The Main Way to Say “Because” in Hebrew
בגלל (Biglal)
The most common and straightforward translation of “because” in Hebrew is בגלל (pronounced: biglal). This preposition is used to indicate the reason for something and is followed by a noun or a pronoun, not a full clause. It is equivalent to saying “because of” in English.
Example:
אני מאחר בגלל הפקקים.
Ani me’akher biglal hapkakim.
I am late because of the traffic jams.
Using “Because” to Connect Clauses: כי (Ki)
When you want to connect two clauses and give a reason, you use the conjunction כי (pronounced: ki). This word is used much like “because” in English when introducing a full reason or explanation.
Example:
אני לא בא כי אני חולה.
Ani lo ba ki ani kholeh.
I am not coming because I am sick.
Notice that כי is followed by a full sentence explaining the reason. This makes it the correct choice when “because” introduces a clause rather than just a noun or pronoun.
Common Mistakes When Using “Because” in Hebrew
One of the most frequent mistakes Hebrew learners make is mixing up בגלל and כי. Remember:
- Use בגלל (biglal) when followed by a noun or pronoun.
- Use כי (ki) when followed by a full clause (subject + verb).
Incorrect: אני מאחר כי הפקקים.
Correct: אני מאחר בגלל הפקקים.
Correct: אני מאחר כי יש פקקים.
More Advanced Ways to Say “Because” in Hebrew
משום ש- (Mishum She-)
Another, more formal way to say “because” is משום ש- (pronounced: mishum she-). This is used in writing, news, or formal speech and introduces a clause, much like כי.
Example:
האירוע בוטל משום שהמזג אוויר לא אפשר את קיומו.
Ha’eirua butal mishum she’hamazeg avir lo ifsher et kiyumo.
The event was canceled because the weather did not allow it.
מפני ש- (Mipnei She-)
מפני ש- (pronounced: mipnei she-) is another formal option, often found in written Hebrew or literature.
Example:
הוא לא הגיע מפני שהוא היה עסוק.
Hu lo hegi’a mipnei she’hu haya asuk.
He did not arrive because he was busy.
Summary Table: “Because” in Hebrew
| Hebrew | Pronunciation | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| בגלל | Biglal | Followed by a noun/pronoun | אני עייף בגלל העבודה. (I’m tired because of work.) |
| כי | Ki | Followed by a clause | אני עייף כי עבדתי קשה. (I’m tired because I worked hard.) |
| משום ש- | Mishum she- | Formal, followed by a clause | הוא נשאר משום שהיה קר. (He stayed because it was cold.) |
| מפני ש- | Mipnei she- | Formal, followed by a clause | היא בכתה מפני שכאב לה. (She cried because she was in pain.) |
Tips for Practicing “Because” in Hebrew
- Practice creating sentences with both בגלל and כי to get comfortable with the difference.
- Read Hebrew texts and highlight every time you see a connector for “because”.
- Try writing your own diary entries or journal in Hebrew, using a variety of “because” connectors for practice.
- Use interactive language learning platforms like Talkpal to get instant feedback on your sentence construction.
Conclusion
Knowing how to say “because” in Hebrew opens up a world of possibilities for expressing reasons and explanations. By understanding the difference between בגלל, כי, and the more formal משום ש- and מפני ש-, you will be able to speak and write more naturally. As with any language skill, practice is key. Leverage resources like Talkpal and immerse yourself in real conversations to master these connectors and take your Hebrew to the next level!
