How do Jews pronounce Chana / Hana / Hannah?? This is part of a new series – How to Speak “Jewish”! Share in the comments your ideas and/or needs down in the comments! Which words or phrases trip you up?
Chana חַנָּה is a very common Hebrew name for Jewish girls and women, both in Israel and in the Jewish diaspora. In English, it’s usually spelled Hannah. It means “favor” or “grace,” and is derived from the Hebrew word chanan חָנַן (to beseech, show favor, be gracious). In the Torah / Bible, Chana is the name of the mother of the prophet Shmuel / Samuel, and her story of struggling with infertility and jealousy is detailed in the Biblical book of Shmuel / Samuel. Chana is also the root of the name Anna and Anne, and these are commonly used as an English name with the Hebrew name Chanah.
You might see it spelled any number of ways – Chanah, Chana, Channa, Channah, Hana, Hanna, Hannah, Hanah, etc etc etc, whatever new spelling someone creates in English!
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