Quick Answer: How to Say New Year in Hebrew
New Year in Hebrew is:
Meaning: New Year (literally "new year")
Note: For the Jewish New Year, use ראש השנה (Rosh HaShanah) - "Head of the Year"
How to Pronounce Shanah Chadashah
The Hebrew phrase שנה חדשה (Shanah Chadashah) is pronounced shah-NAH khah-dah-SHAH.
Pronunciation Breakdown
- שנה (shanah) - Sounds like "shah-NAH" (the "a" as in "father", emphasis on the second syllable)
- חדשה (chadashah) - Sounds like "khah-dah-SHAH" (the "ch" is a guttural sound like in "Bach", the "a" as in "father", emphasis on the final syllable)
Stress: The emphasis is on the second syllable of each word: shah-NAH khah-dah-SHAH
Practice Saying Shanah Chadashah
Try saying it slowly: shah-NAH (pause) khah-dah-SHAH
Then say it faster: shah-NAH khah-dah-SHAH
Tip: The "ch" in "chadashah" is a guttural sound made in the back of the throat, similar to the "ch" in the German "Bach" or Scottish "loch."
What Does Shanah Chadashah Mean?
The phrase שנה חדשה (Shanah Chadashah) literally means "New Year." Let's break it down:
📅 שנה (Shanah)
Year. This word appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible and is used for both calendar years and periods of time.
✨ חדשה (Chadashah)
New (feminine form). The root ח.ד.ש (ch.d.sh) means "to be new" or "to renew." The feminine form matches "shanah" which is feminine.
🎯 ראש השנה (Rosh HaShanah)
Head of the Year. This is the traditional term for the Jewish New Year, which occurs in the fall (usually September or October).
Key Insight: While שנה חדשה (Shanah Chadashah) means "New Year" in general, ראש השנה (Rosh HaShanah) specifically refers to the Jewish New Year holiday. Rosh HaShanah literally means "head of the year" and is one of the most important holidays in the Jewish calendar. For the secular New Year (January 1st), Israelis often use שנה חדשה (Shanah Chadashah) or the loanword סילבסטר (Silvester).
How to Use Shanah Chadashah
Shanah Chadashah is used to refer to the New Year in Hebrew. Here's how to use it in various contexts:
1. In Greetings
Common ways to greet someone for the New Year:
Happy New Year: שנה חדשה שמח (Shanah Chadashah Sameach) - "Happy New Year"
Happy New Year (alternative): שנה טובה (Shanah Tovah) - "Good Year" (also used for Rosh HaShanah)
Note: "Sameach" (שמח) means "happy" and "Tovah" (טובה) means "good." Both are commonly used in Hebrew holiday greetings.
2. In Conversation
Using Shanah Chadashah in everyday speech:
Happy New Year to you: שנה חדשה שמח לך (Shanah Chadashah Sameach lecha)
I wish you a happy new year: אני מאחל לך שנה חדשה שמח (Ani me'achel lekha shanah chadashah sameach)
New Year's Eve: ערב שנה חדשה (Erev Shanah Chadashah) - "Eve of New Year"
3. Biblical Context
The concept of a new year and renewal appears throughout the Hebrew Bible:
Exodus 12:2 - Beginning of Months:
הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים
hachodesh hazeh lakhem rosh chodashim
"This month shall be for you the beginning of months"
This verse establishes the Hebrew calendar, with the month of Nisan (when Passover occurs) as the first month. The word חֳדָשִׁים (chodashim) means "months" and comes from the same root as "chadashah" (ח.ד.ש), meaning "new."
Rosh HaShanah vs. Shanah Chadashah
It's important to understand the difference between these two terms:
ראש השנה (Rosh HaShanah)
ראש השנה
Rosh HaShanah
"Head of the Year"
- Refers specifically to the Jewish New Year holiday
- Occurs in the fall (usually September or October)
- One of the High Holy Days in Judaism
- Marks the beginning of the Jewish calendar year
- Appears in the Hebrew Bible (Leviticus 23:24, Numbers 29:1)
שנה חדשה (Shanah Chadashah)
שנה חדשה
Shanah Chadashah
"New Year"
- General term for "new year"
- Can refer to the secular New Year (January 1st)
- Used in modern Hebrew for any new year celebration
- More generic and flexible term
Biblical Significance of New Year and Renewal
The concepts of newness, renewal, and the beginning of a new year appear throughout the Hebrew Bible:
Leviticus 23:24 - Rosh HaShanah
בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם שַׁבָּתוֹן זִכְרוֹן תְּרוּעָה
bachodesh hashvi'i be'echad lachodesh yihyeh lakhem shabbaton zikron teru'ah
"In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets"
This is the biblical basis for Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year, which occurs on the first day of the seventh month (Tishrei).
Lamentations 3:23 - New Every Morning
חֲדָשִׁים לַבְּקָרִים רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ
chadashim labekarim rabah emunatecha
"They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness"
The word חֲדָשִׁים (chadashim) means "new things" and comes from the same root as "chadashah," emphasizing God's faithfulness in providing fresh starts and renewal.
Practical Tips for Using Shanah Chadashah
How to Practice
- Practice pronunciation: Say "shah-NAH khah-dah-SHAH" slowly, emphasizing the stressed syllables
- Use it in greetings: Try saying "Shanah Chadashah Sameach" (שנה חדשה שמח) to wish someone a Happy New Year
- Learn the difference: Remember that Rosh HaShanah is the Jewish New Year holiday, while Shanah Chadashah is the general term
- Study the root: Explore words from the root ח.ד.ש (ch.d.sh) to understand the concept of newness and renewal in Hebrew
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