Israelis Are Crowd-Sourcing The Hebrew Name For Fidget Spinner

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By Thea Glassman May 15, 2017

A small, spinning toy is currently stumping Israeli linguists.

The fidget spinner, a three-pronged device that has captured the hearts — and hands — of children worldwide, has yet to be given a Hebrew name, The Times of Israel reports.

Scholars at The Academy of the Hebrew Language have turned their puzzlement into a social media call-to-action, asking the Israeli public for Hebrew name suggestions.

“It’s a good learning opportunity,” Ronit Gadish, the Academy’s scientific secretary, told The Times of Israel. “We decided to take advantage of it.”

More than 1,500 responses have been posted, with “sahriron,” a combination of spin and top climbing as one of the most popular suggestions. Others complained that the fidget spinners are a fad, and don’t need a Hebrew name in the first place.

Thea Glassman is an Associate Editor at the Forward. Reach her at glassman@forward.com or on Twitter at @theakglassman.

Thea Glassman was an associate editor for the Forward. Follow her on twitter @theakglassman.

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