חמרמורת

Hebrew

Etymology

The Academy of the Hebrew Language searched for a suitable translation for hungover. In the end it was decided to use the root ח־מ־ר (kh-m-r) for two reasons, the first: wine is also called חֶמֶר (khemér), the second: because in Biblical Hebrew the root is used to mean turning of the bowel: רְאֵה ה' כִּי צַר לִי מֵעַי חֳמַרְמָרוּ נֶהְפַּךְ לִבִּי בְּקִרְבִּי (Lamentations 1:20). The word חמרמורת was chosen based on the words סְחַרְחוֹרֶת and צְמַרְמוֹרֶת which also describe body pains.

Noun

חמרמורת / חֲמַרְמֹרֶת • (khamarmóret) f (plural indefinite חֲמַרְמוֹרֶוֹת / חֲמַרְמֹרֶוֹת, singular construct חֲמַרְמֹרֶת־, plural construct חֲמַרְמוֹרוֹת־) [pattern: קְטַלְטֹלֶת]

hangover (negative effects, such as headache or nausea, caused by previous drunkenness due to (excessive) consumption of alcohol)

Usage notes

Although this is the recommend word by Academy of the Hebrew Language, הֶנְגְּאוֹבֶר m (“heng'óver”) is still common in Hebrew.

Synonyms

הֶנְגְּאוֹבֶר m (“heng'óver”)

References

“חמרמורת” in the Hebrew Terms Database of the Academy of Hebrew Language