Mikhail Poda

Topic: to Live, Dwell

Hebrew Transcription Core Meaning Other Meanings / Notes Example
לִחְיוֹת lichyót to be alive, to exist Also: to experience life fully (לחיות חיים טובים) – here “to live” is the primary meaning. אני רוצה לחיות עד גיל מאה – I want to live until 100.
לָגוּר lagúr to reside somewhere Informal, everyday speech for where one lives; not about being alive. אני גר בחיפה – I live in Haifa.
לְהִתְגּוֹרֵר lehitgorér to reside, dwell Formal/official register (documents, news, bureaucracy). הוא התגורר בירושלים חמש שנים – He resided in Jerusalem for five years.
לְהִתְקַיֵּם lehitkayém to exist, to take place Secondary: to survive, to sustain oneself. Not exactly “live” in the personal sense. האירוע יתקיים מחר – The event will take place tomorrow.
לִשְׁכּוֹן lishkón to dwell, to inhabit Often formal/poetic; used for both people and abstract forces (השכינה שוכנת – the Divine Presence dwells). הוא שכן בעיר שנים רבות – He dwelled in the city for many years.
לְיַשֵּׁב leyashév to settle, populate Can mean “to seat someone” or “to resolve” (a problem). Not “to live” for oneself, but to cause others to reside. המלך יישב שבטים במדבר – The king settled tribes in the desert.
לְהִתְיַשֵּׁב lehit-yashév to settle oneself Can also mean “to sit down” or “to calm down” (figurative). As “to live” = to move and start residing somewhere (esp. historically). העולים התיישבו במושבות חדשות – The immigrants settled in new colonies.
לִשְׁהוֹת lishhót to stay temporarily Implies being in a place for a limited time (visit, trip). Not permanent “live.” אנחנו שוהים במלון לשבוע – We are staying in a hotel for a week.
לְהִישָּׁאֵר lehishaʾér to remain, to stay behind Not about living, but about continuing to be in a place or state. נשארתי בבית כל היום – I stayed home all day.
לְהִימָּצֵא lehimatzé to be located, to be found Can also mean “to be present” in an abstract sense; not “live.” הוא נמצא בירושלים עכשיו – He is in Jerusalem now.
לִנְכּוֹחַ linkóach to be present, to attend Archaic/formal; used in literary contexts; not “to live.” נכחתי בישיבה החשובה – I attended the important meeting.
לַחֲווֹת lachavót to experience Can be “to live through” an event in the emotional sense; core meaning is to undergo, not reside. הוא חווה רגעים קשים – He lived through hard moments.
לְאַכְלֵס leachlés to populate, to fill with inhabitants Not living yourself; means causing a place to be inhabited. האזור אוכלס במהגרים – The area was populated with immigrants.

Biological Life / Existence

Reside / Dwell

Temporary Stay

Presence / Attendance

Experience Life Events