Last Updated on November 26, 2021

What is the meaning of the Hebrew word Gushpnanka – גשפנקה?

So you’ve been in Israel for a decade or more and you are still learning new Hebrew words in your workplace, from your Israeli friends and hopefully also from the media. All of a sudden you come across a new word that leaves you baffled. It does not sound like anything you’ve ever heard before, it’s difficult to trace its root form (the 3 letter word that is the basis of most Hebrew words) and it sticks in your mind for days – you have to find out what it means.

The word is גשפנקה – Gushpanka. גשפנקה – Gushpanka!! גשפנקה – Gushpanka??

What is גשפנקה – Gushpanka?

The Oxford Hebrew Dictionary defines גשפנקה – Gushpanka as an authorization or seal (of approval).  The words Ishur -אישור or Harsha’a – הרשאה are also used for this purpose.

Morfix online Hebrew dictionary adds the Hebrew word נתן – Natan before גשפנקה – like this – נתן גשפנקה and they translate it as; to approve or to validate (gave approval, give validation)

WikiDictionary tell us that גשפנקה – Gushpanka is an Aramaic word.  It references two uses of the word in the Talmud Bavli, see here.  Another example of its meaning:  “An official stamp of authorization by person/institution on a document, on conduct or action”.

Finally, WikiDictionary translates it to ‘legitimization’.

Now that you have mastered the meaning of גשפנקה – Gushpanka, you can learn more Hebrew words, phrases, anagrams, homonyms, acronyms, abbreviations and other fun things…