What does "then" mean in Hebrew?
The everyday Hebrew word for "then" is אז (az). It is an adverb, a single short syllable, and like every Hebrew adverb it never changes its form. It has no gender, no number and no tense.
English "then" does three different jobs, and Hebrew אז does all three:
- At that time: אז הייתי ילד (az hayiti yeled), "I was a child then." It can point to the past or to the future: נתראה אז (nitra'e az), "see you then." - Next, after that: usually joined to ו־ ("and") as ואז (ve-az), "and then": קודם נאכל, ואז נצא (kodem nokhal, ve-az netse), "first we'll eat, and then we'll go out." - So, in that case: אז בוא נלך (az bo nelekh), "so let's go"; and after a condition, אם אתה עייף, אז לך לישון (im ata ayef, az lekh lishon), "if you're tired, then go to sleep."
Where English "then" means "afterwards, later," Hebrew often prefers אחר כך (akhar kakh), and where it means "therefore," written Hebrew may use לכן (lakhen). This lesson teaches אז and shows where the other words take over.
The word is ancient. It is already in the Hebrew Bible, most famously at the opening of the Song of the Sea, אָז יָשִׁיר מֹשֶׁה (az yashir moshe), "Then sang Moses" (Exodus 15:1). It has relatives across the Semitic languages: Aramaic אֱדַיִן (edayin, "then, at that time") and Arabic إِذ (idh, "when, then") and إِذًا (idhan, "so, therefore").
A note on spelling. אז is written with alef (א) and zayin (ז). The alef is silent; it only carries the vowel a. Do not confuse it with עַז (az, "strong, fierce"), spelled with ayin, which sounds exactly the same in standard Israeli Hebrew.
- אז (az) = "then," in all three English senses: "at that time," "next," and "so, in that case" - It is an adverb and never changes form - ואז (ve-az) = "and then," the usual way to move a story forward - אם… אז… (im… az…) = "if… then…" - מאז (me-az) = "since then"; עד אז (ad az) = "until then"; אז מה? (az ma?) = "so what?" - For "afterwards, later," Hebrew often says אחר כך (akhar kakh) - One syllable: AZ
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52.1a אז so מה what
52.1b az (AZ) so ma (MA) what
52.2a ואז and-then הוא he הלך went
52.2b ve-az (ve-AZ) and-then hu (HOO) he halakh (ha-LAKH) went-PAST.3M.SG
52.3a אז so בוא come נלך we-will-go
52.3b az (AZ) so bo (BO) come-IMP.M.SG nelekh (ne-LEKH) go-FUT.1PL
52.4a אז then הייתי I-was ילד child
52.4b az (AZ) then hayiti (ha-YEE-tee) was-PAST.1SG yeled (YE-led) child-M.SG
52.5a נתראה we-will-see-each-other אז then
52.5b nitra'e (nit-ra-E) see-each-other-FUT.1PL az (AZ) then
52.6a קודם first נאכל we-will-eat ואז and-then נצא we-will-go-out לטייל to-stroll
52.6b kodem (KO-dem) first nokhal (no-KHAL) eat-FUT.1PL ve-az (ve-AZ) and-then netse (ne-TSE) go-out-FUT.1PL letayel (le-ta-YEL) to-stroll-INF
52.7a אם if אתה you עייף tired אז then לך go לישון to-sleep
52.7b im (EEM) if ata (a-TA) you-M.SG ayef (a-YEF) tired-M.SG az (AZ) then lekh (LEKH) go-IMP.M.SG lishon (li-SHON) to-sleep-INF
52.8a מאז since-then אני I לא not שותה drink קפה coffee
52.8b me-az (me-AZ) since-then ani (a-NEE) I lo (LO) not shote (sho-TE) drink-PRES.M.SG kafe (ka-FE) coffee-M.SG
52.9a עד until אז then תחכה you-will-wait לי for-me כאן here
52.9b ad (AD) until az (AZ) then tekhake (te-kha-KE) wait-FUT.2M.SG li (LEE) for-me kan (KAN) here
52.10a הטלפון the-telephone צלצל rang ואז and-then כולם everyone השתתקו fell-silent
52.10b ha-telefon (ha-te-le-FON) the-telephone-M.SG tsiltsel (tsil-TSEL) rang-PAST.3M.SG ve-az (ve-AZ) and-then kulam (ku-LAM) all-of-them hishtatku (hish-TAT-ku) fell-silent-PAST.3PL
52.11a בשנות in-the-years-of השישים the-sixties גרנו we-lived בחיפה in-Haifa אז then לא not היה there-was לנו to-us טלפון telephone בבית in-the-house
52.11b bi-shnot (bi-SHNOT) in-years-CONSTR.PL ha-shishim (ha-shi-SHEEM) the-sixties garnu (GAR-nu) lived-PAST.1PL be-Kheifa (be-KHEI-fa) in-Haifa az (AZ) then lo (LO) not haya (ha-YA) was-PAST.3M.SG lanu (LA-nu) to-us telefon (te-le-FON) telephone-M.SG ba-bayit (ba-BA-yit) in-the-house-M.SG
52.12a כבר already אז then ידעתי I-knew שאני that-I רוצה want להיות to-be רופאה doctor
52.12b kvar (KVAR) already az (AZ) then yadati (ya-DA-tee) knew-PAST.1SG she-ani (she-a-NEE) that-I rotsa (ro-TSA) want-PRES.F.SG lihyot (lih-YOT) to-be-INF rofa (ro-FA) doctor-F.SG
52.13a הוא he לא not ענה answered לטלפון to-the-telephone אז so נסעתי I-drove אליו to-him הביתה home
52.13b hu (HOO) he lo (LO) not ana (a-NA) answered-PAST.3M.SG la-telefon (la-te-le-FON) to-the-telephone az (AZ) so nasati (na-SA-tee) drove-PAST.1SG elav (e-LAV) to-him ha-bayta (ha-BAI-ta) home-DIR
52.14a אם if המחיר the-price ירד will-go-down בחורף in-the-winter אז then נקנה we-will-buy את ACC הדירה the-flat
52.14b im (EEM) if ha-mekhir (ha-me-KHEER) the-price-M.SG yered (ye-RED) go-down-FUT.3M.SG ba-khoref (ba-KHO-ref) in-the-winter-M.SG az (AZ) then nikne (nik-NE) buy-FUT.1PL et (ET) ACC ha-dira (ha-dee-RA) the-flat-F.SG
52.15a רק only אז then כשראיתי when-I-saw את ACC הים the-sea הבנתי I-understood כמה how-much התגעגעתי I-had-missed
52.15b rak (RAK) only az (AZ) then kshe-ra'iti (kshe-ra-EE-tee) when-saw-PAST.1SG et (ET) ACC ha-yam (ha-YAM) the-sea-M.SG hevanti (he-VAN-tee) understood-PAST.1SG kama (KA-ma) how-much hitga'agati (hit-ga-A-ga-tee) missed-PAST.1SG
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52.1 אז מה? — az ma? — "So what?"
52.2 ואז הוא הלך — ve-az hu halakh — "And then he left."
52.3 אז בוא נלך — az bo nelekh — "So let's go."
52.4 אז הייתי ילד — az hayiti yeled — "I was a child then."
52.5 נתראה אז — nitra'e az — "See you then."
52.6 קודם נאכל, ואז נצא לטייל — kodem nokhal, ve-az netse letayel — "First we'll eat, and then we'll go out for a walk."
52.7 אם אתה עייף, אז לך לישון — im ata ayef, az lekh lishon — "If you're tired, then go to sleep."
52.8 מאז אני לא שותה קפה — me-az ani lo shote kafe — "I haven't drunk coffee since then."
52.9 עד אז, תחכה לי כאן — ad az, tekhake li kan — "Until then, wait for me here."
52.10 הטלפון צלצל, ואז כולם השתתקו — ha-telefon tsiltsel, ve-az kulam hishtatku — "The phone rang, and then everyone fell silent."
52.11 בשנות השישים גרנו בחיפה; אז לא היה לנו טלפון בבית — bi-shnot ha-shishim garnu be-Kheifa; az lo haya lanu telefon ba-bayit — "In the sixties we lived in Haifa; back then we didn't have a phone at home."
52.12 כבר אז ידעתי שאני רוצה להיות רופאה — kvar az yadati she-ani rotsa lihyot rofa — "Even then I knew I wanted to be a doctor."
52.13 הוא לא ענה לטלפון, אז נסעתי אליו הביתה — hu lo ana la-telefon, az nasati elav ha-bayta — "He didn't answer the phone, so I drove over to his place."
52.14 אם המחיר ירד בחורף, אז נקנה את הדירה — im ha-mekhir yered ba-khoref, az nikne et ha-dira — "If the price comes down in the winter, then we'll buy the flat."
52.15 רק אז, כשראיתי את הים, הבנתי כמה התגעגעתי — rak az, kshe-ra'iti et ha-yam, hevanti kama hitga'agati — "Only then, when I saw the sea, did I understand how much I had missed it."
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52.1 אז מה?
52.2 ואז הוא הלך
52.3 אז בוא נלך
52.4 אז הייתי ילד
52.5 נתראה אז
52.6 קודם נאכל, ואז נצא לטייל
52.7 אם אתה עייף, אז לך לישון
52.8 מאז אני לא שותה קפה
52.9 עד אז, תחכה לי כאן
52.10 הטלפון צלצל, ואז כולם השתתקו
52.11 בשנות השישים גרנו בחיפה; אז לא היה לנו טלפון בבית
52.12 כבר אז ידעתי שאני רוצה להיות רופאה
52.13 הוא לא ענה לטלפון, אז נסעתי אליו הביתה
52.14 אם המחיר ירד בחורף, אז נקנה את הדירה
52.15 רק אז, כשראיתי את הים, הבנתי כמה התגעגעתי
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1. What kind of word it is. אז is a תואר פועל (to'ar po'al), an adverb. It is indeclinable: the words around it agree with their own subjects, never with אז:
- אז הייתי ילד (az hayiti yeled) — a man remembering (52.4) - אז הייתי ילדה (az hayiti yalda) — a woman remembering
2. "At that time." אז points to a time already mentioned or understood. It works for the past and for the future:
- Past: אז הייתי ילד (52.4); בשנות השישים… אז לא היה לנו טלפון (52.11) - Future: נתראה אז (52.5), "see you then," at a time already agreed - With כבר ("already") and רק ("only"): כבר אז ידעתי, "even then I knew" (52.12); רק אז הבנתי, "only then did I understand" (52.15)
3. "Next, and then." To move a story or a set of instructions forward, Hebrew joins אז to ו־ ("and"): ואז (ve-az).
- הטלפון צלצל, ואז כולם השתתקו (52.10) - קודם נאכל, ואז נצא לטייל (52.6). The pair קודם… ואז… ("first… and then…") is the everyday frame for a sequence.
4. "So, in that case." Standing at the head of a clause, אז draws a conclusion:
- From a fact: הוא לא ענה לטלפון, אז נסעתי אליו (52.13), "he didn't answer, so I drove over" - From the situation: אז בוא נלך (52.3), "so let's go" - After a condition, in the pattern אם… אז… ("if… then…"): אם אתה עייף, אז לך לישון (52.7); אם המחיר ירד, אז נקנה (52.14). As in English, the אז may be left out: אם אתה עייף, לך לישון.
5. Word order. אז can open the sentence or follow the verb. In everyday speech the subject usually keeps its place before the verb: ואז הוא הלך (52.2). Written narrative often puts the verb first after אז, especially when the subject is a noun: ואז אמר המורה… (ve-az amar ha-more), "and then the teacher said…". Both orders are correct. Biblical Hebrew regularly puts the verb first, as in Section F.
6. Prepositions and particles with אז.
- מאז (me-az) — "since then" (52.8). The preposition מ־ is written joined to the word. Followed by ש־ it becomes a conjunction: מאז שעברנו דירה (me-az she-avarnu dira), "since we moved house" - עד אז (ad az) — "until then" (52.9) - כבר אז (kvar az) — "already then, even then" (52.12) - רק אז (rak az) — "only then" (52.15) - אז מה? (az ma?) — "so what?" (52.1)
7. The other Hebrew words for "then." Each has its own job:
- אחר כך (akhar kakh) — "afterwards, later": נדבר אחר כך (nedaber akhar kakh), "we'll talk later" - לאחר מכן (le-akhar mi-ken) — the formal "afterwards," in reports and news - לכן (lakhen) — "therefore," in careful speech and writing - אזי (azai) — a formal "then," used in legal and mathematical writing after אם: "if… then…" - דאז (de-az) — "of that time," an Aramaic formation used as an adjective after a noun: ראש הממשלה דאז (rosh ha-memshala de-az), "the then prime minister"
- Spelling it with ayin. אז ("then") has alef. עַז (az, "strong") has ayin and is a different word, though it sounds the same. - Using אז for "later." "I'll call you later" is אתקשר אליך אחר כך. אתקשר אליך אז means "I'll call you at that time," and needs a time already named. - Dropping the ו in a sequence. In a story, "and then" is ואז: הוא נכנס, ואז הוא ראה… ואז makes the sequence clear; a bare אז in that place can be heard as "so." - Too many אז in writing. In speech, sentences often open with אז, like English "so." In formal writing, use it sparingly or replace it with לכן or ובכן (u-vekhen).
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אז is one of the commonest words of spoken Hebrew. Much of the time it is not about time at all. It works as a conversational "so": an Israeli opening a story, a phone call or a complaint will often begin with אז… In neutral registers the word is always correct, and only formal writing replaces it with לכן, אזי or לאחר מכן.
- אז מה? (az ma?) — "so what?", a shrug in two syllables - אז מה אם… (az ma im…) — "so what if…" - אז ככה (az kakha) — "so, here's the thing," the classic opening of an explanation - נו, אז? (nu, az?) — "well, and?", said when a story stops too soon
The most famous אז in Hebrew is at the head of the Song of the Sea, sung by Moses and the Israelites after the crossing of the Red Sea: אָז יָשִׁיר מֹשֶׁה וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת לַה׳ (Exodus 15:1). The song is recited every morning in the traditional prayer service, and Jews often call it by its first two words, אז ישיר (Az Yashir).
Every Hanukkah, families light the candles and sing מעוז צור (Ma'oz Tsur, "Rock of Ages"), a medieval hymn composed in Germany, probably in the twelfth century. Its first stanza ends with a promise introduced by אז: אָז אֶגְמֹר בְּשִׁיר מִזְמוֹר חֲנֻכַּת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ (az egmor be-shir mizmor khanukat ha-mizbe'akh), "then I will complete, with a song and a psalm, the dedication of the altar." Many Israelis who never open a Bible know this אז by heart.
- אז מה? (az ma?) — "so what?" - מאז ומעולם (me-az u-me-olam) — "since time immemorial, always" - כי אז (ki az) — literary "in that case, then indeed" - אי אז (ei az) — literary "once, long ago" - ראש הממשלה דאז (rosh ha-memshala de-az) — "the then prime minister"
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The citation is from the Book of Isaiah, 35:5–6, in a prophecy of the desert blooming and the exiles returning home. Two verses running open with אָז, and together they show the word in its biblical role, "then, at that time to come." The text below follows the Masoretic text as printed by Mechon Mamre, checked against the Miqra according to the Masorah edition on Sefaria; the cantillation marks are omitted.
F.1a אָז then תִּפָּקַחְנָה will-be-opened עֵינֵי eyes-of עִוְרִים blind-ones
F.1b az (AZ) then tipakakhna (ti-pa-KAKH-na) be-opened-FUT.3F.PL einei (ei-NEI) eyes-CONSTR.PL ivrim (iv-REEM) blind-M.PL
F.2a וְאָזְנֵי and-ears-of חֵרְשִׁים deaf-ones תִּפָּתַחְנָה will-be-opened
F.2b ve-oznei (ve-oz-NEI) and-ears-CONSTR.PL khershim (kher-SHEEM) deaf-M.PL tipatakhna (ti-pa-TAKH-na) be-opened-FUT.3F.PL
F.3a אָז then יְדַלֵּג will-leap כָּאַיָּל like-the-deer פִּסֵּחַ lame-one
F.3b az (AZ) then yedaleg (ye-da-LEG) leap-FUT.3M.SG ka-ayal (ka-a-YAL) like-the-deer-M.SG pise'akh (pi-SE-akh) lame-M.SG
F.4a וְתָרֹן and-will-sing לְשׁוֹן tongue-of אִלֵּם mute-one
F.4b ve-taron (ve-ta-RON) and-sing-FUT.3F.SG leshon (le-SHON) tongue-CONSTR ilem (i-LEM) mute-M.SG
F.5a כִּי for נִבְקְעוּ have-burst-out בַמִּדְבָּר in-the-wilderness מַיִם waters
F.5b ki (KEE) for nivke'u (niv-ke-U) burst-out-PAST.3PL va-midbar (va-mid-BAR) in-the-wilderness-M.SG mayim (MA-yim) water-M.PL
F.6a וּנְחָלִים and-streams בָּעֲרָבָה in-the-desert
F.6b u-nekhalim (u-ne-kha-LEEM) and-streams-M.PL ba-arava (ba-a-ra-VA) in-the-desert-F.SG
אָז תִּפָּקַחְנָה עֵינֵי עִוְרִים, וְאָזְנֵי חֵרְשִׁים תִּפָּתַחְנָה. אָז יְדַלֵּג כָּאַיָּל פִּסֵּחַ, וְתָרֹן לְשׁוֹן אִלֵּם, כִּי נִבְקְעוּ בַמִּדְבָּר מַיִם, וּנְחָלִים בָּעֲרָבָה.
az tipakakhna einei ivrim, ve-oznei khershim tipatakhna. az yedaleg ka-ayal pise'akh, ve-taron leshon ilem, ki nivke'u va-midbar mayim, u-nekhalim ba-arava.
"Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing, for waters have burst out in the wilderness, and streams in the desert."
— Isaiah 35:5–6 (translation: Latinum Institute, kept close to the Hebrew)
אָז תִּפָּקַחְנָה עֵינֵי עִוְרִים, וְאָזְנֵי חֵרְשִׁים תִּפָּתַחְנָה. אָז יְדַלֵּג כָּאַיָּל פִּסֵּחַ, וְתָרֹן לְשׁוֹן אִלֵּם, כִּי נִבְקְעוּ בַמִּדְבָּר מַיִם, וּנְחָלִים בָּעֲרָבָה.
Each of the two verses opens with אָז, and each אָז is followed at once by a verb. The verses do not explain what "then" refers to. The reader knows from the verses before (35:4, "your God will come… and save you") that it is the day of salvation, and אָז is enough to point to it.
Grammar notes:
- אָז + verb first. In biblical Hebrew the verb usually comes straight after אָז: אָז תִּפָּקַחְנָה, אָז יְדַלֵּג. Modern speech would usually put the subject first: אז העיניים ייפקחו (Section D, rule 5). - אָז with the future. Here אָז is followed by future forms and means "then, in that time to come." In Exodus 15:1, אָז יָשִׁיר מֹשֶׁה, the same kind of verb form after אָז refers to the past: "then Moses sang." Biblical Hebrew allows both; Modern Hebrew uses the past tense for the past. - תִּפָּקַחְנָה, תִּפָּתַחְנָה (tipakakhna, tipatakhna). Passive (nif'al) futures with the ending ־נָה (-na), the old feminine plural: the subjects, עֵינַיִם ("eyes") and אָזְנַיִם ("ears"), are feminine. Modern Hebrew uses the masculine plural form for both genders: ייפקחו (yipakkhu), ייפתחו (yipatkhu). - עֵינֵי, אׇזְנֵי (einei, oznei). Construct forms: "the eyes of," "the ears of." The first vowel of אָזְנֵי is read as a short o, not a (qamats qatan, "small qamats"). Some editions, including Sefaria's, mark it with a special sign: אׇזְנֵי. - כָּאַיָּל (ka-ayal). כְּ ("like") + הַ ("the") + אַיָּל ("deer"): the article's ה disappears, and its a-vowel passes to the preposition. - בַמִּדְבָּר (va-midbar). The ב has no dot here because the word before it, נִבְקְעוּ, ends in a vowel, so it is read v. The same word after a pause would be בַּמִּדְבָּר (ba-midbar). - פִּסֵּחַ (pise'akh). The final ח carries a "stolen" a-vowel (patach genuvah), which is pronounced before the consonant: -e'akh.
The prophecy lists four healings (sight, hearing, walking and speech) and then a fifth miracle in the land itself: water in the desert. The repeated אָז binds them into a single moment. Nothing is promised "soon" or "one day"; everything happens "then." For a learner, the verses show the oldest sense of אז, a finger pointing at a time, before it became the conversational "so" of Modern Hebrew. The desert words of the last line are still in daily use: מדבר (midbar, "desert") and ערבה (arava), which is also the name of the Arava valley south of the Dead Sea.
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52.16a סבתא grandmother יושבת sits על on הספה the-sofa ואומרת and-says אז then הייתי I-was ילדה girl קטנה little
52.16b savta (SAV-ta) grandmother yoshevet (yo-SHE-vet) sit-PRES.F.SG al (AL) on ha-sapa (ha-sa-PA) the-sofa-F.SG ve-omeret (ve-o-ME-ret) and-say-PRES.F.SG az (AZ) then hayiti (ha-YEE-tee) was-PAST.1SG yalda (yal-DA) girl-F.SG ktana (kta-NA) little-F.SG
52.17a גרנו we-lived בכפר in-village קטן small ואז and-then אבא father שלי my החליט decided לעלות to-go-up לארץ to-the-Land
52.17b garnu (GAR-nu) lived-PAST.1PL bi-khfar (bi-KHFAR) in-village-M.SG katan (ka-TAN) small-M.SG ve-az (ve-AZ) and-then aba (A-ba) father sheli (she-LEE) my hekhlit (hekh-LEET) decided-PAST.3M.SG la'alot (la-a-LOT) to-go-up-INF la-arets (la-A-rets) to-the-Land-F.SG
52.18a אז then הנסיעה the-journey הייתה was ארוכה long וקשה and-hard
52.18b az (AZ) then ha-nesi'a (ha-ne-see-A) the-journey-F.SG hayta (hai-TA) was-PAST.3F.SG arukha (a-ru-KHA) long-F.SG ve-kasha (ve-ka-SHA) and-hard-F.SG
52.19a נסענו we-travelled באונייה by-the-ship שבוע week שלם whole ואז and-then בבוקר in-morning אחד one ראינו we-saw את ACC חיפה Haifa
52.19b nasanu (na-SA-nu) travelled-PAST.1PL ba-oniya (ba-o-ni-YA) by-the-ship-F.SG shavu'a (sha-VU-a) week-M.SG shalem (sha-LEM) whole-M.SG ve-az (ve-AZ) and-then ba-boker (ba-BO-ker) in-the-morning ekhad (e-KHAD) one-M ra'inu (ra-EE-nu) saw-PAST.1PL et (ET) ACC Kheifa (KHEI-fa) Haifa
52.20a אמא mother שלי my בכתה cried אז so גם also אני I בכיתי cried
52.20b ima (EE-ma) mother sheli (she-LEE) my bakhta (bakh-TA) cried-PAST.3F.SG az (AZ) so gam (GAM) also ani (a-NEE) I bakhiti (ba-KHEE-tee) cried-PAST.1SG
52.21a ואז and-then לקחו they-took אותנו us למעברה to-the-transit-camp וגרנו and-we-lived שם there באוהל in-tent
52.21b ve-az (ve-AZ) and-then lakkhu (lak-KHU) took-PAST.3PL otanu (o-TA-nu) us-ACC la-ma'abara (la-ma-a-ba-RA) to-the-transit-camp-F.SG ve-garnu (ve-GAR-nu) and-lived-PAST.1PL sham (SHAM) there be-ohel (be-O-hel) in-tent-M.SG
52.22a בחורף in-the-winter ירד fell גשם rain אז so אבא father בנה built לנו for-us צריף hut מעץ of-wood
52.22b ba-khoref (ba-KHO-ref) in-the-winter-M.SG yarad (ya-RAD) fell-PAST.3M.SG geshem (GE-shem) rain-M.SG az (AZ) so aba (A-ba) father bana (ba-NA) built-PAST.3M.SG lanu (LA-nu) for-us tsrif (TSREEF) hut-M.SG me-ets (me-ETS) of-wood-M.SG
52.23a מאז since-then אני I אוהבת love את ACC ריח smell-of העץ the-wood
52.23b me-az (me-AZ) since-then ani (a-NEE) I ohevet (o-HE-vet) love-PRES.F.SG et (ET) ACC re'akh (RE-akh) smell-CONSTR ha-ets (ha-ETS) the-wood-M.SG
52.24a הנכד the-grandson שואל asks ומה and-what עשית you-did אז then כל all היום the-day
52.24b ha-nekhed (ha-NE-khed) the-grandson-M.SG sho'el (sho-EL) ask-PRES.M.SG u-ma (u-MA) and-what asit (a-SEET) did-PAST.2F.SG az (AZ) then kol (KOL) all ha-yom (ha-YOM) the-day-M.SG
52.25a בבוקר in-the-morning הלכתי I-went לבית to-house-of הספר the-book ואז and-then עזרתי I-helped לאמא to-mother בבית in-the-house
52.25b ba-boker (ba-BO-ker) in-the-morning halakhti (ha-LAKH-tee) went-PAST.1SG le-veit (le-VEIT) to-house-CONSTR ha-sefer (ha-SE-fer) the-book-M.SG ve-az (ve-AZ) and-then azarti (a-ZAR-tee) helped-PAST.1SG le-ima (le-EE-ma) to-mother ba-bayit (ba-BA-yit) in-the-house-M.SG
52.26a בבית in-house-of הספר the-book למדתי I-learned עברית Hebrew עד until אז then לא not ידעתי I-knew אף not-even מילה word
52.26b be-veit (be-VEIT) in-house-CONSTR ha-sefer (ha-SE-fer) the-book-M.SG lamadti (la-MAD-tee) learned-PAST.1SG ivrit (iv-REET) Hebrew ad (AD) until az (AZ) then lo (LO) not yadati (ya-DA-tee) knew-PAST.1SG af (AF) not-even mila (mee-LA) word-F.SG
52.27a אז so את you היית were עצובה sad שואל asks הנכד the-grandson
52.27b az (AZ) so at (AT) you-F.SG hayit (ha-YEET) were-PAST.2F.SG atsuva (a-tsu-VA) sad-F.SG sho'el (sho-EL) ask-PRES.M.SG ha-nekhed (ha-NE-khed) the-grandson-M.SG
52.28a סבתא grandmother צוחקת laughs עצובה sad לא no אז then היינו we-were צעירים young והכול and-everything היה was חדש new
52.28b savta (SAV-ta) grandmother tsokheket (tso-KHE-ket) laugh-PRES.F.SG atsuva (a-tsu-VA) sad-F.SG lo (LO) no az (AZ) then hayinu (ha-YEE-nu) were-PAST.1PL tse'irim (tse-ee-REEM) young-M.PL ve-ha-kol (ve-ha-KOL) and-the-all haya (ha-YA) was-PAST.3M.SG khadash (kha-DASH) new-M.SG
52.29a ואז and-then פגשתי I-met את ACC סבא grandfather שלך your ומאז and-since-then אנחנו we ביחד together
52.29b ve-az (ve-AZ) and-then pagashti (pa-GASH-tee) met-PAST.1SG et (ET) ACC saba (SA-ba) grandfather shelkha (shel-KHA) your-M.SG u-me-az (u-me-AZ) and-since-then anakhnu (a-NAKH-nu) we be-yakhad (be-YA-khad) together
52.30a הנכד the-grandson שותק is-silent רגע moment ואז and-then אומר says סבתא grandmother תספרי tell לי to-me עוד more
52.30b ha-nekhed (ha-NE-khed) the-grandson-M.SG shotek (sho-TEK) be-silent-PRES.M.SG rega (RE-ga) moment-M.SG ve-az (ve-AZ) and-then omer (o-MER) say-PRES.M.SG savta (SAV-ta) grandmother tesapri (te-sap-REE) tell-FUT.2F.SG li (LEE) to-me od (OD) more
52.16 סבתא יושבת על הספה ואומרת: "אז הייתי ילדה קטנה" — savta yoshevet al ha-sapa ve-omeret: "az hayiti yalda ktana" — "Grandma sits on the sofa and says: 'I was a little girl then.'"
52.17 "גרנו בכפר קטן, ואז אבא שלי החליט לעלות לארץ" — "garnu bi-khfar katan, ve-az aba sheli hekhlit la'alot la-arets" — "'We lived in a small village, and then my father decided to move to Israel.'"
52.18 "אז הנסיעה הייתה ארוכה וקשה" — "az ha-nesi'a hayta arukha ve-kasha" — "'Back then the journey was long and hard.'"
52.19 "נסענו באונייה שבוע שלם, ואז, בבוקר אחד, ראינו את חיפה" — "nasanu ba-oniya shavu'a shalem, ve-az, ba-boker ekhad, ra'inu et Kheifa" — "'We sailed for a whole week, and then one morning we saw Haifa.'"
52.20 "אמא שלי בכתה, אז גם אני בכיתי" — "ima sheli bakhta, az gam ani bakhiti" — "'My mother cried, so I cried too.'"
52.21 "ואז לקחו אותנו למעברה, וגרנו שם באוהל" — "ve-az lakkhu otanu la-ma'abara, ve-garnu sham be-ohel" — "'And then they took us to a transit camp, and we lived there in a tent.'"
52.22 "בחורף ירד גשם, אז אבא בנה לנו צריף מעץ" — "ba-khoref yarad geshem, az aba bana lanu tsrif me-ets" — "'In the winter it rained, so Dad built us a wooden hut.'"
52.23 "מאז אני אוהבת את ריח העץ" — "me-az ani ohevet et re'akh ha-ets" — "'I've loved the smell of wood ever since.'"
52.24 הנכד שואל: "ומה עשית אז כל היום?" — ha-nekhed sho'el: "u-ma asit az kol ha-yom?" — "Her grandson asks: 'And what did you do all day back then?'"
52.25 "בבוקר הלכתי לבית הספר, ואז עזרתי לאמא בבית" — "ba-boker halakhti le-veit ha-sefer, ve-az azarti le-ima ba-bayit" — "'In the morning I went to school, and then I helped Mum at home.'"
52.26 "בבית הספר למדתי עברית. עד אז לא ידעתי אף מילה" — "be-veit ha-sefer lamadti ivrit. ad az lo yadati af mila" — "'At school I learned Hebrew. Until then I hadn't known a single word.'"
52.27 "אז את היית עצובה?" שואל הנכד — "az at hayit atsuva?" sho'el ha-nekhed — "'So were you sad?' asks her grandson."
52.28 סבתא צוחקת: "עצובה? לא. אז היינו צעירים, והכול היה חדש" — savta tsokheket: "atsuva? lo. az hayinu tse'irim, ve-ha-kol haya khadash" — "Grandma laughs: 'Sad? No. Back then we were young, and everything was new.'"
52.29 "ואז פגשתי את סבא שלך, ומאז אנחנו ביחד" — "ve-az pagashti et saba shelkha, u-me-az anakhnu be-yakhad" — "'And then I met your grandfather, and we've been together ever since.'"
52.30 הנכד שותק רגע, ואז אומר: "סבתא, תספרי לי עוד" — ha-nekhed shotek rega, ve-az omer: "savta, tesapri li od" — "Her grandson is quiet for a moment, and then he says: 'Grandma, tell me more.'"
52.16 סבתא יושבת על הספה ואומרת: "אז הייתי ילדה קטנה"
52.17 "גרנו בכפר קטן, ואז אבא שלי החליט לעלות לארץ"
52.18 "אז הנסיעה הייתה ארוכה וקשה"
52.19 "נסענו באונייה שבוע שלם, ואז, בבוקר אחד, ראינו את חיפה"
52.20 "אמא שלי בכתה, אז גם אני בכיתי"
52.21 "ואז לקחו אותנו למעברה, וגרנו שם באוהל"
52.22 "בחורף ירד גשם, אז אבא בנה לנו צריף מעץ"
52.23 "מאז אני אוהבת את ריח העץ"
52.24 הנכד שואל: "ומה עשית אז כל היום?"
52.25 "בבוקר הלכתי לבית הספר, ואז עזרתי לאמא בבית"
52.26 "בבית הספר למדתי עברית. עד אז לא ידעתי אף מילה"
52.27 "אז את היית עצובה?" שואל הנכד
52.28 סבתא צוחקת: "עצובה? לא. אז היינו צעירים, והכול היה חדש"
52.29 "ואז פגשתי את סבא שלך, ומאז אנחנו ביחד"
52.30 הנכד שותק רגע, ואז אומר: "סבתא, תספרי לי עוד"
- Three kinds of אז in one story. The grandmother uses all three senses. "At that time": אז הייתי ילדה קטנה (52.16), אז הנסיעה הייתה… (52.18), אז היינו צעירים (52.28). "And then": ואז (52.17, 52.19, 52.21, 52.25, 52.29, 52.30). "So": אמא שלי בכתה, אז גם אני בכיתי (52.20); בחורף ירד גשם, אז אבא בנה… (52.22). Ask of each one: could English say "back then," "and then," or "so"? - The present frame and the past story. The narrator's sentences are in the present (סבתא יושבת, הנכד שואל, סבתא צוחקת); the grandmother's memories are in the past. אז is the bridge between the two times. - מאז with the present. מאז אני אוהבת (52.23) and ומאז אנחנו ביחד (52.29): Hebrew uses the present for a state that began in the past and still continues, where English uses "I have loved" and "we have been." - עד אז with the past. עד אז לא ידעתי (52.26): Hebrew has no pluperfect, so the simple past covers English "I hadn't known." - לעלות לארץ. Literally "to go up to the Land": the standard expression for Jewish immigration to Israel (עלייה, aliya). הארץ ("the Land") on its own means the Land of Israel. - מעברה (ma'abara). A transit camp. In the 1950s, many new immigrants to Israel lived in these tent and hut camps. - Verb before subject. In 52.27, "אז את היית עצובה?" שואל הנכד, the verb comes before its subject after a quotation, as in English "asks her grandson." - Future for polite requests. תספרי לי עוד (52.30), "tell me more," is a future form used as a gentle imperative.
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- IPA: /az/, with an optional light glottal catch at the start: /ʔaz/ - א (alef) is silent. It carries the vowel a and nothing more. - ז (zayin) = /z/, as in English zoo. Keep it voiced at the end of the word: az, not "as." - One syllable, so the stress question does not arise. - אז and עַז ("strong") are pronounced the same in standard Israeli Hebrew. Only the spelling tells them apart.
- ואז (ve-az) /veˈaz/: stress on the final syllable, and the ve- is short - מאז (me-az) /meˈaz/: stress on the final syllable; the two vowels are said separately, me-AZ, not "maz" - אזי (azai) /aˈzaj/: stress on the last syllable, rhyming with English "buy" - דאז (de-az) /deˈaz/
- ח (ḥet) in חורף, החליט, חדש: pronounced /χ/ by most Israelis, like the ch in Scottish loch. Some speakers keep the older throat sound /ħ/. - כ without a dot (khaf) in הלכתי, בכתה, ארוכה: also /χ/. - ר (resh) in ריח, ירד, ארוכה: a uvular /ʁ/, made at the back of the throat, close to French r. - צ (tsadi) in צריף, צוחקת, צעירים: /ts/, as in English cats, even at the start of a word, as in tsrif. - ע and א between vowels in נסיעה (nesi'a), ראינו (ra'inu), צעירים (tse'irim): a light break between the vowels, marked ' in the transliteration. - The stolen a-vowel in ריח (re'akh) and פִּסֵּחַ (pise'akh): before a final ח, an a-sound is slipped in, so the word ends -e'akh, not -ekh.
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