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"Is this all real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"
The topic of this article is of a real-life subject that has been mentioned "in-universe" in a canon source. The Harry Potter Wiki is written from the perspective that all information presented in canon is true (e.g., Hogwarts really existed), and, as such, details contained in this article may differ from real world facts. |
A sign in New York in 1932 that read in Hebrew: Jewish and American emblems and buttons
Hebrew is a Semitic language, originally spoken in the ancient Levant. It died out as a spoken language around the 3rd century B.C., being replaced by Aramaic, but continued to be used for religious and cultural purposes by Jews. It was eventually revived as the official language of Israel in the 20th century.[1]
History[]
In 1926, New York was home to a shop with a sign written in Hebrew and at least one bookshop specialising in Hebrew books, both of which presumably served the city's Jewish community.[2]
Behind the scenes[]
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in Hebrew
- Gili Bar-Hillel is an Israeli translator who has translated the Harry Potter books from English to Hebrew.
- There are several Hebrew and Jewish names (or derived from the Hebrew name) in the Harry Potter universe such as: Hannah Abbott, Hepzibah Smith, Zacharias Smith, Jacob Kowalski, Amos Diggory, Michael Corner, James Potter, Molly Weasley, etc.
- Since Hebrew is a gender-sensitive language, it led to some inconsistencies while translating unisex/uncommon names. The most notable example was of Blaise Zabini, who was described as a girl in the first book and as a boy in the 6th.
- Voldemort's real name was translated into "טום ואנדרולו רידל" ("Tom Vandrollo Riddle"), which preserves the anagram, "אני לורד וולדמורט" ("Ani Lord Voldemort", I am Lord Voldemort)
- His middle name "ואנדרולו" uses different diacritics (Niqqud) in the 2nd book compared to the 6th and 7th, so it pronounced as "Vandrollo" in the 2nd and as "Vanderollo" in the 6th onwards.
- Azkaban is derived from the Hebrew word "אבדון" (avdon) which means doom.
- When the Hebrew translation was released, the song "God Rest Ye, Merry Hippogriffs" was replaced with a parody of "Mi Yimalel", a traditional Hanukkah song, due to readers' perceived unfamiliarity with Christmas carols compared to the rest of the world. In this version, Sirius sang "Mi yimalel Hippogriff she-ochel?" ("Who will retell the story of the eating Hippogriff?"), a parody of the song's opening line "Mi yimalel gvurot Yisrael?" ("Who will retell the historic acts of Israel?").
- Goma Fried, Daniel Magon and Einat Ironon dubbed the trio in the Hebrew dubbing of the films.
Appearances[]
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film) (First appearance)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ "Hebrew language" on Encyclopedia Britannica
- ↑ Pottermore - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Behind the Scenes Feature (see this image and this image)
