עִבְרִית
ivrit
Everyday HebrewMeaningThe language that people speak in Israel. It is also the language of the Bible.
HistoryThis word comes from the name "עִבְרִי" (Ivri), which means "a Hebrew person". In the Bible, Abraham is called "the Hebrew". The name might come from the idea of "crossing over" (the root ע.ב.ר means "to cross"), maybe because Abraham crossed a river to come to the land of Canaan. The word "עברית" for the language itself is not in the Bible but appears later in ancient Jewish writings.
Example
אני לומד עברית באולפן.
I am learning Hebrew in an ulpan (a school for Hebrew).
