מצרים

Hebrew

Etymology 1

From a common Semitic source; compare Arabic مِصْر (miṣr) and Ugaritic 𐎎𐎕𐎗𐎎 (mṣrm). The ending is the standard dual form, perhaps related to the ancient conceptualization of Egypt as two realms: Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt. Connections have also been drawn to מֶצֶר (métser, border, limit) and מיצר / מֵצַר (meitsár, sea strait).

Pronunciation

  • (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA(key): /mit͡sˈʁajim/
  • (Tiberian Hebrew) IPA(key): [misˤˈrˤɑːjim]
  • Audio (Israel):(file)

Proper noun

מִצְרַיִם • (mitsráyimf (Biblical Hebrew pausal form מִצְרָיִם)

  1. Egypt (a country in North Africa and Western Asia)
  2. (biblical) Mizraim, son of Ham and grandson of Noah
Derived terms

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Pronunciation

Noun

מִצְרִים • (mitsrím)

  1. plural indefinite form of מִצְרִי

Yiddish

Etymology

From Hebrew מִצְרַיִם (mitsráyim).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /mɪt͡sˈʁajəm/

Proper noun

מצרים • (mitsrayemn

  1. Egypt (a country in North Africa and Western Asia)

Derived terms