The Hebrew word for husband is בעל, which also means owner. It’s no wonder, then, that so many Israeli women dislike its use. So what can we say instead?
New Words and Expressions:
Ba’al – Husband – בעל
Ba’ali – My husband – בעלי
Ben ha-zug – Male partner – בן הזוג
Bat ha-zug – Female partner – בת הזוג
“Ha-ben zug” (coll.) – The male partner – הבן זוג
“Ha-bat zug” (coll.) – The female partner – הבת זוג
“Ba’ali hu bediyuk bishvili” – My husband is just right for me – בעלי הוא בדיוק בשבילי
Ba’al – Husband – בעל
Be’alim – Owner/owners – בעלים
Efshar ledaber im ha-be’alim – Could I speak to the owner/s? – אפשר לדבר עם הבעלים?
Ishti – My wife – אשתי
Bat ha-zug sheli – My female partner – בת הזוג שלי
Ishtekha – Your (m.) wife – אשתך
Ishtekh – Your (f.) wife – אשתך
Ishto – his wife – אשתו
Ishta – Her wife – אשתה
Nashim – Women – נשים
Ishi – My man (my male partner) – אישי
“Ba’ali be-milu’im” – My husband is away on reserves duty – בעלי במילואים
Playlist and Clips:
Shlomo Artzi – Rov Ha-zman At Ishti (lyrics)
