דווקא

Hebrew

Etymology

From Aramaic דווקא (dawqā, “exactness”), through Yiddish דווקא (davke).

Adverb

דווקא / דַּוְקָא • (dávka)

1. (colloquial) unexpectedly
2. (colloquial) just to spite
3. (colloquial) specifically, precisely
4. (colloquial) in fact, actually
   • 1996, לימור נחמיאס (Limor Nachmias), “צְבוֹטוֹתִי” (ts'vototi, “Tweedle'dee”), Keter Publishing House Ltd. (2002), →ISBN, page 110:

     “אני דווקא אוהב חזה שנופל.”

     “aní dávka ohév khazé shenofél.”

     “I actually love sagging breasts.”

Usage notes

• When a negation directly precedes this word, Aramaic לָאו (lav) is typically used instead of the native Hebrew לֹא (lo), which is used when the negation is in any other position.

Yiddish

Etymology

From Aramaic דווקא.

Adverb

דווקא • (dafke)

1. necessarily
2. deliberately
3. precisely