חן

Hebrew

Root
ח־נ־ן (kh-n-n)
6 terms

Pronunciation

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Noun

חֵן • (chén) m (singular construct חֵן־) [pattern: קֵטֶל]

1. charm, grace, likeability
   • Tanach, Exodus 3:21, with translation of the King James Version:

     וְנָתַתִּי אֶת חֵן הָעָם הַזֶּה בְּעֵינֵי מִצְרָיִם וְהָיָה כִּי תֵלֵכוּן לֹא תֵלְכוּ רֵיקָם

     v'natatí ét chén haám hazé b'ené mitsráyim v'hayá kí telechún ló tel'chú rekám

     And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty

Usage notes

In Modern Hebrew, this word is often used in the expression מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי (matsá khén b'einéi, literally “to find likeability in the eyes of”).

Derived terms

• אבן חן
• חן חן
• מצא חן בעיני

Proper noun

חֵן • (chén) m or f [pattern: קֵטֶל]

1. a male or female given name

Yiddish

Etymology

From Hebrew חֵן.

Pronunciation

• (Northeastern, Ukraynish) IPA^(key): [χɛɪ̯n]
• (Poylish) IPA^(key): [χaɪ̯n]

Noun

חן • (kheyn) m, plural חנען (kheynen)

1. grace, charm, appeal

Derived terms

• חנעוודיק (kheynevdik)
• האָבן דעם זיבעטן חן (hobn dem zibetn kheyn)
• געפֿינען חן בײַ (gefinen kheyn bay)
• מאַכן חן (makhn kheyn)

References

• Steven A. Jacobson (1998), A Guide to the More Common Hebraic Words in Yiddish, 5th edition, Fairbanks, AK: National Yiddish Book Center, →ISBN, page 70