Last Update: 8 October 2023
Languages have always been a powerful tool for communication, culture, and identity. Arabic and Hebrew are both two Semitic languages with ancient roots. They exemplify the fascinating interplay between linguistic diversity and shared heritage. As we know, these languages are often associated with a lot of conflict due to different religious and cultural contexts, but the reality is that they share a lot of similarities that reveal a deep historical connection. In this article, I'll delve into the intriguing some of the intriguing similarities between Hebrew and the Arabic language, exploring their common origins, linguistic features, and historical significance.
Shared Origins
Arabic and Hebrew both belong to the Semitic language family. It's an Afroasiatic language family that includes several languages spoken in the Middle East and parts of North Africa such as Amharic, Maltese, Syriac, and many others. All of these Semitic languages share a common ancestor and have evolved over millennia, giving rise to various dialects and linguistic branches. Even within Arabic alone you'll find 30+ varieties.
However, the historical connection between Arabic and Hebrew traces back to the Proto-Semitic language, the ancestral language of all Semitic languages. While Proto-Semitic itself is not directly attested in written records, scholars have been able to reconstruct it as a hypothetical language through comparative linguistics.
Linguistic Features
Shared Alphabet
At first glance, the two alphabets might seem very different, but they're more alike than you might think. Both Arabic and Hebrew use a script called the "abjad": it's a writing system, where only consonants are represented (by large), leaving vowel sounds to be inferred by the reader – also sometimes called a "consonantal script"· In both classical Arabic and classic Hebrew (as found in the Quran and Torah), you'd find diacritical marks, but it has largely been omitted in both modern version. Check here on Wikipedia for Arabic diacritics and Hebrew diacritics.
The script consists of 22 to 29 characters, depending on the language, and has similarities in terms of shape and orientation (both alphabets are read right-to-left (RTL) and not left-to-right (LTR) as seen in European languages).
Guttural Sounds
A shared alphabet has naturally also led to many similarities in phonology (pronunciation). Both Arabic and Hebrew are known for their guttural sounds, which are produced in the throat. Examples include the very infamous sounds "ayin" (ע in Hebrew and ع in Arabic) and the "heth" (ח in Hebrew and ح in Arabic). These shared phonemes contribute to the unique and recognizable sound of both languages. It is, however, important to recognize that modern Hebrew phonology has been influenced by Indo-European languages which has caused it to lose many of the more "Oriental" sounds.
Consonantal Root System
One of the most noteworthy similarities between Arabic and Hebrew is their reliance on a consonantal root system. In both languages, words are often derived from a three- or four-letter root, and variations in meaning are achieved by adding vowels, prefixes, or suffixes to this specfic root. A popular example is how in Arabic, the root "k-t-b" is associated with writing (e.g., كتاب "kitab" means book or أنا أكتب "ana aktub"), while in Hebrew, "k-t-v" conveys the idea of writing (e.g., כְּתָב "ketav" means writing or אני כותב "ani kotev").
This is often also called triconsonantal roots and it is extremely common in Semitic languages. By identifying the three root consonants, you can often identify a common theme.
Definite and Indefinite Articles
Both Arabic and Hebrew employ definite and indefinite articles to specify whether a noun is particular or general. In Arabic, the definite article is "al-" (الـ), while in Hebrew, it is "ha-" (ה). For example, "the book" in Arabic is "al-kitab" (الكتاب), while in Hebrew, it is "ha-sefer" (הספר). The articles play a crucial role in sentence structure and convey essential grammatical information. It is e.g. often used as genitive as in שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים (shir ha-shirim), although in modern Hebrew it has largely been replaced by "shel" and other genitive forms in Arabic.
Gender and Number
Arabic and Hebrew share a similar system of gender and number in nouns and adjectives. In both languages, nouns and adjectives are inflected to indicate gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural). This inflection follows consistent patterns in both languages. If you have a mixed group of people, masculine is seen as more neutral and takes precedence over feminine forms.
Verb Conjugation
Arabic and Hebrew exhibit intricate verb conjugation systems, where verbs are modified based on tense, mood, person, and number. While there are differences in the specific conjugation patterns, the underlying structure is comparable. Both languages use prefixes, suffixes, and vowel changes to indicate verb tense and mood, and they share similarities in the formation of verb stems.
Historical Significance
Shared Cultural and Religious Heritage
Arabic and Hebrew are not only languages but also carriers of rich cultural and religious traditions. Arabic is closely associated with Islam and the language of Islam's holy book known as the Quran. Hebrew, on the other hand, is the language of the Hebrew Bible (known as the Torah or Old Testament in Christianity), making it central to Judaism, Christianity, and their respective religious texts.
Throughout history, Arabic and Hebrew have influenced each other in various ways. During the Middle Ages, when Islamic and Jewish scholars shared intellectual spaces in places like Spain and North Africa (Arab rule over the Iberian Peninsula 711-1492 AD), there was a significant exchange of knowledge and ideas. This exchange led to the borrowing of vocabulary and linguistic features between the two languages.
Modern Linguistic Resurgence
In the modern era, both Arabic and Hebrew have undergone linguistic resurgences as living languages. Estimations say that Arabic is spoken as a first language by 360 million people as a native language across the Arab world and 270 million people as 2nd language. On the other hand, Hebrew has been revived as the official language of the State of Israel with barely any native speakers before this time. This resurgence has led to further exchanges and borrowings, especially in fields such as technology, science, and media. Israel recognized both languages as official until 2018 when the government downgraded Arabic to "special status in the state".
Arabic Words Used in Hebrew
Modern Hebrew, as spoken in Israel, has borrowed many words from Arabic. This is partly due to the proximity in location and proximity in language, but also because many Israelis are descendants of Jews from Arabic countries such as Iraq, Turkey, Morocco, Yemen, Tunisia, and many others. I have taken a couple of examples from a site here:
ā-bal أهبل < אהבל: idiot
‘ak-root عكروت < עקרוט: bastard
‘ayyoo-nee عيوني < עיוני: darling
jā-nā-nā مجنون < ג'נאנה: craziness
keif كيف < כיף: fun
kha-bee-bee حبيبي < חביבי: dude
khā-rā خرا < חרא: shit, crap
mā’-ā-fān معفن < מעפן: lame
sa-bā-bā صبابة < סבאבה/סבבה: terrific, awesome
sha’-fā/shak-fah شقفة < שאפה/שקפה: attractive young woman, ‘hottie
tem-bel تنبل < טמבל: fool
tsā-bār صبار < צבר: native-born Israeli
khā-moo-lā حمولة < חמולה: clan or extended family
ze-le-meh زلمي < זלמה: man, guy
‘ā-lā tool على طول < עלא טול: exactly, immediately, right away
‘ā-lek/’alek قال لك < עאלכ/עלכ: yeah, right!, as if!
‘ā-ley-nā علينا < עלינא: no way!, wrong!
bās بس < באס: enough!
be-khay-yāt بحيات < בחייאת: for heavens sake
Hālās/Hālāsnā خلص < חלס/חאלס/חלסנא: stop! enough!
Hārā/Hārā خرا < חרא: shit!, crap!
kee-f/kee-f Hālek كيف حالك < כיף/כיף חאלכ: what’s up?
ma’aléysh/ma’léysh معليش < מעליש: no matter
mabroo-k مبروك < מברוכ: congratulations!
moo-sh-‘aref مش عارف < מוש-ערף: (I have) no clue!
saHtéyn صحتين < סחתין: well done!
sharmoo-tā شرموطة < שרמוטה: slut, whore
waʾllā والله < ואללה: really?
yā-allā يا الله < יא-אללה: Oh God!, God!, Good Heavens!, Wow!
yaʾllā يالله < יאללה: come on!
ya’nee-/ya’anee يعني < יעני: that is
‘ālāʾ rāsee على رأسي < עלא ראסי: on my head
yōm ‘asal, yōm basal يوم عصل, يوم بصل < יום עסל, יום בסל: some days are good, others bad; c’est la vie!
It's important to note that the pronunciation of these words may vary slightly from their original Arabic pronunciation, and some may have undergone additional changes in meaning or usage in Modern Hebrew.
Peace in Arabic and Hebrew
Last, but not least I want to remind all of us that Hebrew and Arabic – two Semitic languages with rich histories – also share a profound linguistic connection through their common greeting: "shalom" שָׁלוֹם and "salaam" ٱلسَّلَامُ. While this common greeting is used every day across the Middle East as "hello" and "goodbye", it actually means something closer to "peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare, and tranquility". Despite their distinct scripts and unique cultural contexts, these words resonate with a shared aspiration and heartfelt wish for peace among nations. These words serve as a bridge, emphasizing the importance of mutual understanding and fostering a sense of kinship in our sometimes very diverse world.
So what can we say in the end?
Arabic and Hebrew, despite their distinct cultural and religious associations, share a deep linguistic connection rooted in their common Semitic heritage. These languages have evolved over thousands of years, shaping their grammatical structures, vocabulary, and phonology. The similarities between Arabic and Hebrew, such as the consonantal root system, triconsonantal roots, and gender and number inflection, are a testament to their shared linguistic ancestry.
Understanding the parallels between these languages not only enriches our appreciation of linguistic diversity but also highlights the historical and cultural bonds that connect different communities. As Arabic and Hebrew continue to evolve and interact in the modern world, their shared linguistic features serve as a reminder of the enduring legacy of these ancient languages.
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