אלמנה
Hebrew
Etymology
Possibly from the root א־ל־ם, and if so comparable to Arabic أَلَم (ʔalam, “pain, ache”). But compare also Aramaic אַרְמַלְתָּא (ʾarmaltā) and Arabic أَرْمَلَة (ʔarmala). One of the two consonantisms is likely due to assimilation and dissimilation processes.
Pronunciation
Audio: (file)
Noun
אַלְמָנָה • (almaná) f (plural indefinite אַלְמָנוֹת, singular construct אַלְמְנַת־, masculine counterpart אַלְמָן)
- widow (a woman whose spouse (traditionally husband) has died (and who has not remarried); a woman in relation to her late spouse; feminine of widower)
Derived terms
- אלמנה שחורה / אַלְמָנָה שְׁחֹרָה (almaná sh'khorá)
- אַלְמְנַת קַשׁ (alm'nát kásh)
References
Further reading
- אלמנה on the Hebrew Wikipedia.Wikipedia he
Yiddish
Noun
אלמנה • (almone) f, plural אלמנות (almones)
- Non-standard spelling of אַלמנה