animal soul

noun

According to Kabbalah, one of the two souls Jews possess, and the only one that gentiles have. It animates the living body and is the source of both animalistic desires and traits like kindness and compassion.

OriginHebrew נֶפֶשׁ הַבַּהֲמִית →
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Meanings

nounanimal soul (plural animal souls)

plural animal souls

  1. JudaismAccording to Kabbalah, one of the two souls Jews possess, and the only one that gentiles have. It animates the living body and is the source of both animalistic desires and traits like kindness and compassion.

Origin

  1. Hebrewנֶפֶשׁ הַבַּהֲמִית
  2. Englishanimal soul

Calque of Hebrew נֶפֶשׁ הַבַּהֲמִית (néfesh habahamít).

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Cite this entry
APA

animal soul. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/animal%20soul

MLA

“animal soul.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/animal%20soul. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “animal soul,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/animal%20soul.

Source: animal soul on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.