The Root Z-M-N

The root basically carries the sense of “designating,” “appointing,” or “preparing.” Here is how that plays out in different words:

• Zman (זמן): Time. Not just chronological time, but a designated point or season.
• Hazmanah (הזמנה): Invitation. An appointment made for someone to be present. In Hebrew, both zman (זמן – time) and hazmanah (הזמנה – invitation) derive from the root Z-M-N (ז-מ-ן).
• Zimmun (זימון): To summon or to call together (often used for the grace after meals).
• Mezuman (מזומן): Ready or prepared (also the word for “cash”).

---

A Modern Take

In modern Hebrew, when you “order” something at a restaurant or “book” a room, you also use the verb lehazmin (from the same root). It reinforces the idea of making space for something to happen. It’s a striking contrast to the English “time,” which comes from Germanic roots related to “tide” or “division”—the act of cutting things up.

הזמן עובר כל כך לאט.

הַזְּמַן עוֹבֵר כָּל כָּךְ לְאַט.

ha-zman over kol kach le’at Time passes so slowly.

Haval al HaZman (חבל על הזמן)

This is a very common modern Hebrew slang phrase.

• What it literally means: “Shame on the time” or “a waste of time.”
• What it actually means in slang: The phrase is used to mean the complete opposite of its literal translation. It is an enthusiastic expression meaning:
  • “Amazing”
  • “Awesome”
  • “Incredible”
  • “Out of this world”

Example:

• “How was the concert?”
• “It was haval al hazman!” (Meaning: It was amazing!)

• Judaika, jidiš, hebrejština, Izrael, semitské jazyky ✡️