July 3, 2026 Categories: Ktzat Ivrit
Better Late than Never
מוּטָב מְאֻחָר מֵאֲשֶׁר לְעוֹלָם לֹא
Yesterday my great-uncle had his בַּר מִצְוָה ( listen and repeat) - Bar Mitzvah. Yes, my great uncle. He's 82. Because when he was 13, he was in Auschwitz, where they didn't do בר מצווה ceremonies.
listen and repeat) - Bar Mitzvah. Yes, my great uncle. He's 82. Because when he was 13, he was in Auschwitz, where they didn't do בר מצווה ceremonies.En route, I told the cab driver about the event. He made his comment with an American saying translated into Hebrew:
מוּטָב מְאֻחָר מֵאֲשֶׁר לְעוֹלם לֹא.
Better late than never.
Here's a breakdown of the phrase:
מוטב ( listen and repeat) - it's better, it's preferable . This is a passive verb-turned-adjective of the passive-causative הֻפְעַל form, using the word טוֹב - good or well - as the root.
listen and repeat) - it's better, it's preferable . This is a passive verb-turned-adjective of the passive-causative הֻפְעַל form, using the word טוֹב - good or well - as the root.מאוחר ( listen and repeat) - late. This is also a passive verb-turned adjective, but this one follows the passive-intensive פֻּעַל form, employing the root א.ח.ר (a.kh.r) - after or end.
listen and repeat) - late. This is also a passive verb-turned adjective, but this one follows the passive-intensive פֻּעַל form, employing the root א.ח.ר (a.kh.r) - after or end.מאשר ( listen and repeat) - than, literally, from that.
listen and repeat) - than, literally, from that.לעולם ( listen and repeat) - forever.
listen and repeat) - forever.לעולם לא ( listen and repeat) - never, or literally, forever not.
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listen and repeat) - never, or literally, forever not.
