Word of the Day October 19, 2026 – נחישות

נחישות — Determination in Hebrew

A Hebrew word from today’s reading: נחישות (nechishut) — determination.

Today’s article tells the story of Dolly Parton, who was born into a poor family in Tennessee and became one of the greatest stars in country music history.

By the end of the piece, she’s portrayed as a symbol of optimism, generosity, and נחישות.

But what does this Hebrew word teach us?

It belongs to a family of words linked to firmness and resolve.

• נחוש (nachush) — determined, resolute
• נחושה (nechusha) — determined (feminine)
• נחושים (nechushim) — determined (plural)
• נחישות (nechishut) — determination, resolve

The connection is pretty straightforward:

נחוש describes someone who is firmly set on doing something.

נחישות is the quality of that person—their determination.

For example:

היא נחושה להצליח
She is determined to succeed.

היא פעלה בנחישות
She acted with determination.

There’s also an interesting bit of word history: נחוש is related to the old Hebrew word נחושה, which means bronze or copper—suggesting something hard and unyielding.

This gives the word נחישות a vivid layer of meaning: being determined isn’t just about wanting something, but standing firm in your intention.

And that’s exactly what Dolly Parton shows us: from a humble Tennessee childhood to a remarkable music career and deep philanthropic commitment.

נחישות is the force that turns ambition into lasting achievement.

What other Hebrew words would you use to describe Dolly Parton?