Streetwise Hebrew

The verb 'lavo,' meaning 'to come,' is an important verb in Hebrew. This week, Guy teaches a few handy expressions with it. How do we say, "let's say…" or, "you're getting carried away"? Bonus: What do you say to someone who is mansplaining to you? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode   Words and expressions discussed : Lavo – To come – לבוא Bo, bo'i, bo'u – Come (imperative, m., f., pl.) – בוא, בואי, בואו...

מה אנשים אומרים כשהם צריכים ללכת לשנייה לשירותים? ולמה אנשים כותבים "פיפי" כתגובה למשהו נורא מצחיק שהם רואים באינטרנט? בואו נלמד. הפרק לא מתאים למאזינים שיש להם בעיה עם הנושא.   Looking to support the show? Learn how on  Patreon . Words and expressions discussed : Pipi – pee – פיפי Sheten – Urine – שתן Bdikat sheten – Urine test – בדיקת שתן Shniya, ani osa pipi ve-az nedaber od – Just a sec, I am...

Fair warning: this episode is not for everybody. We're talking about body fluids, especially 'number 1' in the bathroom. Hey, it's important to know how to ask for a urine test, how to say 'to hold it,' and to say politely that you have an urgent need. If you're uncomfortable hearing about bodily fluids and their organs, then feel free to skip this episode. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon  ...

ישראלים, כמו כולם, אוהבים להתלונן. "סיוט" הוא חלום רע, אבל אפשר גם להשתמש בו כדי לתאר תור נוראי בסניף הדואר המקומי. באילו עוד מילים אפשר להשתמש? בואו להתלונן איתנו. Looking to support the show? Learn how on  Patreon . Words and expressions discussed : Lehitlonen – To complain – להתלונן Hu mitlonen al mashehu/mishehu – He complains about something/someone – הוא מתלונן על משהו/מישהו Mitlonenet al ha...

Sometimes one needs to whine ('lekater') and to go over the top. Israelis love to complain and use words like inferno, hell, nightmare, torture, and other flowery terms to describe another horrible queue at the bank. Let's add some phrases to our Streetwise Hebrew complaint toolkit with today's episode. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   Words and expressions discussed : Lehitlonen – To comp...

'Haver,' the Hebrew word for 'friend,' has had quite an amazing comeback to modern Israeli lingo. How do we use it in this day and age and how do we differentiate between a platonic friend and a serious partner? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   Words and expressions discussed: Shalom haver – Goodbye friend – שלום חבר Heye li haver – Be a friend for me – הייה לי חבר Tihye/Tihyi/Tihyu – Be!...

בישראל הסוציאליסטית של שנות ה-50 "חבר" הייתה מילה חשובה. כשהפכנו לקפיטליסטים היא נשארה מאחור. בשנים האחרונות היא חזרה אלינו, והמלצר בבית קפה תל אביבי יקרא לכם "חברים, השולחן שלכם מוכן". קאמבק.   Looking to support the show? Learn how on  Patreon .   Words and expressions discussed : Shalom haver – Goodbye friend – שלום חבר Heye li haver – Be a friend for me – הייה לי חבר Tihye/Tihyi/Tihyu – Be! (I...

Do you know how to say 'a good catch' in Hebrew? How about 'virtual reality'? And 'sense of direction'? This episode is all about the nuances of an interesting word for all these contexts. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon . Words and expressions discussed : Ani holech lesham ve-lo motse – I am going there, and I don't find – אני הולך לשם ולא מוצא Metsi'ah/ot – Finding/s – מציאה/מצ...

StreetWise Hebrew gets scientific: host Guy Sharett is conducting an experiment with brand new podcasts. Meant for listeners who want to develop their advanced language skills, these episodes are entirely in Hebrew. Have a listen and let us know what you think. Should we keep it going? Let us know. Looking to support the show? Learn how on  Patreon . Playlist: Nechi Nech – all this time / נצ'י נצ'...

Four years ago, we aired our first show, and this month, in August 2017, we are celebrating more than 1.4 million downloads. So for our fourth birthday, let's learn the word 'arba,' which means 'four' in Hebrew, and its root. Looking to support the show? Learn how on  Patreon . Words and expressions discussed: Arba lifnot boker lo nirdemet – 4 am, I cannot sleep – ארבע לפנות בוקר לא נרדמת Arba – F...

So you went to buy clothes in a Tel Avivi shop. The next thing you know, the customer next to you, while trying on a dress, says that you shouldn't wear red. Ever. Let's talk about what just happened here and learn some phrases in clothes shopping lingo. Looking to support the show? Learn how on  Patreon . Words and expressions discussed: Lakachti le-baali kazé – I took one just like this for my h...

It's so hot in Tel Aviv, you cannot believe it. Ham! But if you want to say, "I am hot", don't translate directly from English to Hebrew. Listen to this episode first. Without your kids. You'll understand in a minute. Looking to support the show? Learn how on  Patreon . Words and expressions discussed: Ham – Hot, angry, horny – חם Haya ham – It was hot – היה חם Yihye ham – It will be hot – יהיה חם...

A teenager in central Tel Aviv said something to his friend on the phone that made Guy think: How do we say 'whiner' and 'to whine' in Hebrew? Today's episode is about the word 'bachyan' and its variations. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon . Words and expressions discussed: Hu bacha – He cried – הוא בכה Livkot – To cry – לבכות Bachiti – I cried – בכיתי Eineni tinok bachyan – I am...

How do you tell someone not to do something in Hebrew? Use 'al' (that's A-L), which means 'don't.' On this episode, Guy explains how to use this little word, and how to say 'just don't.' Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon . Words and expressions discussed: Al tid'agu li – Don't worry about me – אל תדאגו לי Rak al tagid li – Just don't tell me – רק אל תגיד לי Ata al tagid li ma laaso...

'Nehmad' means 'nice' or 'lovely', but often 'nice' is just not enough for what we want to say. How do we give it a boost to emphasize what we really mean? We can also say 'nehmad,' but in fact mean the opposite! And what do we say about a waiter who is 'too nice'? Guy gives us the nuances of 'nehmad' in this week's episode.  Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon . Words and expression...

The Hebrew word חמוד, which means 'cute' or 'sweet,' could be used in several ways, depending on the context and intonation. But just like in English, calling someone 'sweetie' in Hebrew isn't always a good thing! Listen to Guy's explanation on how 'hamud' can be either endearing or angry. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Hamood – Cute, sweet – חמוד Lahmod – To c...

The word 'lidfok' in Hebrew is to knock or hit. As you might imagine, it means some more explicit things too. In this episode, Guy explains why words like 'dafuk' and 'dfika' are difficult to use but important to understand. And how some words just shouldn't be used at all. Warning: This episode is not child friendly! Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon . Words and expressions discus...

Litpos in formal Hebrew and litfos more colloquially both mean 'to catch', but the word has a whirlwind of other meanings, like to comprehend, take up space, or think highly of someone. Guy nearly gets lost in the possibilities, and he even finds a Yiddish connection. But don't take his word for it! Looking to support the show? Learn how on  Patreon . Words and expressions discussed : Af ahat lo t...

We always talk about what's around the corner or why it's a bad idea to cut them, but never the corner itself. So on this episode, Guy gives corners, 'pinot' in Hebrew, the attention they deserve! Looking to support the show? Learn how on  Patreon . Words and expressions discussed : La-kova sheli shalosh pinot – My hat has three corners – לכובע שלי שלוש פינות Pina, pinot – Corner, corners – פינה,...

So you're shopping around for a short-sleeved shirt, and stop for an espresso. Or the boss says don't take shortcuts, but a friend's constant adventures stresses you out so much it practically shortens your life! For a lesson in all things 'katsar', short in Hebrew, listen to this episode. Looking to support the show? Learn how on  Patreon . Words and expressions discussed : Katsar – Short – קצר E...

One of your friends or colleagues is talking your ear off – blabbering, nagging, or over analyzing. In Hebrew, you would kindly ask that person to stop being a 'hafran,' or literally, 'digger.' Guy explains how and when to use this illustrative slang. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Hofer, hoferet – Digging, excavating, talk a lot – חופר, חופרת Lahpor (lahfor) –...

There's so much more to learning a language than studying grammar and vocabulary. The melodies of a language, Guy says, are equally as important. So join him on this short journey through Israel's many voices to learn a thing or two about Hebrew intonation. No need to think, analyze or translate. Just listen. Looking to support the show? Learn how on  Patreon . Words and expressions discussed : In...

Think you already know Hebrew inside out? Well, the words for 'inside' and 'out' in Hebrew may stump you yet. Guy explains them and other tricky, related phrases. Looking to support the show? Learn how on  Patreon . Words and expressions discussed : Chutz, Bahutz – Outside – חוץ, בחוץ Pnim, Bifnim – Inside – פנים, בפנים Ata rotse lashevet bifnim o bahutz? – Do you want to sit inside or outside? –...

The Hebrew word "sagur" means closed, but is also ever useful in making deals and plans, even satisfying your hunger. Today Guy explains this word and its artful expressions about closing, finalizing, and wrapping things up. Looking to support the show? Learn how on  Patreon . Words and expressions discussed : Lisgor – To close – לסגור Lisgor delet – To close a door – לסגור דלת Lisgor misradim – T...

It happens all the time. Someone cut you in the line at a Tel Avivi market, just stepped right in front. What do you say to put them back in their place? That is, back behind you in the queue.  Let's learn what Israelis say in this situation, paying special attention to delicate intonations that make all the difference. Looking to support the show? Learn how on  Patreon . Words and expressions dis...