Streetwise Hebrew

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 - נמא...

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 בלח...

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-limud...

Full service or self service? Diesel or regular? When pulling up to the pump, what Hebrew words and phrases do you need in order to successfully navigate an Israeli gas station? On this episode, Guy tops off the linguistic tank. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Tahanat delek - Gas station - תחנת דלק Otsrim letadlek - Stopping to refuel - עוצרים לתדלק Le...

The Hamsa symbol, a hand with five fingers, is believed to bring good luck and keep away the evil eye. In Arabic, hamsa is the number five, which just happens to be the number of years we've been making our Streetwise Hebrew podcast! We celebrate this grand occasion with a special episode on all things  hamesh (חמש). Pssstttt... have a listen to how you too can keep away the evil eye! Listen to th...

What do we mean when we say hu af al atsmo (הוא עף על עצמו), he flies on himself? How about oof li me-ha-einayim (עוף לי מהעיניים), fly off my eyes? On this episode, Guy explains all things la'oof , to fly. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Ani af elayich - I am flying to you - אני עף אלייך Oof, oof beteruf - Fly, fly, insanely - עוף, עוף בטירוף Oof, oof...

Eich (איך), Hebrew for "how", is a tiny word used very often in spoken Hebrew and in many different contexts. On this episode, Guy explains these uses through several examples from everyday life in Israel. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Eich - How - איך Eich shir nolad - How is a song born? - איך שיר נולד Eich haya? - How was it? - איך היה? Eich sham?...

You're busy. I'm busy. We're all extremely busy these days. The Hebrew word for busy is עסוק. What would you say to your friend if you might not be able to make it to their party? Guy sets aside time from his busy schedule to explain. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Ein li zman linshom - I don't have time to breathe - אין לי זמן לנשום Asuk, asuka, asuk...

Why do Israelis say, "hu taka li berez" (הוא תקע לי ברז), which roughly translates to, "he jammed a faucet on me"? And how do we say in Hebrew, "I'm stuck in the middle seat again"? On this episode, Guy explains the word litko'a (לתקוע), to stick into, and delves into the nooks and crannies of hardcore Israeli slang. Language warning: things are about to get explicit. Listen to the All-Hebrew Vers...

Simha (שמחה) in Hebrew is happiness or joy, but it can also mean a happy event. How would you say "to make someone happy" in Hebrew? Guy explains all things שמח on this extra joyful episode. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Simha - Happiness - שמחה Eize yom sameach li hayom - What a happy day I am having today - איזה יום שמח לי היום Esther Roth-Shachamo...

In addition to calling and texting, your smartphone is also a fancy nagan-em-pi-shalosh  (נגן אם-פי-3). What's that? Well, without this capability you wouldn't be able to listen to this podcast on the move! Today's episode is all about the root נ.ג.נ, out of which Hebrew words like ניגון, מנגינה, and נגינה are constructed. Listen to the all-Hebrew version of this episode . New Words and Expression...

There are several ways to ask an Israeli taxi driver to lower the volume on the radio that won't result in nasty looks. Today, Guy discusses these sayings and other words related to radio, like the Hebrew word for podcast. Listen to the all-Hebrew version of this episode   New Words and Expressions: Havita - Omlette - חביתה Aruhat boker israelit - Israeli breakfast - ארוחת בוקר ישראלית Pirsomot -...

The Hebrew word for partner or flatmate is שותף, and its root ש.ת.פ is especially relevant when trying to get your social media posts to go viral. On this episode, Guy shares his linguistic expertise on all things shareable. Click Here for the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Shutaf, shutafim - Partner/s, flatmate - שותף, שותפים Shutafut - Partnership - שותפוּת Lesha...

Most furniture from Ikea comes with assembly instructions. On this episode, Guy provides us with an instructions manual for the root רכב, which can be found in the word להרכיב, to assemble. No assembly required on this podcast! Click Here for the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Rachav - He rode - רכב Rochev - He's riding - רוכב Hem rochvim - They ride - הם רוכבים Ro...

Many things in life are complicated, including some people's relationship status on Facebook. How do we say "it's complicated" in Hebrew? And what saying do we use as something gets more and more complicated? Bonus: we've included a short clip from the Hebrew version of this episode. Click Here for the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Mesubach - Complicated - מסובך '...

How do we say "I want to improve my Hebrew" in Hebrew? How about "improvements"? And what's the connection to the popular supermarket chain Shufersal? Guy explains. Click Here for the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Leshaper mashehu - To improve something - לשפר משהו Ani rotse leshaper et ha-ivrit sheli - I want to improve my Hebrew - אני רוצה לשפר את העברית שלי Neh...

Israel has just won the Eurovision Song Contest thanks to Netta Barzilai and her incredible song Toy. Guy walks you through parts of the song's Hebrew lyrics and reviews some of Israel's past Eurovision winners. Click Here for the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Ero-viz-yon - Eurovision - אירוויזיון Taharut zemer, taharut shirim - Song contest - תחרות זמר Nitsachon...

What's the Hebrew language connection between the following: a book chapter, devouring an entire pizza, and the Soviet Union's breakup? Guy explains it all on today's episode. Click Here for the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Perek, prakim - Episode, chapter - פרק Liftoah perek hadash - To start a new chapter - לפתוח פרק חדש Ba-prakim ha-baim - On the next episodes...

Imagine this… you're riding on a bus in Tel Aviv. Next to you is someone talking on their cellphone much too loud. How should you ask them to "keep it down"? Today we'll talk about those who talk too much and discuss the possible ways to ask them to stop, politely and impolitely. Click here for the all-Hebrew version of this episode   New Words and Expressions: Shotkim – We are silent – שותקים Sha...

This episode is about the root .ח.ט.פ, which is used in the Hebrew words חטף (snatch), החטיף (beat up), and חטיף (snack). Why is this root used in the word for snacks? Because they're something you can grab and eat on the go. Now grab a seat and enjoy another deliciously appetising episode of Streetwise Hebrew. Listen to the all-Hebrew version here: www.patreon.com/streetwisehebrew   New Words and...

The root חב"ר  is rich. It's used in the Hebrew words for "composing", "connecting", "joining", "adding", and many more. In this episode, Guy explains this root and teaches us how to say the ever-important phrase, "I can't connect to the internet." We also learn the difference between מחברת and חוברת . Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Targilei hibur - Addition ex...

Meser is defined as message or theme, as in the meser  of a story, or the main idea behind the text. But it also relates to text messages and to tradition. Guy explains this and more on today's episode. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Ha-hazai moser et ha-tahazit - The weatherman delivers the forecast - החזאי מוסר את התחזית Limsor mismachim - To give documents -...

The words daluk , nidlak , and  lehadlik  are all related to turning on electric devices. However, they could also mean 'turn on' in the sensual sense. To complicate things further, the word letadlek , from the same root, is to 'refuel' as well as slang for 'to drink alcohol.' Perhaps this week's show is not the most kid-friendly of episodes. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and...

"Lahshov" means to think, a crucial word and root. From "One could think" to "without thinking twice" and "think about it", this episode teaches all the thought-related expressions you can, well, think of. Pro tip: "Let me think about it" is a perfect phrase to use with pushy marketing people. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New words and expressions: Lahshov – To think – לחשוב Lakachat p...