Some are combinations of two base words to create a new combined word.
Others have foreign influences or are simply taken straight from other languages, such as the word for muffins, מופינים (mufinim), or academy, אקדמיה (academia).
The words are constructed in a variety of ways.
Some are created through the combination of a shoresh (root) and mishkal (pattern) from a biblical word, often found in the Mishna (oral Torah that has since been written down).
Some are combinations of two base words to create a new combined word.
Others have foreign influences or are simply taken straight from other languages, such as the word for muffins, מופינים (mufinim), or academy, אקדמיה (academia).
- עיתון
- מכתב עיתי
- עת + ון
- newspaper
- the original word (literally time-based writing)
- Based on the German root 'zeit,' which means time, plus a suffix.
- מכונית
- car
(כח) וְזֶ֛ה מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה הַמְּכוֹנָ֖ה מִסְגְּרֹ֣ת לָהֶ֑ם וּמִסְגְּרֹ֖ת בֵּ֥ין הַשְׁלַבִּֽים׃
(28) The structure of the laver stands was as follows: They had insets, and there were insets within the frames;
While it may at first appear to not be an appropriate word for machine, it does sound like “machine” and is similar to the Greek word mechane. It therefore became the word for machine and was tweaked a bit in Modern Hebrew to mean “car.”
- חייזר
- חיי + זר
- alien
- living + strange/foreign
When the academy decides to create a Hebrew word, there are often multiple suggestions that will be voted on by the Committee for Words in Common Usage, part of the Scientific Secretariat. The winner will then be brought for a final vote to the plenum, which convenes six times per year and consists of up to 46 academy volunteers including Hebrew linguists and authors.
There are also committees for specialized areas, such as for insurance- related words, consisting of several professionals in the field and two or three members of the academy.Together, they work on a dictionary of terms about the particular subject, meeting once a month and then bringing the dictionary to the plenum once it is finished.Accepted words must be published in the official gazette of the laws of Israel, Reshumot.
They are also published in the academy’s magazine אקדם (Academ) that comes out four times per year, with online versions available on the academy’s website, hebrew-academy.org.il. The academy then tries to disseminate the words, with language councils on radio and television stations assisting in the effort by using these words in programs.
There are also committees for specialized areas, such as for insurance- related words, consisting of several professionals in the field and two or three members of the academy.Together, they work on a dictionary of terms about the particular subject, meeting once a month and then bringing the dictionary to the plenum once it is finished.Accepted words must be published in the official gazette of the laws of Israel, Reshumot.
They are also published in the academy’s magazine אקדם (Academ) that comes out four times per year, with online versions available on the academy’s website, hebrew-academy.org.il. The academy then tries to disseminate the words, with language councils on radio and television stations assisting in the effort by using these words in programs.