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bubalah

English translation: Sweetheart

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Hebrew term or phrase:	bubalah
English translation:	Sweetheart
Entered by:	Emil Tubinshlak

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18:02 Mar 1, 2005

Hebrew to English translations [Non-PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

Hebrew term or phrase: bubalah

General pleasantry in conversation

Garry Dring

Sweetheart

Explanation:
I would translate it as "sweetheart" or "sweetie", or "honey", or "sugar", depending on the context - Lit. it means "doll"

Selected response from:

Emil Tubinshlak
Canada
Local time: 17:05

Grading comment

4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

5 +6

Sweetheart

Emil Tubinshlak

5 +2

dolly (literally), equivalent to "babe"

judithyf

Answers

9 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +6

Sweetheart

Explanation:
I would translate it as "sweetheart" or "sweetie", or "honey", or "sugar", depending on the context - Lit. it means "doll"

Emil Tubinshlak
Canada
Local time: 17:05
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English

12 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

dolly (literally), equivalent to "babe"

Explanation:
This is an affectionate, sometimes slightly contemptuous, diminuitive of doll - "bubah" in Hebrew. If referring to a child, it would mean a good,well-behaved little girl. If used in addressing an adult woman, it somewhat belittles her, puts her in her place.

judithyf
Israel
Local time: 00:05
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

neutral

TranslatonatoR: I agree with the first part, but "babe" is much more sexier then "bubaleh", and in US atleast, being called a "babe" in no way bellitles a woman. Unless its a holler comming from a car of drunk teenagers driving by.

1 hr

neutral

gfrim: This phrase originated as a Yiddish expression. It literally means "little doll". I agree with TranslatonatoR that it does not necessarily have a negative connotation for an adult.

8 hrs

agree

Sogifted: As usual - Judith - getting the taste of the word!

21 hrs

-> Thank you. I stick by my opinion that an adult woman addressed as bubaleh is being belittled. I would certainly bristle if anyone addressed me like that...

agree

liora: yes. a feminist might not like being called a "bubaleh".

2 days38 mins

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