Streetwise Hebrew

So you're on summer holiday. Do you stay at a hotel or go for a house swap? Will you exchange currency? Who is filling in for you at work while you're gone? The Hebrew root חלפ is the focus of this week's episode. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Lehachlif - To exchange, to replace, to swap - להחליף Atsa, atsot - Seaweed - אצה, אצות Ha-atsa yechola lehachlif basar - The seaweed can replace meat - האצה יכולה להחליף בשר Hi yechola lehachlif helbon min ha-hai - It can replace protein from animals - היא יכולה להחליף חלבון מן החי Kaniti et ze po, ani rotse lehachlif et ze - I bought it here, I’d like to exchange it - קניתי את זה פה, אני רוצה להחליף את זה Efshar lehachlif li et ze vaksha? - Could you please exchange it for me? - ?אפשר להחליף לי את זה (ב)בקשה Samti petek hachlafa - I put an exchange note - שמתי פתק החלפה “Hachlafot” - Trading (kids) - החלפות Dira lehachlafa - House swap - דירה להחלפה Hachlafat kesef - Currency exchange - החלפת כסף Ani tsarich lehachlif ke

There are times in life when we are left disappointed (me’uchzavim) and it would be helpful to know how to express this disappointment in Hebrew. On this episode, Guy covers this special four letter root אכזב and checks Twitter to see what disappoints Israelis the most. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Achzava - Disappointment - אכזבה Le’achzev mishehu - To disappoint someone - לאכזב מישהו Nachon, ze me’achzev - It’s true, it’s disappointing - נכון, זה מאכזב Lakum me-achzavot - To rise after the disappointment - לקום מאכזבות Mehuzakim yoter - more reinforced - מחוזקים יותר Nechushim yoter - more determined - נחושים יותר Meuchadim yoter - more united - מאוחדים יותר Ve-re’evim yoter - And hungrier - ורעבים יותר Ze ma-ze me’achzev she-hamiflaga lo nitscha ba-bchirot - It’s so disappointing that this party didn’t win the election - זה מה-זה מאכזב שהמפלגה לא ניצחה בבחירות Mis’ada me’achzevet - Disappointing restaurant - מסעדה מאכזבת Seret me’achzev - Disappointing movie

Ok, so you know how to order schnitzel in an Israeli restaurant. But what about asking for an extra plate? For a non-spicy dish? Extra parsley? Or maybe you need to notify the kitchen of a food allergy. This is serious stuff. Guy delivers the #Hebrew language goods on this week's episode. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Efshar od petrozilia vaksha? - Could I please have more parsley? - ?אפשר עוד פטרוזיליה (ב)בקשה Efshar od tsalahat vaksha? - Could we have an extra plate please? - ?אפשר עוד צלחת (ב)בקשה Bishvili ha-salat, efshar bli batsal? - For me, the salad, without the onions please? - ?בשבילי הסלט, אפשר בלי בצל Alergi/t le-egozei melech - Allergic to walnuts - אלרגי/ת לאגוזי מלך Yesh li alergia le-egozim - I have a nut allergy - יש לי אלרגיה לאגוזים Midat asiya - Level of doneness - מידת עשייה Medyum, Well done (Asui tov), Rer (na, hai) - מדיום, וול-דאן (עשוי טוב), רר (נא, חי) Eich ze ba? - What sides come with the dish? - ?איך זה בא Ze ba im - It comes with…

The word revach רווח means profit, gain, benefit, and a few other things. You'll benefit greatly from learning the root רוח, we promise. Learn phrases like “chill on the sofa,” “beware of the gap,” and “make sure to leave a margin of safety.” Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Revah - Profit, gain, space - רווח La’asot revahim - To make a profit - לעשות רווחים Revach bein ha-milim - Space between words - רווח בין המילים Makash ha-revach - Space key - מקש הרווח Ha-revach bein ha-rakevet la-ratsif - Gap between the train and the platform - הרווח בין הרכבת לרציף Revach ve-hefsed - Gain and loss - רווח והפסד Revach naki - Net profit - רווח נקי Revachim - Profits - רווחים Rivchei ha-bank - The bank’s profits - רווחי הבנק Profitable - Rivchi - רווחי Revacha - Welfare, wellbeing, comfort - רווחה Medinat revacha - Welfare state - מדינת רווחה Halonot ptuchim lirvacha - Wide open windows - חלונות פתוחים לרווחה Lifto’ach et ha-delet lirvacha - Open the door wide open - לפתוח את

How do we agree with someone in Hebrew? How do we say, I hear you, totally, yeah, right, spot on, exactly? Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Bool ma she-amart/amarta - Exactly what you’ve said - בול מה שאמרת Bool - Spot on, absolutely - בול Bool ba-zman - Right on time - בול בזמן Maskim - I agree - מסכים Maskim itcha lahalutin - I totally agree with you - מסכים איתך לחלוטין Legamray, maskim itcha la-halutin - Totally, I totally agree with you - לגמרי, מסכים איתך לחלוטין Diyuk - Precision - דיוק Bidiyuk, bidyuk, maskim itcha, bidiyuk - Exactly, I agree with you, right - בדיוק, בדיוק, מסכים איתך, בדיוק Bidiyuk/mamash kacha - Exactly like this - בדיוק/ממש ככה Tachles - Cut to the chase/I hear you - תכל’ס Nachon - Right, correct - נכון Ze nachon ma she-amart - It’s true what you said - זה נכון מה שאמרת Baroor - Clearly/It’s clear - ברור Betach - Sure - בטח Todarling - Toda+darling - תודרלינג   Playlist and Clips: Ariel Zilber – Milliard Sinim (lyrics) Efraim Shamir – Na

In Hebrew, סוף סוף (sof-sof) means at last. Sof-sof can also mean finally, but not in all situations. Confusing, right? And how would we say final and infinite in Hebrew, which are derived from the word סוף, end? On this episode, Guy is going to clarify the appropriate usage of סוף סוף – finally. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Sof-sof - At last - סוף סוף Sof la-sipur - An end to the story - סוף לסיפור Sof onat ha-tapuzim - The end of the orange season - סוף עונת התפוזים Mechirei sof ha-ona - Prices of end of the season - מחירי סוף העונה Mivtsa’im - Sales - מבצעים Ata holech la-sof ona? - Are you going to the sales? - אתה הולך לסוף עונה? Yesh sof ona - There’s a sale - יש סוף עונה Sof sof (at) ona - At last you answer the phone - סוף סוף (את) עונה Sof ona - End of season (sale) - סוף עונה Oh, sof sof higata - At last you are here - או, סוף סוף הגעת! Ba-sof/be-sofo shel davar hem higi’u le-NY - At the end - בסוף/בסופו של דבר הם הגיעו לניו יורק Le-siyum/lifney siyum

How do we greet a stranger in the elevator, in Hebrew? How about a neighbor from our building? Could we perhaps just look down and not say anything at all? Guy presents a concise guide to Israeli elevator etiquette 101. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Ze yachol lehechashev lo menumas - It might be considered impolite - זה יכול להיחשב לא מנומס Hagana atsmit - Self defence - הגנה עצמית Shalom - Hi, hello - שלום Shalom, shalom, hopa! Ma itcha, ma ata ose po? - Hey, hey! What’s going on, what are you doing here? - שלום, שלום, הופה! מה איתך, מה אתה עושה פה? Hi - Hi - היי Ahlan - Hi - אהלן Ma kore? - What’s happening? - מה קורה? Ahlan, ma kore? - Hi, how are you? - אהלן, מה קורה Hi, ma kore? - Hi, how are you? - היי, מה קורה Boker tov - Good morning - בוקר טוב ...Kertov - Kertov - קרטוב “Boker!” - Morning! - בוקר! Tsohorayim tovim - Greeting used around 1pm - צהריים טובים Aahar tsohorayim tovim - Good afternoon - אחר צוהוריים טובים Erev tov - Good evening - ערב טוב Laila

Letting go of someone or something can be a difficult thing to do. How do we let it all go, in Hebrew? Guy explains. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Lo ozev et ha-ir - I am not leaving town - לא עוזב את העיר Hu ozev - He is leaving, letting go - הוא עוזב Azva et ha-ima ve-ha-mishpachca - She left her mom and the family - עזבה את האמא והמשפחה Azva et ha-bayit ve-ha-meltacha - She left the home and the wardrobe - עזבה את הבית והמלתחה Azva et Sonia ve-et ha-dira - She left Sonia and the apartment - עזבה את סוניה ואת הדירה Azva mish’enet ve-havera - She left her support, her friend - עזבה משענת וחברה La’azov mishehu - To let go of someone - לעזוב מישהו Azov/azvi/azvu oto - Leave him alone - עזוב/עזבי/עזבו אותו Ta’azov/ta’azvi/ta’azvu oto - Leave him alone - תעזוב/תעזבי/תעזבו אותו Azov/azvi et ze - Leave it alone - עזוב את זה Azov, alai - Let it go, it’s on me - עזוב, עליי Azov/azvi, hishtagat? - Forget it, are you out of your mind? - עזוב/עזבי, השתגעת? Azov/azvi shtuy

Guy noticed that even his most advanced students have problems with the Hebrew words for city, town, and municipality, so he decided to dedicate this episode to these words, once and for all. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Ir gdola - Big city - עיר גדולה Ir hachama - Smart city - עיר חכמה Arim gdolot - Big cities - ערים גדולות Arim yafot - Beautiful cities - ערים יפות Arim hachamot - Smart cities - ערים חכמות Arim te’omot - Twin cities - ערים תאומות Ayara, ayarot - Town, towns - עיירה, עיירות Ayarot pitu’ach - “Development towns” - עיירות פיתוח Iriya - Municipality - עירייה Iriyat Tel Aviv - Municipality of Tel Aviv - עיריית תל אביב Rosh ha-ir/ha-iriya - Mayor (m.) - ראש העיר/העירייה Roshat ha-ir/ha-iriya - Mayor (f.) - ראשת העיר/העירייה Ironi - Of the city, urban - עירוני, אורבני Sifriya ironit - Municipal library - ספרייה עירונית Moked ironi, ha-moked ha-ironi, moked 106 - City hotline - מוקד עירוני, המוקד העירוני, מוקד 106 Hitchadshut ironit - Urban renewal -

Reflecting on the recent decision in Israel to go to elections again only months after the last, US President Trump said that Israeli politics are messed up and that the country needs to “get its act together.” One Hebrew translation of Trump’s quote read: “hem tsrichim lehit’apes al atsmam” (הם צריכים להתאפס על עצמם), which is extremely slangy and highly appropriate for the moment. So on today's episode Guy talks about the verb להתאפס. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: She-yit’apsu sham - They should get their act together, there - שיתאפסו שם Hem tsrichim lehit’apes al atsmam - They need to get their act together - הם צריכים להתאפס על עצמם Lehit’apes - To get one’s act together - להתאפס Efes - Zero - אפס Ani efes - I am a nobody - אני אפס Le’apes - To calibrate, to reset - לאפס Le’apes stopper - To reset a stopwatch - לאפס סטופר Le’apes et ha-neshek - To adjust or calibrate a rifle - לאפס את הנשק Ipus neshek - weapon recalibration - איפוס נשק Hu me’apes et ha-hayal

There is a small yet significant difference between the Hebrew words פוטרתי and התפטרתי which share the common root פ.ט.ר. The former means “I was fired” and the latter means “I quit.” On this episode, Guy covers all things פ.ט.ר, including the words for exemption, resignation, and dismissal. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: “Ani putarti, lo hitpatarti” - “I was fired, I didn’t quit” - “אני פוטרתי, לא התפטרתי” Yesh hevdel bein ‘putarti’ le-ven ‘hitpatarti’ - There is a difference between ‘I was fired’ and ‘I quit’ - יש הבדל בין ‘פוטרתי’ לבין ‘התפטרתי’ Putarti - I was fired - פוטרתי Hitpatarti - I resigned - התפטרתי “Hitputar” - Someone that was made to quit - “התפוטר” Lefater - To fire - לפטר Ata mefutar/At mefuteret - You’re fired - אתה מפוטר / את מפוטרת Hu putar - He was fired - הוא פוטר Ata putarta - You were fired - אתה פוטרת Ani putarti - I was fired - אני פוטרתי Piturim - Dismissal - פיטורים Michtav piturin - A letter of dismissal - מכתב פיטורין Michtavei pit

In order to say “that's irritating” or “I'm irritated” in Hebrew, we first need to learn the root ע.צ.ב, which gives us the word עצבים (nerves). Now imagine this scenario... you're at the office, hard at work. You ask a colleague to grab you coffee from the kitchen. But walking over to the other side of the office is the last thing they want to do. So they give you that look. You know the look. What do you say now? Hebrew slang to the rescue! Guy explains the proper usage of נו, אל תעצבן (nu, al te’asben). Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Atsabim - Nerves - עצבים Eize atsabim - How irritating; What a bummer - איזה עצבים Eize atsabim itcha - You’re irritating - איזה עצבים איתך Eize basa - What a bummer - איזה באסה Hu hataf atsabim - He got angry - הוא חטף עצבים Hu hataf alai atsabim - He got angry at me - הוא חטף עליי עצבים Ole li al ha-atsabim - It gets on my nerves - עולה לי על העצבים ha-muzika ha-zo ola li al ha-atsabim - This music is getting on my nerves - המוז

The Hebrew root ת.ל.ה gives us the words לתלות (to hang), תלה (hung), and תלוי (hangs). So why does זה תלוי mean “it depends”? On this episode, Guy won't leave you hanging as he explains all things ת.ל.ה. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Taluy - It depends - תלוי Hu tala - He hung - הוא תלה Litlot - To hang - לתלות Litlot kvisa - To hang the laundry - לתלות כביסה Taliti kvisa al ha-hevel - I hung the laundry on the clothesline - תליתי כביסה על החבל Baniti - I built - בניתי Ratsiti - I wanted - רציתי Likhtov - to write, katuv - written; Litlot - to hang, talui, hung - לכתוב, כתוב; לתלות, תלוי Ha-poster talui al ha-kir - The poster hangs on the wall - הפוסטר תלוי על הקיר Talui be- - Depends on - -תלוי ב Ze talui rak banu - It only depends on us - זה תלוי רק בנו Tire/Tir’i, ze talui - Look, it depends - תראה/תראי, זה תלוי Be-ma ze talui? - What does it depend on? - ?במה זה תלוי Ha-kol taluy be… - It all depends on… - -הכל תלוי ב Ze lo taluy bi - It’s not up to me - זה

Shlita (שליטה) means control. So why do some people graffiti שולט or שולטת on walls? And how do we say, “where's the remote?” in Hebrew? Guy takes control of the situation and explains. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Efo ha-shalat? - Where is the remote? - ?איפה השלט Shalat rachok - Remote control - שלט רחוק Shalit - Ruler, leader - שליט Le-shlita muhletet be-mezeg ha-avir - For complete control of the weather - לשליטה מוחלטת במזג האוויר Lishlot - To control - לשלוט Shlita - Control (n.) - שליטה “Sholtim be-mezeg ha-avir” - “Controlling the weather” - שולטים במזג האוויר Bo ne’abed shlita - Let’s lose control - בוא נאבד שליטה Ha-kol be-shlita means - Everything is under control - הכל בשליטה Hi sholetet ba-pratim - She knows all the details - היא שולטת בפרטים Hi sholetet ba-homer - She knows her stuff inside out - היא שולטת בחומר Hu sholet be-tsarfatit - He’s fluent in French - הוא שולט בצרפתית ‘Adam sholet’ - ‘Adam rules’ - אדם שולט Hishtaltut - Taking over, gaini

Shtiya means drinking, but it could also means beverages. In the last Israeli elections, political pundits spoke about shtiyat kolot, ‘votes drinking.’ What does it mean, and how did this saying make the jump from army slang to civilian slang? Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Shtiya - Drinking, beverages - שתייה Hu shata - He drank - הוא שתה Lishtot - To drink - לשתות Shata-Lishtot; Ratsa-Lirtsot; Bana-Livnot Efo ha-shtiya - Where are the drinks? - ?איפה השתייה Ma lehavi? - What should I bring? - ?מה להביא Falafel plus shtiya 20 shekel - Falafel plus drink for 20 shekel - פלאפל פלוס שתייה 20 שקל Shtiya kala - Soft drinks - שתייה קלה Yesh shtiya kala? - Are there any soft drinks? - ?יש שתייה קלה Mashka’ot, shtiya - Beverages - משקאות, שתייה Shtiya charifa - Alcoholic drinks - שתייה חריפה Mechonat shtiya - Beverage vending machine - מכונת שתייה Kampeyn neged shtiya - A campaign against drinking - קמפיין נגד שתייה Im shotim, lo nohagim - If you drink, you don’t drive

In Hebrew dugma (דוגמה) is “an example,” and ledugma (לדוגמה) means “for example.” This root, d-g-m, is quite handy and from it we derive words and phrases like fashion model, sample, and the perfect husband. In this episode Guy provides many examples using the root ד.ג.מ. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Ledugma, lemashal - For example - לדוגמה, למשל Dugma, dugma’ot - Example, examples - דוגמה, דוגמאות Notnim lach elef dugma’ot - They give you one thousand examples - נותנים לך אלף דוגמאות Ten/Tni dugma - Give an example - תן/תני דוגמה Ba’al le-dugma - A model husband - בעל לדוגמה Mishpacha ledugma - The perfect family - משפחה לדוגמה Haver ledugma - Model friend, exemplary friend - חבר לדוגמה Dira le-dugma - A sample apartment - דירה לדוגמה Dugma ishit - Personal example - דוגמה אישית Dgima - Sample - דגימה Dgimat rok - Saliva sample - דגימת רוק Dgimat dam - Blood sample - דגימת דם Lidgom - To sample - לדגום “Ani rak dogem/dogemet” - I am just sampling - אני רק דוג

How many followers (עוקבים) do you have on Facebook? What about Instoosh? Twitter? And what do high heels (עקבים) have to do with social networks? Well, not much except that they share a common Hebrew root. Follow closely as Guy talks about followers, following, follow up, and so much more. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Hu akav - He followed - הוא עקב Mi lo rotse od okvim ve-od laikim? - Who doesn’t want more followers and more likes? - מי לא רוצה עוד עוקבים ועוד לייקים? Okev, okvim - Follower, followers - עוקב, עוקבים Lo la’akov ahrei me’al 150 anashim - Don’t follow more than 150 people - לא לעקוב אחרי מעל 150 אנשים Kedei she-lo yagidu ‘hu okev aharei male, az okvim aharav male’ - So people won’t say, “he follows many people, so many people follow him” - כדי שלא יגידו ‘הוא עוקב אחרי מלא, אז עוקבים אחריו מלא’ Hem okvim aharav - They follow him - הם עוקבים אחריו Ma’akav - Surveillance, tracking - מעקב Keitsad okvim aharei havilot - How one follows packages - כיצ

We're getting ever closer to elections day in Israel. So over the past few weeks, every time we turned on the news we would hear politicians calling one another a liar. How do we say liar in Hebrew? How do we say white lies? Guy tells the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about the root sheker (ש.ק.ר). Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Sheker, shkarim - Lie, lies - שקר, שקרים Sheker lavan - White lie - שקר לבן Sheker gas - Blunt lie - שקר גס Sheker ve-kazav - Downright lie - שקר וכזב Shkarim ktanim - Small lies - שקרים קטנים Leshaker le-mishehu - To lie to someone - לשקר למישהו Hu shiker li ba-panim - He lied to my face, bluntly - הוא שיקר לי בפנים Al teshakri oti - Don’t lie to me - אל תשקרי אותי Shakran - Liar - שקרן Eize shakran/shakranit - What a liar - איזה שקרן/שקרנית Dai, ya shakran/shakranit - Stop it, you liar - די, יא שקרן/שקרנית Ata im ha-hamtsa’ot shelcha - You and your inventions - אתה/את עם ההמצאות שלך Ata oved alai/At ovedet alai - You

It's time we talk about our emotions, our feelings. On this episode, Guy sets aside his feelings to talk about the Hebrew root r-g-sh. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Regesh, regashot - Emotion, emotions - רגש, רגשות Regashot me’oravim - Mixed feelings - רגשות מעורבים Rigshot ashma - Guilt - רגשות אשמה Ani be-se’arat regashot - I am on an emotional roller coaster - אני בסערת רגשות Ragish - Sensitive - רגיש Ata pashut ragish midai - You’re just too sensitive - אתה פשוט רגיש מדיי Regishut - Sensitivity - רגישות Regishut le-gluten - Sensitivity to gluten - רגישות לגלוטן Avoda rigshit - Emotional work - עבודה רגשית Rigshi - Emotional - רגשי Inteligentsia rigshit - Emotional intelligence - אינטליגנציה רגשית Hu afilu lo nisa la’asot alenu rigshi - He didn’t even try to manipulate us - הוא אפילו לא ניסה לעשות עלינו ‘רגשי’ La’asot rigshi le/al mishehu - To use emotional manipulation on someone - לעשות ‘רגשי’ על/ל מישהו Dai laasot li/alai rigshi - Enough with this emotiona

The Hebrew root מ.ש.כ (mashach) pulls together seemingly unrelated matters like gravity, ATMs, and the act of stalling for time. Mashach is highly resourceful and provides plenty of interesting uses and meanings. As always, Guy provides some serious slang insight. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Hu mashach - He pulled - הוא משך Zochrim et ha-tkufa ha-hi - Do you remember back in the day - זוכרים את התקופה ההיא She-ashkara hayinu tsrichim kartis - When we really had to have a card - שאשכרה היינו צריכים כרטיס Kedey limshoch kesef me-ha-caspomat - In order to withdraw money from the ATM - כדי למשוך כסף מהכספומט Limshoch kesef - To withdraw money - למשוך כסף Meshichat mezuman - Cash withdrawal - משיכת מזומן Meshicha minit - Sexual attraction - משיכה מינית Pahot meshichot - Less pulling -פחות משיכות Ko’ach ha-meshicha - Gravity - כוח המשיכה Limshoch zman - To buy time - למשוך זמן Timshoch od ktsat - Hang in there just a little longer - תמשוך עוד קצת Gever moshech - Att