בכי

Hebrew

Etymology

Root
ב־כ־ה (b-k-h)

Compare בָּכָה (bakhá, “to cry, to weep”) and Arabic بكاء.

Noun

בֶּכִי • (békhi) m (no plural forms) [pattern: קֶטֶל]

1. (uncountable) crying, weeping
   • Tanach, Esther 4:3, with translation of the American Standard Version:

     […] אֵבֶל גָּדוֹל לַיְּהוּדִים וְצוֹם וּבְכִי וּמִסְפֵּד שַׂק וָאֵפֶר יֻצַּע לָרַבִּים׃

     […] 'ével gadól lay'hudím v'tzóm uv'khí umispéd sáq va'éfer yutzá' larabím.

     […] there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.