Topic: Attack, Strike
| Hebrew |
Transcription |
Meaning |
Context/Usage |
Example |
| הַתקָפָה |
hatkafá |
attack, offensive |
Military, sports, verbal fights |
התקפת טילים (hatkafat tilim) – missile attack |
| תַּקִּיפָה |
takifa |
assault, aggression |
Physical attack, crime, or small-scale military strike |
תקיפה פיזית (tekifa fizit) – physical assault |
| מִתְקָפָה |
mitkafá |
offensive, strike |
Large-scale military or strategic attack |
מתקפת טרור (mitkefet teror) – terrorist attack |
| פְּגִיעָה |
pgi’a |
hit, strike |
Impact or damaging attack |
פגיעה ישירה (pgi’a yeshira) – direct hit |
| מַכָּה |
makka |
blow, hit |
A physical strike or blow, commonly used in combat or sports |
מכה קשה (makka kasha) – hard blow |
| הֶתְקֵף |
hetkef |
attack (medical, emotional), seizure |
Medical (seizure, panic attack) or emotional/psychological outburst |
התקף לב (hetkef lev) – heart attack |
| נְשִׁיכָה |
neshicha |
bite, biting attack |
Attack by an animal or figurative biting remarks |
נשיכת כלב (neshichat kelev) – dog bite |
1. הַתקָפָה (hatkafá) – “Attack, Offensive”
🔹 Meaning: A general attack, often strategic or organized.
Used for
- Military assaults (bombing raids, airstrikes, coordinated offensives).
- Sports attacks (offensive plays in games).
- Verbal attacks (aggressive arguments or accusations).
Example
- התקפת טילים (hatkafat tilim) – missile attack.
- התקפת נגד (hatkafat neged) – counterattack.
- התקפה מילולית (hatkafa milulit) – verbal attack.
🛠 Key Feature: Strategic and structured; used in both military and non-military contexts.
2. תַּקִּיפָה (takifa) – “Assault, Aggression”
🔹 Meaning: A direct, forceful assault, often physical and involving violence.
Used for
- Criminal assaults (physical attacks, sexual assaults).
- Personal attacks (an act of aggression against an individual).
- Military strikes (a forceful attack, but often a single event).
Example
- תקיפה פיזית (tekifa fizit) – physical assault.
- תקיפת שוטר (tekifat shoter) – assault on a police officer.
- תקיפה צבאית (tekifa tzvait) – military strike.
🛠 Key Feature: More about direct aggression or physical force, often used in legal/criminal contexts.
3. מִתְקָפָה (mitkafá) – “Offensive, Strike”
🔹 Meaning: A large-scale, coordinated offensive or attack.
Used for
- Military campaigns (organized strikes, prolonged attacks).
- Terrorist attacks (deliberate, large-scale acts of violence).
- Cyberattacks (coordinated hacking or digital attacks).
Example
- מתקפת טרור (mitkefet teror) – terrorist attack.
- מתקפת סייבר (mitkefet cyber) – cyberattack.
- מתקפה כוללת (mitkafa kolelet) – total offensive.
🛠 Key Feature: Implies a larger, more planned, and prolonged attack compared to תקיפה.
When Can They Be Interchanged?
- תקיפה (takifa) and התקפה (hatkafá) can sometimes be interchangeable in military contexts.
- Example: תקיפה אווירית (tekifa avirit) and התקפה אווירית (hatkafa avirit) both mean “airstrike,” but תקיפה feels more like a single strike, while התקפה can imply a broader attack.
- מתקפה (mitkafá) is distinct and usually not interchangeable—it always implies a large-scale or prolonged attack.