צפון

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

According to one folk etymology, this word was derived from צָפַן (“to hide”), referring to the lack of sunny weather in northern lands. Cognate with Akkadian ṣapūnu.

• (Biblical Hebrew) IPA^(key): /sˤaːˈpoːn/
• (Tiberian Hebrew) IPA^(key): /sˤɔːˈfoːn/
• (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA^(key): /t͡saˈfon/

• Audio (Israel):

  (file)

צָפוֹן • (tsafón) m (no plural forms, singular construct צְפוֹן־)

1. north
   • Tanach, Genesis 28:14, with translation of the New International Version:

     וּפָרַצְתָּ יָמָּה וָקֵדְמָה וְצָפֹנָה וָנֶגְבָּה

     ufarátzta yámma vaqédma vətzafóna vanégba

     and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.

2. (צְפוֹן־, ts'fón-) singular construct state form of צָפוֹן (tsafón)‎.

According to the Babylonian Talmudic teaching (at Baba Kama, 93:70b), צָפּוֹן (tsapón) is apparently connected to the word סבון, for soap. Normally, in the Mishnaic text, the word בורית is associated with soapery or cleanse-washing.

compass points:  ^[edit]

• זוהר הצפון / זֹהַר הַצָּפוֹן (zóhar hatsafón)
• צְפוֹנִי (tsfoní)

צָפוּן • (tsafún) (feminine צְפוּנָה, masculine plural צְפוּנִים)

1. hidden

• → Yiddish: צפֿון (tsofn)

• הצפין
• יַרְכְּתֵי צָפוֹן

הַצָּפוֹן • (hatsafón) m

1. The northern parts of Israel: the Galilee and the Golan Heights.