Introduction
Hava Nagila (הָבָה נָגִילָה — "Let Us Rejoice") is one of the most recognizable Hebrew songs in the world. Performed at Jewish celebrations, weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, and cultural events across the globe, this lively song has become a near-universal symbol of Jewish festivity. Its melody is infectious, its lyrics are short, and for Hebrew learners it offers an ideal entry point — a small set of words built from important roots that unlock dozens of related vocabulary items.
Despite its worldwide fame, many people who enthusiastically sing along have never paused to ask: what do these words actually mean? In this article we break down every phrase, explain the grammar behind each form, and connect the lyrics to the roots and patterns that will serve you throughout your Hebrew studies.
What Is the Song About?
Hava Nagila is a communal call to celebrate. Its structure is simple and powerful: havah (come, let us) invites the listener into action, and is paired with three different expressions of joy — nagilah (let us rejoice), n'ranenah (let us sing), and finally a direct command uru (awake, arise) addressed to achim (brothers). The song builds in energy from a gentle invitation to an exuberant call to rise and celebrate with a joyful heart — be-lev sameach.
The melody originates from a Hasidic niggun (wordless devotional tune) from Ukraine, brought to British Mandatory Palestine around 1918 by musicologist Abraham Zevi Idelsohn, who set Hebrew words to it to celebrate General Allenby's entry into Jerusalem. The lyrics draw directly on biblical Hebrew, giving the song a depth that goes far beyond its upbeat exterior.
Full Lyrics
הָבָה נָגִילָה, הָבָה נָגִילָה, הָבָה נָגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה
Havah nagilah, havah nagilah, havah nagilah ve-nism'chah
Come, let us rejoice — come, let us rejoice — come, let us rejoice and be glad
הָבָה נְרַנְּנָה, הָבָה נְרַנְּנָה, הָבָה נְרַנְּנָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה
Havah n'ranenah, havah n'ranenah, havah n'ranenah ve-nism'chah
Come, let us sing — come, let us sing — come, let us sing and be glad
עוּרוּ, עוּרוּ אַחִים
Uru, uru achim
Awake, awake, brothers
עוּרוּ אַחִים בְּלֵב שָׂמֵחַ
Uru achim be-lev sameach
Awake, brothers, with a joyful heart
Vocabulary
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| הָבָה | havah | Interjection | Come! / Let us (invitation) |
| נָגִילָה | nagilah | Verb — cohortative | Let us rejoice (root נ-ג-ל) |
| וְנִשְׂמְחָה | ve-nism'chah | Verb — cohortative | And let us be glad (root ש-מ-ח) |
| נְרַנְּנָה | n'ranenah | Verb — cohortative | Let us sing joyfully (root ר-נ-נ) |
| עוּרוּ | uru | Verb — imperative pl. | Wake up! Arise! (root ע-ו-ר) |
| אַחִים | achim | Noun — masc. plural | Brothers (singular: אָח, ach) |
| לֵב | lev | Noun | Heart |
| שָׂמֵחַ | sameach | Adjective | Happy, joyful |
Phrase by Phrase
הָבָה נָגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה
havah nagilah ve-nism'chah
"Come, let us rejoice and be glad"
הָבָה (havah) is an archaic Hebrew word meaning "come" or "let us," used to introduce a collective call to action. נָגִילָה is the cohortative form of the root נ-ג-ל (to rejoice, to exult) — the cohortative ending -ָה signals "let us do this." וְנִשְׂמְחָה adds the conjunction ve- (and) to the cohortative of ש-מ-ח (to be glad). This same root appears in simchah (שִׂמְחָה, joy) and Simchat Torah — words you will encounter constantly in Hebrew culture.
הָבָה נְרַנְּנָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה
havah n'ranenah ve-nism'chah
"Come, let us sing joyfully and be glad"
נְרַנְּנָה (n'ranenah) is the cohortative of the root ר-נ-נ (to shout for joy, to sing). This root appears throughout Psalms — for example Psalm 98:4: רַנְּנוּ לַיהוָה (rann'nu la-Adonai, "Sing joyfully to the Lord"). The doubled nun (נּ) indicates the intensive Piel verbal stem. The form rinah (רִנָּה, joyful shout) shares this root.
עוּרוּ, עוּרוּ אַחִים
uru, uru achim
"Awake, awake, brothers"
עוּרוּ (uru) is the masculine plural imperative of the root ע-ו-ר (to rouse, to awaken). The doubling of the command (uru, uru) is a classic Hebrew emphasis device found throughout the Bible — Isaiah 51:9 opens with עוּרִי עוּרִי (uri uri — "Awake, awake, O arm of the Lord"). אַחִים is the plural of אָח (ach, brother); used here to address the entire crowd as a brotherhood.
עוּרוּ אַחִים בְּלֵב שָׂמֵחַ
uru achim be-lev sameach
"Awake, brothers, with a joyful heart"
The prefix בְּ- (be-) means "with" or "in." לֵב (lev, heart) is one of the most important words in Hebrew, appearing in hundreds of idioms: lev tov (לֵב טוֹב, a good heart), bal'ev (בַּלֵּב, at heart). שָׂמֵחַ (sameach, happy/joyful) comes from the same root ש-מ-ח as nism'chah in the opening line — the song begins and ends with the same idea of joy, creating a satisfying circular structure.
Key Hebrew Roots from This Song
Learning the roots behind Hava Nagila's lyrics gives you a window into dozens of related Hebrew words:
- נ-ג-ל — to rejoice, exult. Related: gilah (גִּילָה, joy), gila (he rejoiced).
- ש-מ-ח — to be glad, rejoice. Related: simchah (שִׂמְחָה, celebration/joy), sameach (happy), Simchat Torah.
- ר-נ-נ — to sing for joy, shout. Related: rinah (רִנָּה, joyful song), ranen (to sing joyfully).
- ע-ו-ר — to wake, rouse. Related: ira / uri (awaken), used in lullabies, prayers, and poetry.