Hebrew Language/Suffix 'am'

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Expert: Gaddy Yaari - 4/3/2009


Question
What is the meaning of the suffix 'am' in Hebrew?  For example Miriam, Jeroboam, Baal'am, Amram, Abraham.  As well the name Ephraim, is the 'aim' related to 'am'?  One last name, Hir'am - the Phoenician King, is his name that ends in 'am' related to the Hebrew 'am'.

Thanks for looking at this.

Answer
Paul,

Only two of the names, Jeroboam and baal'am, use a suffix ('am, spelled ayin mem, which means 'nation').

With the rest of the names, the 'a' vowel is imbedded in the preceding consonant, and thus they are written in Hebrew as Mirim, Amrm, Abrhm and Ephrim. As you can see, the names in this group lack a suffix or any other common denominator.

Gaddy

Hebrew Language

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Gaddy Yaari

Expertise

What I don't do: NO NAME TRANSLATIONS. For that, try http://www.stars21.com/translator/english_to_hebrew.html

What I do: I'll help you understand Hebrew phrases or single words, as well as answer questions about Jewish practices. You may also try the Gooogle English-Hebrew translator, at http://www.google.com/dictionary?langpair=en%7Ciw&q=&hl=en&aq=f

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I am a columnist for a Hebrew-language newspaper, and a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary.

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MBA BA in the US, Grade school and high school in Israel

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