Streetwise Hebrew

How does the Hebrew language integrate foreign words into its vocabulary? And how do we Israelis manipulate English words, like coupons and cupcakes, in order to make them sound natural alongside native Hebrew words? Guy explains. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Shipur dramati - A dramatic improvement - שיפור דרמטי Globalizatsia - Globalization - גלובליזציה Democratizatsia - Democratization - דמוקרטיזציה Interpretatsia - Interpretation - אינטרפרטציה Diktsia - Diction - דיקציה Ha-medina ha-modernit - The modern state - המדינה המודרנית Kayom yesh ba-olam yoter demokratiot ve-pahot diktaturot - Today in the world there are more democracies and less dictatorships - כיום יש בעולם יותר דמוקרטיות ופחות דיקטטורות Milhama klasit - A classic war - מלחמה קלאסית Klasa - ‘Class’ - קלאסה At hevet et ha-klasa - You brought class - את הבאת את הקלאסה Kulam yoshvim kacha be-klasa- Everybody is sitting in style - כולם יושבים ככה בקלאסה Cupcake-im - Cupcakes - קאפקייקים Couponim - Co

Shabbat (שבת) in Hebrew means Sabbath. In a religious context, it’s the time span between Friday afternoon and Saturday evening. In secular terms, it's Saturday, the day of the week. So how do we tell them apart? It depends whether you've been invited Le-Shabbat or Be-Shabbat. And let's not forget the words we derive from the same root, like sabbatical, paralyzed, and strike. On this episode, Guy takes a closer look at שבת. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Bo elai le-shabbat - Come to me for a Shabbat - בוא אליי לשבת Bo nipagesh be-shabbat - Let’s meet on Saturday - בוא ניפגש בשבת Motsa’ei shabbat, motsash - Saturday night - מוצאי שבת, מוצ”ש Mahar, omnam, ze nehlash - Indeed, tomorrow it (the rain) will weaken - מחר, אמנם, זה נחלש Aval be-shabat hu shuv mithazek - But on Saturday it will intensify again - אבל בשבת הוא שוב מתחזק Datiyim lo yodu she-hem mehubarim be-shabbat - Religious people will not admit that they are connected on Shabbat - דתיים לא יודו שהם מחובר

Lehipared (להיפרד) means ‘to break up’ but can also be used to say goodbye. The root פרד is your foundation for the words you'll need to request the salad dressing on the side or to explain that you and a friend are paying separately. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Lehipared mi-mishehu - To break up with someone / say goodbye to someone - להיפרד ממישהו Shir preda - Break up song - שיר פרידה Preda, predot - Parting, breaking up - פרידה, פרידות Ani lo tov be-predot - I am not good in goodbyes - אני לא טוב בפרידות Nifradnu - We parted ways, we broke up - נפרדנו Nifradnu kach - This is how we broke up - נפרדנו כך Hem nifredu - They broke up - הם נפרדו Ze lo hegyoni lihyot be-nifrad - It’s not logical to live separately - זה לא הגיוני לחיות בנפרד Efshar et ha-rotev be-nifrad/ba-tsad/leyad? - Could I have the sauce on the side? - אפשר את הרוטב בנפרד/בצד/ליד Be-yahad o be-nifrad? - Together or separately? - ביחד או בנפרד? Ha-hof ha-nifrad - The “separate” beach - החוף ה

Lachtoch (לחתוך) means ‘to cut,’ like when we cut onions. But in slang, this word and its root ח.ת.כ can be used in many ways to mean many different things. From ‘breaking up’ to ‘you clean up nice,’ or ‘a hunk‘ and ‘a hottie.’ Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Lachtoch - To cut - לחתוך Eich hotchim batsal? - How do you cut onions? - איך חותכים בצל Eich lachtoch batsal bli dma’ot - How to cut onions without tears - איך לחתוך בצל בלי דמעות Ani hotech la-rochav dak dak dak - I cut it to the width thinly - אני חותך לרוחב דק-דק-דק Ani ose kama hatachim - I make a few cuts - אני עושה כמה חתכים Hatach, hatachim - Cut, cuts - חתך, חתכים Hituch - Cutting - חיתוך Hituchei ets - Wood carving - חיתוכי עץ Oto hituch dibur - We speak the same way - אותו חיתוך דיבור Hatachta mukdam - You left early - חתכת מוקדם Ki avar alecha yom kashu’ach - Because you had a rough day - כי היה לך יום קשוח Hatachti mi-sham - I am out of there - חתכתי משם Nira li ani hotech/hotechet - I am out, I

What’s the difference between lilmod and lelamed? What’s the difference between limud and limudim? And how could we have possibly missed the Hebrew root ל.מ.ד on a podcast meant to teach Hebrew?! Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Anahnu lomdim ivrit be-yahad kvar hamesh shanim - We’ve been learning Hebrew together for more than five years now - אנחנו לומדים עברית ביחד כבר חמש שנים Ma lamadeta ba-gan ha-yom - What did you learn in kindergarten today, my little boy? - מה למדת בגן היום, ילד קטן שלי Lamadeta, lamadet - You (m.), (f.) You learned - למדת Lomedet lalechet - Learning to walk - לומדת ללכת Hi lomedet Anglit - She learns English - היא לומדת אנגלית Lomdim lihyot im ze kacha - One learns to live it like that - לומדים לחיות עם זה ככה. Matai ochlim? - When do we eat? - מתי אוכלים? Eich omrim be-ivrit - How do you say it in Hebrew? - איך אומרים בעברית... Lilmod - To learn, to study - ללמוד Lelamed - To teach - ללמד Anachnu nelamed ota eich lehitgalgel - We’re going

“Eize bushot” (איזה בושות) is what we Israelis say when we witness an embarrassing event. Remember the time your mother commented on a Facebook photo of you? איזה בושות! Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Lama ani tsricha lehitbayesh? - Why should I feel ashamed? - למה אני צריכה להתבייש? Ze lo busha lihyot atsuv - One shouldn’t be ashamed for being sad - זה לא בושה להיות עצוב BuSHA! - Shame on him/her/them - בושה! Ha-israeli ha-mecho’ar - The ugly israeli - הישראלי המכוער Ha-im la-orchim ha-ele ein tipat busha? - Don’t these guests have a drop of shame? - האם לאורחים האלה אין טיפת בושה? Hu asa li bushot - He embarrassed me - הוא עשה לי בושות Al ta’ase/ta’asi/ta’asu li bushot - Don’t embarrass me - אל תעשה/תעשי/תעשו לי בושות Hityashavti la ba-makom - I (mistakenly) sat in her place - התיישבתי לה במקום Eize bushot - How embarrassing - איזה בושות Titbayesh lecha - Shame on you - תתבייש לך Titbayshi lach - Shame on you (f.) - תתביישי לך Titbayshu lachem - Shame on you (p

The word פשוט (pashut) means “simple” in Hebrew. Knowing that, how would you attempt to say “simplify”, “simplicity,” or “simpleton”? Guy explains all the complexities behind the seemingly simple root פשט. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Lamdeni et ha-shir ha-pashut - Teach me the simple song - למדני את השיר הפשוט Ze shir ahava pashut - It’s a simple love song - זה שיר אהבה פשוט Pashut shir ahava - Simply a love song - פשוט שיר אהבה Kacha ani ohevet otcha, pashut - This is simply how I love you/This is how I love you, in a simple way - ככה אני אוהבת אותך, פשוט Pashut bati/Bati, pashut - I just came - פשוט באתי/באתי, פשוט Bayit pashut - A simple house - בית פשוט Pashut bayit - Simply, a house - פשוט בית Pashut, pshuta, pshutim, pshutot - Simple - פשוט, פשוטה, פשוטים, פשוטות Shi’ur moledet - “Homeland class” - שיעור מולדת “Kach ze haya, pashtut raka” - This is how it was, tender simplicity - כך זה היה, פשטות רכה Lefashet - To simplify - לפשט Ten li lefashet lecha et

What can we learn from the music-listening habits of Israelis in 2018? Lots of interesting uses of Hebrew words and phrases! The internet music service Spotify just published data on the most popular music listened to by Israelis in 2018. We take a look at these songs and revisit our archives in order to remind ourselves when and why we used these songs in previous episodes. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   Spotify Music Lists: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX7Ey5mhiAT5Z https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DXbt72Q24ypTa https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX7aj32Qvs6xX https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWULoGdcP6ILX New Words and Expressions: Kmo shnei meshuga’im - Like two crazy people - כמו שני משוגעים Ani mode - I thank - אני מודה (episode #100) Mami ze nigmar - Honey it’s over - מאמי זה נגמר (episode #121) Hu gamar - He finished - הוא גמר Habibi - My darling - חביבי (episode #117) Yesh od anashim ba-reshima - There are more people on the list - יש עו

Dropped your phone? Did the screen crack? The phone needs fixing! The Hebrew word you'll need to know is tikun, from the root תקנ. Use it when something needs to be fixed. Tikunim (plural of tikun) also means corrections, amendments, alterations. Not familiar with the תקנ root and its related words? We can fix that! Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Tikunchik, hendimen - Handyman - תיקונצ’יק, הנדימן Tikun, tikunim - Repair, repairs, corrections - תיקון, תיקונים Im at margisha mekulkelet, ani ha-tikun shelach - If you feel broken, I am your fix, your repair - אם את מרגישה מקולקלת, אני התיקון שלך Tikun ta’ut - Error correction - תיקון טעות Tikunim - Amendments, alterations - תיקונים Tikkun olam - “Repair of the world” - תיקון עולם Letaken - To repair, to fix - לתקן Ani lo yachol letaken et ha-olam - I cannot repair the world - אני לא יכול לתקן את העולם Tsarich letaken et ha-tanur - We need to fix the oven - צריך לתקן את התנור Mi yachol letaken li et ha-tris - Who coul

Gather = lerakez. Center = merkaz. Concentrated = merukaz. Coordinator = merakez. All these words share a common Hebrew root: רכז. Put aside all possible distractions because today's episode is laser-focused on the root RKZ. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode Check out TLV1's WhyWhyWhy! True Stories from Israel podcast  New Words and Expressions: Rikuz - Concentration - ריכוז Yesh yetsirot retsinioyt she-mevakshot rikuz male be-ozniyot - There are serious works (of music), that demand full concentration, with earphones - יש יצירות רציניות שמבקשות ריכוז מלא באוזניות Ehad mi-kol asara yeladim sovel me-hafra’at keshev ve-rikuz - One in every 10 children suffers from ADD Attention deficit disorder - אחד מכל עשרה ילדים סובל מהפרעת קשב וריכוז Mahane rikuz - A concentration camp - מחנה ריכוז Lerakez - To gather, to assemble - לרכז Merakez - He gathers / Coordinator - מרכז Rakaz - Coordinator - רכז Merkaz - Center - מרכז Merukaz - Concentrated - מרוכז Ani be-emtsa mashehu, ani lo merukaz - I am in the m

We often hear the same errors made over and over again by those learning to speak Hebrew. Some sound worse than others. But once pointed out, they'll be easy to fix. On this episode, Guy explains some of these common mistakes — why they happen and how to correct them. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Toda al X - Thanks for X - תודה על משהו Toda al ha-prachim - Thanks for the flowers - תודה על הפרחים Toda al ha-shi’ur - Thanks for the lesson - תודה על השיעור Toda al mi she-at - Thanks for being who you are - תודה על מי שאת Toda le-itai shelem, al ha-hafaka - Thanks Itai shelem for the production - תודה לאיתי שלם על ההפקה Toda le-Shai al ha-quiche - Thanks Shai for the quiche - תודה לשי על הקיש Toda al something, toda le someone Toda lach mami al ha-yom she-bo hiskamt lihyot ha-ima li-yeladai - Thank you darling for the day on which you agreed to become the mother of my children - תודה לך מאמי על היום שבו הסכמת להיות האמא לילדיי Toda al ha-cafe - Thanks for the coffe

Did you know that “I loved her” in Hebrew can be expressed using only a single word? On this episode, Guy talks love. “Loving”, “in love”, “falling in love”, “love me, love me not”... he covers all the bases. We're pretty sure you're going to love this episode. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Ani ohev shokolad - I like chocolate - אני אוהב שוקולד Ohevet lo ohevet - She loves me, she doesn’t love me - אוהבת לא אוהבת “Lo ohev” - I don’t like it - לא אוהב Zachiti le’ehov - I was fortunate to get the opportunity to love someone - זכיתי לאהוב Le’ehov - To love - לאהוב Ani shuv mit’ahev - I am falling in love again - אני שוב מתאהב Lehit’ahev be-mishehu - To fall in love with someone - להתאהב Mitlabesh - I am getting dressed - מתלבש Lehitkatev - To correspond - להתכתב Hit’ahavti ba-ktsina sheli - I fell in love with my officer - התאהבתי בקצינה שלי Yesh la yofi teimani - She’s got a Yemenite beauty - יש לה יופי תימני Hi ve-ani be-tkufat hit-ahavoot - She and I are in a pe

In Hebrew, צד is side. And what about its plural צדדים, sides? It's a bit of a mouthful. Today Guy explains the different sides of צד, as well as useful expressions like, “fine by me” and “there are two sides to every story.” Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Tsad, tsdadim - Side, sides - צד, צדדים Le-shnei ha-tsdadim - To both sides - לשני הצדדים “Birds-dadim” > (bir)ds-dadim > tsdadim Hatsida - Towards the side - הצידה Mi-tsad el/le tsad - From one side to the other - מצד אל צד, מצד לצד Mi-tsad ehad… Mi-tsad sheni - On one hand, on the other hand - מצד אחד, מצד שני Le-chol matbe’a yesh shnei tsdadim - There are two sides to every story - לכל מטבע יש שני צדדים Le-tsidech - On your (f.) side - לצידך Al tefani li makom le-tsidech - Don’t make room for me by your side - אל תפני לי מקום לצידך Ze lo yafe mi-tsidech - It’s not a nice thing to do by you - זה לא יפה מצידך Mamash lo yafe mi-tisdo/mi-tsida - It’s not a nice thing to do from his/her side - ממש לא יפה מצידו/מצ

In Hebrew, mefunak is spoiled (as in a spoiled kid) while lefanek is to spoil. On this episode, Guy explains how to spoil someone rotten and how to deal with spoiled brats. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Mefunaki, pinuki - Spoiled person/kid - מפונקי, פינוקי Dai, tafsik leyalel, mefunaki - Stop wailing, mefunaki - די, תפסיק ליילל, מפונקי Ani medaberet al otam elu she-hem mefunakim - I speak about those who are spoiled - אני מדברת על אותם עלו שהם מפונקים Shiluv katlani - Lethal combination - שילוב קטלני Horim she-mefankim ad bli gvul - Parents who spoil to no end - הורים שמפנקים עד בלי גבול Eizo mefuneket - What a spoiled girl - איזו מפונקת Eich oti at mefaneket - How you spoil me - איך אותי את מפנקת Havayat tisa mefaneket - Pampering flight experience - חוויית טיסה מפנקת Sherut mefanek - A service that pampers you - שירות מפנק Lehit’orer le-boker mefanek - Wake up to a gratifying morning - להתעורר לבוקר מפנק Shokolad rach yoter, mefanek yoter - A chocolate which

The word mag’il in Hebrew means disgusting. And even though we're keeping it clean on the podcast, the topic of disgust might not be for everyone. That said, knowing how to say eeew gross in Hebrew is critical! We think you'll be fine as long as you're not eating lunch. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Achil - Edible - אכיל Mag’il - Disgusting - מגעיל Ze mag’il oti - It disgusts me - זה מגעיל אותי Go’al nefesh - Disgusting - גועל נפש “Roletat go’al nefesh” - “Disgusting roulette” - רולטת גועל נפש Go’al nefesh shel ben adam/anashim - Disgusting person/people - גועל נפש של בנאדם/אנשים Go’ali - Revolting - גועלי Doche, docha - Repulsive - דוחה Kshe-anachnu nig’alim mi-mashehu - When we are disgusted by something - כשאנחנו נגעלים ממשהו Lehigael mi-mashehu - To be disgusted by something - להיגעל ממשהו Lehag’il mishehu - To disgust someone - להגעיל מישהו Ichs, ichsa, ich - Eww - איכס, איכסה, איך If/ichs/ich eize re’ach - Eew, what a smell - איף/איכס/איך איזה ריח Dai, ya

What do we say to a friend who's in bed with high fever? And to someone who got a minor scratch? And to that one person who keeps on complaining but has no right to complain? Oy misken! Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Misken Juanito - Poor Juanito - מסכן חואניטו Misken Jerry, shamat ma kara lo? - Poor Jerry, did you hear what happened to him? - מסכן ג’רי, שמעת מה קרה לו? Oy misken/miskena/miskenim/miskenot - You poor thing - אוי מסכן, מסכנה, מסכנים, מסכנות Oy miskenon/miskenonet sheli - Oh my poor little thing - אוי מסכנון/מסכנונת שלי Oy, miskenonet sheli, lehavi lach marak? - Oh you poor little thing, shall I get you some soup? - אוי מסכנונת שלי, להביא לך מרק? Miskenchik, miskenon, miskeni, miskenoni - Poor thing (m.) - מסכנצ’יק, מסכנון, מסכני, מסכנוני Miskenonet - Poor thing (f.) - מסכנונת Miskenoni ktana - Poor thing (f.) - מסכנוני קטנה Ba li lihyot miskenoni ve-lo lalechet machar la-avoda - I feel like being miskenoni and not go to work tomorrow - בא לי להיות

In Hebrew, “Nim’as li kvar” means I just can’t take it anymore, I am so fed up. The root, mem-alef-samech, is an interesting one and can be used in all sorts of ways, like in the translated sentence, “Are you fed up with ’butterflies’?” What does that even mean?! Guy explains. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Nim’as li - I am fed up with something - נמאס לי Nimas le-someone from something Dai, nim’as li mi-shkarim - I am fed up with lies - די, נמאס לי משקרים Nim’asta kvar alai - I am already fed up with you - נמאסת כבר עליי Nimas conjugated + al someone Hu nim’as alai - I am fed up with him - הוא נמאס עליי Hi nim’asa aleha - She’s fed up with her - היא נמאסה עליה Nim’asti al atsmi - I got fed up with myself - נמאסתי על עצמי Dai nim’asta - Enough already, I am fed up with you - די, נמאסת Ts, dai nim’as - Enough already - טסס, די, נמאס Nim’as lachem she-melachlechim lachem et ha-shati’ach? - Are you fed up when people dirty up your carpet? - נמאס לכם שמלכלכים לכם את

We talk a lot about lahats (stress, pressure) in Israel. You'll often hear, “ma ata lahuts?”, why are you stressed, and “ein lahats”, there’s no pressure, just as your stress level is hitting its all-time high. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Lahats - Pressure, stress - לחץ Ani ma-ze be-lahats ha-shavu’a – I am really stressed this week - אני מה-זה בלחץ השבוע Al tilahtsu - Don’t get stressed - אל תילחצו Ein lahats - There’s no pressure - אין לחץ Lahats dam gavoha - High blood pressure - לחץ דם גבוה Kibalti lahats dam gavoha - I got high blood pressure - קיבלתי לחץ דם גבוה Lahats dam namuch - Low blood pressure - לחץ דם נמוך Yeshnam alai lechatsim she-ani ashuv lechahen ke-rosh iriyat yerushalayim - There’s pressure on me to return and serve as the mayor of Jerusalem - ישנם עליי לחצים שאני אשוב לכהן כראש עיריית ירושלים Lehaf’il lahats al mishehu laasot mashehu / she-hu yaase mashehu - To put pressure on someone to do something / that he’d do something - להפעיל לחץ

How do you say rehearsal in Hebrew? And what do the Hebrew words for tax-refund and rabbi-preacher have in common? A root, of course! Guy returns for another Streetwise Hebrew lesson. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Rehearsal - Hazara - חזרה Choir rehearsal - Hazarat mak’hela - חזרת מקהלה Hazara generalit - Dress rehearsal - חזרה גנרלית Hazara la-limudim - Back to school - חזרה ללימודים Lahzor - To go back, to return - לחזור Ha-hazara le’anshehu - The returning somewhere - החזרה לאנשהו Ani loke’ach ba-hazara dvarim kashim nora she-amarti lach - I take back harsh things that I said to you - אני לוקח בחזרה דברים קשים נורא שאמרתי לך Lakahat be-hazara - To take back - לקחת בחזרה Neshikot (be)hazara - Kisses back - נשיקות (ב)חזרה Lashuv ba-hazara - To return - לשוב בחזרה Ad she-tahzor ba-hazara - Until you come back - עד שתחזור בחזרה Hozer bi-tshuva - A person who is becoming religious - חוזר בתשובה Hazara bi-tshuva - Becoming religious - חזרה בתשובה Lahzor be-she’ela