Streetwise Hebrew

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...

"Lo ichpat li" -- I don't care -- is a very useful expression. It is used for all things caring, like: "Do you even care?" and "You don't care about me?" It is especially useful with drama queens of all sorts. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New words and expressions: Ichpat - care - אכפת Li ze lo ichpat - I don't care - לי זה לא אכפת Lo ichpat li ma omrim alai - I don't care what they sa...

"Linhog" means to drive, but when its root nun-hey-gimmel is taken to other verb formats, it takes on new meanings that tell us how to behave, how to lead, and more. This episode is dedicated to our dear listener Naomi Wrubel who passed away last week in NY.   Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New words and expressions: Anachanu mishtatfim be-tsa'ar ha-mishpacha - We pay our condolences (li...

Today we are covering the root shavar, which gives Hebrew its words for break, broke, broken. There are plenty of unexpected phrases to learn with this root, one of which is not for kids, so please listen to the episode without them first. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon     New words and expressions: Shavar - He broke - שבר Lishbor - To break - לשבור Shoveret levavot - Heartbreaker (f.) -...

How do you say Thai food in Hebrew? How about "I don't eat coriander?" This episode is a feast of tasty eating-related words and phrases. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New words and expressions: Ochel - Food - אוכל Ochel, kadima, ochel - Food, let's go for it, food! - אוכל, קדימה, אוכל! Ein ochel ba-bayit - There's no food at home - אין אוכל בבית Yesh melafefonim - There are cucumbers -...

We don't talk enough about food on our podcast. The Hebrew word טעים means tasty, and its root, טעמ, makes up a whole family of culinary terms that are important to know. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Ta'im lecha, ta'im lach, ta'im lachem – Is it tasty (for you)? – טעים לךָ? טעים לךְ? טעים לכם? Ta'im she-ein dvarim ka-ele – So delicious that there are no thing...

To mark the 200th episode of  Streetwise Hebrew , learn to say matayim, two hundred in Hebrew, and to talk about this special suffix for pairs, 'ayim'. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New words and expressions: Perek matayim - Episode number 200 - פרק 200 Me'a, meot - Hundred, century/centuries - מאה, מאות Matayim - Two hundred - מאתיים Alpayim - Two thousand - אלפיים Elef - One thousand...

Halom is a dream in Hebrew, plural, Halomot . There's lots of songs about halomot . But how is it related to Guy's grandpa? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New words and expressions: Halom, halomot - Dream - חלום Halomot be-aspamya - Unrealistic dreams - חלומות באספמיה He-hayit o halamti halom - Did you (f.) exist or was I just dreaming? - ההיית או חלמתי חלום? Rachel ha-meshoreret - Rache...

The Tel Aviv municipality launched a new campaign to encourage people to pick up after their dogs. 'Tarimu' means 'pick up', imperative, plural. But it has another meaning in the Tel Avivi gay lingo. What does it mean? Looking for the full Hebrew version of this episode? You'll find it on Patreon. New words and expressions: Merimim et ha-yadayim gavoha la-shamayim - Raising their hands up to the s...

The root חל"ק has so many meanings. It has to do with separation, borders and partitions, so you can imagine how popular it is here in the Middle East. But it has more meanings, for example at the hair stylist, in a stadium or even on a banana peel. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New words and expressions:  Tochnit ha-haluka - The partition plan - תכנית החלוקה Halukat itonim - Newspaper...

Almost everybody knows the word chutzpah, audacity, brash behaviour. When is it positive and when is it negative? And what's hutzpah israelit ? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New words and expressions: Hatichat hatsuf - You cheeky bastard - חתיכת חצוף Limhok - to erase - למחוק Titbayesh lecha - Shame on you - תתבייש לך Ata pashut hatsuf - You're just cheeky - אתה פשוט חצוף Na'ara yechola...

English has 'like' and 'kinda'. What do Hebrew speakers use as fillers? And what did we borrow from Arabic? Guy explains. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   Words and expressions discussed: Em - Umm - אֶם Achshav ani margish - Now I feel - עכשיו אני מרגיש Ke'ilu lo yode'a klum - As if I know nothing - כאילו לא יודע כלום Ke'ilu (kilu) - As if - כאילו, כילו Zot omeret (ztomeret, stomeret) - It...

Today, um, Guy talks, um, about fillers like 'Eh' in Hebrew and about other things we say when we try to think and talk at the same time. Learn why this is important, especially for people who want to improve their Hebrew. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New words and expressions: Eh - Um - אֶה Ve… - And - ו… Ve-tagidi - And tell me (f.)… - ותגידי Ve-tagid li - And tell me (m.) - ותגיד Yo...

We were all kids once, and at least in Israel, during the summer holiday, we used to tell our parents, mesha'amem li , I am bored. Answers varied, as you can imagine, but let's talk for a sec about boredom-bored-boring in Hebrew. Words and expressions discussed: Mesha'amem - Boring - משעמם Mesha'mem li - I am bored - משעמם לי Mesha'amem la'allah / me-sha'amem ticho / ma-ze mesha'amem - It's so bor...

How do you say 'about 30 people' in Hebrew? How about 'around the 7th or the 8th'? He's about 50-60 year old? Today Guy talks about "around", "about", "8-ish" and more. Words and expressions discussed : Haya od or, hamesh be'erech – It was still light, it was about five – היה עוד אור, חמש בערך Erech, arachim – Value, values – ערך Be'erech assara, esrim – About 10-20 – בערך עשרה Be'erech be-emtsa N...

Gay marriage is new to the world, and Hebrew, a gender-based language, has to face the music and find new ways to talk about it. On this episode, Guy talks about an email from a married gay listener. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   Words and expressions discussed : Lahatab – LGBT – להט"ב – לסביות, הומואים, טרנס, בי Zeh ishi – This is my man – זה אישי Zeh ba'ali – This is my husband – זה ב...

The word 'shavé' means 'equal,' but in slang it also means 'worth it', and sometimes 'cool,' 'amazing,' or 'good looking.' How do we ask, 'Is it worth it?' in Hebrew, and why is there a bleep censor in this episode? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Shavé, shava, shavim, shavot – Equal – שוֶוה, שוָוה, שווים, שוות Shneinu shavim, pahot o yoter – We're both equal, m...

You'll hear it all the time — when you're handed a music show ticket, getting the menu, or receiving your shopping bag from the cashier: 'tehenu' means 'enjoy.' Today Guy explains how to use this word and teaches us more words from the same root. Bonus: this root exists also in Arabic, so we can learn some greetings to use with Arabic speakers as well! Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New...

Aharei ha-hagim, "after the holidays" is almost here. That's a good enough reason to talk about the root alef-het-resh, which means after, late, and tardiness. Plus a tip: how do you make sure your Israeli friends will make it on time to your event? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Acharei ha-hagim – After the holidays – אחרי החגים Et ha-otobus lo le'acher – Not...