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What Does Al Hapanim Mean in Hebrew?
Al hapanim (על הפנים, pronounced al ha-pah-NEEM) literally means "on the face" and is used as Israeli slang for "terrible", "awful", or "a complete disaster". It's the direct opposite of chaval al hazman: if something is chaval al hazman, it's incredible; if it's al hapanim, it's a disaster. Used for blunt, honest negative assessments of food, performances, plans, or one's own appearance.
How to Pronounce Al Hapanim
על הפנים
The Hebrew script reads right-to-left. The English transliteration uses the Israeli Sephardic pronunciation standard.
When Do Israelis Use Al Hapanim?
The powerful negative counterpart to "chaval al hazman." Something "al hapanim" is truly bad: a failed project, an embarrassing performance, terrible food. Literally means "on the face" suggesting someone falling flat on their face. Used for honest, blunt negative assessment.
Fun fact
Important: do NOT confuse with "la'panim" (לפנים) which means "excellent/awesome", the OPPOSITE meaning. This is one of the most common Hebrew errors for non-native speakers. "Al hapanim" = terrible. "Yofi" or "chaval al hazman" = great.
Al Hapanim in a Sentence: Examples
הסרט היה על הפנים: בזבוז זמן.
Hasirat haya al hapanim: bizbuz zman.
The movie was terrible: a waste of time.
הביצוע שלו היה על הפנים לחלוטין.
Habitsu'a shelo haya al hapanim lekhalutim.
His performance was absolutely awful.
איך שאני נראה היום? על הפנים.
Eikh she'ani nire hayom? Al hapanim.
How do I look today? Like a disaster.
Origin of Al Hapanim
Unique Israeli Hebrew idiom: literally "on the face", evoking the image of falling flat on one's face. The precise opposite direction of "chaval al hazman" in emotional valence.
Trace the full journey of Al hapanim in the baba Atlas: the languages it passed through, what it literally means, and the sources.
Heard "Al hapanim" and need to translate it?
baba includes curated support for expressions like Al hapanim. Compare the literal words with the intended meaning and use the surrounding sentence to choose the right translation. To translate a whole message with the right gender and register, use the free Hebrew to English translator.
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