בעיקרו — meaning in English: Essentially

be'ikaro · Learn this word with quizzes, examples and more on Maspeak.

Guess the translation for mainly / principally

דאז

de'az

מדורג

medorag

מובטח

muvtakh

היכול

hayakhol

בעיקרו

be'ikaro

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neutral common

Usage

Native speakers often use 'בעיקרו' during discussions about essential themes or main ideas, such as in a classroom setting when summarizing a lecture. It’s also common in casual conversations when describing the core aspects of a situation or opinion, like when friends are debating a current event.

Synonyms & nuances

A close synonym is 'בעצם' (be'etzem), which also means 'essentially' but is more commonly used in everyday speech. 'בעיקרו' tends to highlight the main idea, while 'בעצם' can imply an underlying truth or fact.

Culture

'בעיקרו' has roots in the Hebrew word 'עיקר' (ikar), which means 'main' or 'principal.' This reflects a cultural emphasis on understanding the essence of ideas, a concept that’s often explored in Jewish texts and discussions. The word encapsulates a philosophical approach to conversations, encouraging speakers to get to the heart of a matter.

FAQ

Q.What does 'בעיקרו' mean in English?

'בעיקרו' translates to 'essentially' in English, indicating the core or most important part of a statement or situation.

Q.How do you use 'בעיקרו' in a sentence?

You can use 'בעיקרו' to emphasize the main idea, such as in the sentence 'בעיקרו, זהו נושא חשוב.' which means 'Essentially, this is an important topic.'

Q.Are there any common mistakes when using 'בעיקרו'?

A common mistake is using 'בעיקרו' in overly formal contexts where a simpler word like 'בעצם' would be more appropriate. It's best to reserve 'בעיקרו' for situations where you want to specifically highlight a main point.

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