48 Mussar Middot (מ״ח מוּסָר מִדּוֹת)

Why is this list of Middot different from all other lists? It's the biggest and most detailed list available - giving three English words per middah to deliver the fullest sense; explaining verbal roots and literal meanings; and listing similar middot in (parentheses) and opposites in [brackets]. It's also the only list to comprehensively incorporate the Kabbalistic Sephirot, Big Five personality traits, and Jungian cognitive functions/MBTI.

Note that transliterations are standard but for the sake of beginner-friendliness pronunciations are written as most commonly spelled in English (for instance, KAL is written CALL). Note also that ideally each middah and its opposite are neutral in their purest forms but this neutrality is often lost through translation and interpretation. For this reason no Hebrew/English listing of Middot is perfect; we present this as a work in progress and invite your input here.

This list is also available as a nine-page printable PDF. See also the simplified list of 48 Middot without synonyms/antonyms etc. along with a one-page printable PDF. See also the list of the 48 Steps to Torah listed in Pirkei Avot 6:6. 

1.   AWE   Yira (year-AH)   יִרְאָה

Awe, reverence, fear

(פְּלִיאָה Plia, PLEE-ah: Wonder, amazement)

(כּוֹבֶד רֹאשׁ Koved Rosh, KO-ved roshe: Seriousness, solemnity, gravitas)

[קַלוּת רֹאשׁ Kalut Rosh, CALL-oot roshe: Disregard, levity, flippancy; literally "light-headedness"]

2.   BALANCE   Izun (ee-ZOON)   אִזוּן

Balance, poise, moderation

(דֶּרֶךְ הָאֶמְצָעִית Derech Ha'Emtzait, DARE-ech ha-em-tsah-EET: the middle path/way/course)

[קִצוֹנִיוּת Kitzoniut, keets-own-ee-OOT: Extremism, going to either end of a spectrum]

3.   BEAUTY  Tiferet (tee-FAIR-et)   תִפאֶרֶת

Beauty, harmony, balance

Sixth Sefirah: Reconciliation, synthesis, integration; the Heart (between Chesed & Gevurah)

[כְּפִישָׁה Kefisha, k-fee-SHAH: Uneven, asymmetrical, divided]

[מְרִיבָה Meriva, mree-VAH: Conflict, rivalry, division]

4.   BROTHERHOOD   Achava (ach-ah-VAH)   אַחֲוָה

Brotherhood, familiarity, belonging

(חֲבֵרוּת Chaverut, chav-air-OOT: Partnership, camaraderie)

(אַחְדוּת Achdut, ach-DOOT: Unity, solidarity, togetherness)

[זָרוּת Zarut, zarr-OOT: To be unfamiliar, foreign, an outsider]

5.   CAREFULNESS   Zehirut (zeer-OOT)   זְהִירוּת

Carefulness, deliberation, caution; related to אַזְהָרָה warning

(עֵרָנוּת Eranut, air-ah-NOOT: Alert, watchful, vigilant; literally to "stay awake")

[פְּזִיזוּת Pezizut, p-zee-ZOOT: Spontaneous, impulsive, reckless]

6.   CLARITY   Tohar (TOE-har)   טֹהַר

Clarity, lucidity, purity; also טָהֲרָה Tahara 

(נְקִיּוּת Nekiyut, nicky-OOT: Cleanliness)

(זְכוּת Zechut, zuh-CHOOT: merit, right, privelege; from זכה clear, transparent, innocent)

[תַאֲוָה Ta'avah, tah-ah-VAH: Desire, craving, lust]

7.   COMPASSION   Rachamim (raw-chuh-MEEM)   רַחֲמִים

Compassion, sympathy, empathy; related to רֶחֶם womb; cognitive function = personal feeling

[אַכְזָרִיוּת Achzariyut, ach-zarr-ee-OOT: Cold, cruel, ruthless]

8.   CONSCIENCE   Busha (boo-SHAH)   בּוּשָׁה

Conscience, moral sensitivity, embarassment (literally "shame")

(חֲרָטָה Charata, char-ah-TAH: Regret, remorse, sorry)

[עַזּוּת Azut, ah-ZOOT: Fierce, unfeeling, brazen]

9.   CONSIDERATION   Adivut (ah-dee-VOOT)   אֲדִיבוּת

Consideration, thoughtfulness, courtesy

(דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ Derech Eretz, DARE-ech AIR-ets: Politeness, manners, tact; literally "the way of the land")

[גַסוּת Gasut, gah-SOOT: Rough, rude, coarse; also גַּס לֵב/דַּעַת/רוּחַ - literally a "large (i.e. bulky or clumsy) heart/mind/spirit"]

10.   CONTENTMENT   Histapkut (he-stop-KOOT)   הִסתַפְּקוּת

Contentment, simplicity, moderation; from ספק to divide/apportion

(נַחַת Nachat, NAH-chat: Satisfaction, gratification, comfort)

(קִמּוּץ Kimutz, KEY-moots: Minimalism, frugality, thrift; related קוֹמֶץ closed hand/fistful)

[קִנְאָה Kinah, key-NAH: Passion, envy, competition]

11.   COURAGE   Ometz Lev (OH-mets lev)   אֹמֶץ לֵב

Courage, bravery; literally "strength/stubbornness of heart"

(חוּצפָּה Chutzpah, CHOOTS-pah: Boldness, audacity)

[רַךְ לֵבָב Rach Levav, rach lay-VOV: literally "softness/sensitivity of heart"]

12.   DECISIVENESS   Charitzut (char-ee-TSOOT)   חֲרִיצוּת

Decisiveness, assertiveness, industriousness; literally "pointed/sharp"

(שְׁקִידָה Shkida, shkee-DAH: Focus, application, diligence)

[עַצלוּת Atzlut, ahts-LOOT: Inactive, hesitant, not present]

13.   DEVOTION   Chasidut (chah-see-DOOT)   חֲסִידוּת

Devotion, loyalty, commitment

[אֲרָעִי Arai, ah-rah-EE: Casual, occasional, temporary]

14.   FAITH   Emuna (em-oo-NAH)   אֱמוּנָה

Faith, belief, conviction

(בִּטָּחוֹן Bitachon, beet-ah-CHONE: Trust, confidence, assurance)

[סָפֵק Safek, suh-FAKE: doubt, uncertainty, ambivalence; literally "division"]

[חָשְׁדוּת Chashdut, chash-DOOT; Suspicion, wariness, skepticism]

15.   FAITHFULNESS   Ne'emanut (neh-mahn-OOT)   נֶאֱמָנוּת

Faithfulness, trustworthiness, reliability

(קֶבַע Keva, KEH-vuh: Consistency, regularity, permanence; literally "fixed time/place")

[הֲפַכְפַּך Hafachpach, ha-FACH-pach: Changeable, unstable, inconsistent; from  to הפך to turn, reverse]

16.   FLEXIBILITY   Gemesh (GEM-esh)   גֶמֶשׁ

Flexibility, adaptability, resilience

(פְּתִיחוּת Ptichut, pity-CHOOT: Openness, receptivity)

(סַקרָנוּת Sakranut, sock-ron-OOT: Curiousity, inquisitiveness; literally to "look around/explore")

[קַשְׁיוּת Kashyut, kosh-YOOT: Rigidity, stiffness; literally "hardness"]

17.   FREEDOM   Chofesh (CHOE-fesh)   חוֹפֶשׁ

Freedom; literally "exemption"

(דְּרוֹר Dror, DRORE: Liberty; literally "swallow/sparrow")

[חוֹבָה Chovah, choe-VAH: Duty, conscientiousness, obligation; literally "debt"]

18.   GENEROSITY   Nedivut (nid-ee-VOOT)   נְדִיבוּת

Generosity, liberality, voluntary action

(עַיִן יָפָה Ayin Yafa, EYE-een yuh-FUH: Generous and bountiful; abundance mindset; literally "beautiful/good eye" i.e. positive outlook)

[עַיִן־הָרַע Ayin Hara, EYE-een ha-RAH: Stingy and begrudging; poverty mindset; literally "bad eye" i.e. negative worldview]

19.   GOODWILL   Ratzon (ruts-OWN)   רָצוֹן

Goodwill, friendliness, agreeableness

(קַבָּלָה Kabala, kah-ball-AH: Acceptance, welcome)

[הַכנָסַת אוֹרְחִים Hachnasat Orchim, hach-nah-SAHT ore-CHEEM: Hospitality; literally "bringing in travellers"]

[אֵיבָה Eivah, ey-VAH: Animosity, hostility, disagreeableness]

20.   HOLINESS   Kedusha (kid-oo-SHAH)   קְדֻשָּׁה

Holiness, dedication, specialness

(רוּחָנִי Ruchani, roo-chan-EE: spiritual, transcendant; cognitive function = intuitive/abstract)

[גוּפָנִי Gufani, goof-ah-NEE: physical, earthly; literally "bodily/fleshly"; cognitive function = sensory/concrete]

[חִלוֹנִי Chiloni, chee-lo-NEE: Common, worldly, secular]

21.   HONESTY   Yosher (YO-share)   יוֹשֶׁר

Honesty, sincerity; literally "straightforward/direct"

(תָּמִים Tamim, tah-MEEM: literally whole/wholehearted)

[חֲנוּפָה Chanufa, chah-noo-FAH: Pretense, hypocrisy, flattery]

22.   HONOUR   Kavod (kuh-VODE)   כָּבוֹד

Honour, respect, dignity; literally "weight"

(יְקָר Yikar, yee-CAR: literally to regard as "valuable/precious")

[זִלזוּל Zilzul, ZILL-zool: literally to treat as "cheap"]

[לַעַג La'ag, LAH-ahg: to make light/fun of, mock, ridicule]