Streetwise Hebrew

In Hebrew, בטח or בטוח – "sure" or "for sure" – are words we hear a lot on the Israeli streets, so we need to know how to use them properly. Guy does some excavation work so we can see where this root, בטח comes from. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: "Israel betach be-elokim" – People of Israel have faith in God – ישראל בטח באלוקים Livto'ach be-mishehu – To trust...

It's summertime and everybody is going somewhere for hofesh, holiday. That being the case, let's talk about flights, package deals and checking-in –Hebrew style. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Hofesh – Holiday –חופש Ha-hofesh ha-gadol – The summer holiday –החופש הגדול Hofesh ha-dibur – Freedom of speech –חופש הדיבור Hufsha – Vacation –חופשה Hufsha mishpach...

The Hebrew word ילד – 'child' – comes from the root 'y.l.d' – י.ל.ד – which has made a huge career for itself in Semitic languages. This is a great example of how one root behaves in different verb patterns, keeping the stem meaning but then providing us with exciting branches of it. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Yeled – Kid, boy – ילד Yalda – Girl – ילדה "Kul...

Enough is enough! Guy Sharett introduces us to the word 'maspik' - 'enough.' We'll also listen to some songs so we can check out how 'maspik' deals with the adjectives, adverbs, and verbs it meets on the way.   New words & expressions: Ze maspik? - Is it enough? - ?זה מספיק Ze lo maspik – It’s not enough – זה לא מספיק Metsuyan – Excellent – מצויין Tov meod – Very good – טוב מאוד Kim’at tov me’od –...

"Od, od, od!" – we're always wanting more. How do we ask for more milk, for an encore or for another goal in a football game? You guessed it, we use "od." Guy Sharett tells us more… Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Od – More, else, still – עוד Ken, od tipa – Yes, a tiny bit more – כן, עוד טיפה Efshar od chalav? – May I have a bit more milk? – אפשר עוד חלב "Ma od...

Guy shares his top 10 tips on how to rejuvenate your linguistic inner self: 1. Find stuff you love and read about it in Hebrew. 2. Songs on StreetwiseHebrew.com   3. Radio: Israeli National Radio in 10 languages 4. Flash cards all over your home 5. Saying new words out loud. Talk to AI and the Google Translate App. 6. Tandem with a Hebrew speaker. You can message me through Patreon with your locat...

Do you have "zman" - time? This root, "z.m.n," is used in so many words in Hebrew, it definitely merits an episode to itself. Guy Sharett also explains how it's related to the Arab Spring and Tahrir Square in Cairo. "Zman" to press play… Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Ha-zman hu kmo galgal anak – Time is like a ferris wheel – הזמן הוא כמו גלגל ענק Yesh lecha zm...

How do we give something to someone in Hebrew? To give is לתת, but in some structures it could mean something else entirely. And what is לתת בראש – 'to give in the head'? Guy explains. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Natati la chayay – I gave her my life – נתתי לה חיי Past: Natati, natata, natat, natan, natna, natanu, natatem, natnu – נתתי, נתתָ, נתתְ, נתן, נתנה,...

Israelis love tips and recommendations in order to speed up their decision making. So it's no surprise that the word כדאי – 'it's worth it' – is so popular in everyday use. How do we tell our friends they should totally check out a certain bar? And how do we make sure they don't go and see the new superhero movie? Guy Sharett introduces us to the Israeli dichotomy of כדאי/לא כדאי. Hear the All-Heb...

What do Israelis mean when they say "ma pit'om"? What about just "pit'om," all by itself? We hear it all the time in spoken Hebrew, and Guy will explain it all. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Pit'om -Suddenly – פתאום "Pit'om kam adam ba-boker" – A person suddenly wakes up in the morning – פתאום קם אדם בבוקר Pit'om giliti bor anak she-nif'ar – Suddenly I found a...

You can't be in the Start-up Nation and not know how to talk tech in Hebrew. Guy teaches us how to say "attachment," "text message," and "chat" in Hebrew, and how to conjugate the verb לסמס. Things are about to get geeky! Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Telefon nayad, telefon cellulari – Cellphone – טלפון נייד, טלפון סלולרי Titkasher elay la-nayad – Call me on m...

Making your Hebrew sound truly conversational is an important but tricky skill. How do you start a new topic, for instance? How do you urge someone to get to the point? What sounds do you make when you nod attentively? And how do you show shock, excitement, or enthusiasm? Today we work on all those little things you do naturally in your own language, but which you have to learn in your new one. Li...

The Hebrew word יד means hand, but also so much more. Let's find out its other meanings, idioms, and expressions Israelis often use. And what's yad2?  Guy gives us a hand with the lesson. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Yad, yadayim – Hand, hands – יד, ידיים Ten / tni li yad – Give me a hand – תן לי יד Ani lo rotse latet le-zeh yad – I don't want to collaborate...

It's elections day in Israel, in case you hadn't noticed, so today we'll talk about voting in Hebrew. Guy also tells us how it's connected to the word for finger - אצבע. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Lehatsbi'a – To vote – להצביע Etsba, etsba'ot – Finger, fingers – אצבע, אצבעות Lehatsbi'a al mashehu – To point at something – להצביע "Ein lachem adayin zchut hat...

Lior Peleg, our beloved editor and technical producer, is leaving us. As a tribute to him, we'll explore his full name and learn some cool stuff about it, especially about Or, light. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Peleg, plagim – Brook, stream – פלג, פלגים "Ve-haya ke-ets shatul al palgei mayim" (Psalms 1:3) – "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers...

We might not be as polite as the Brits, but we still enjoy talking about the weather while waiting for our favorite Tel Avivi bus.  Host Guy Sharett shares some useful structures and words you can use with the really nice old lady with the red coat and funny hat that speaks to you relentlessly.   Words and expressions discussed : Mezeg avir – מֶזֶג אָוִויר Mezeg – מֶזֶג Avir – אָוִויר Mezeg ha-avi...

It is Memorial Day in Israel. So today we discuss the ins and outs of זיכרון, the Hebrew word for memory. What's the difference between לזכור and להיזכר, if both of them mean 'to remember'? And what does a secretary have to do with it? Guy helps jog our memory. Listen to the All Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Hu zachar – He remembered – הוא זכר Ani zocher ota – I remember h...

Lots of Hebrew learners find it hard to discern between 'speak,' 'talk,' and 'tell' when they talk with their Israeli friends, colleagues, classmates, and flatmates. It's time, once and for all, for Guy to imprint it on our memories. Don't worry, it's not difficult! Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Ledaber – To speak – לדבר Medaber – Speaking – מדבר "Ratsiti ledabe...

Matsav  is a word Israelis use as much as they possibly can. It means situation, state, or condition, but it can be used in lots of different idioms: ma ha-matsav?;   yesh matsav;   Ha-matsav; matsav cherum etc. Guy Sharett takes us through the 'matsav' of the matsav family.   Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Matsav, Matsavim – מַצָּב, מַצָּבִים Ma ha-m...

Be'etsem , which means 'actually,' is comprised of preposition 'be' -בְּ plus the word etsem , which is an 'object,' 'essence,' or 'gist'… but also a 'bone.' What? Guy Sharett explains all. And what is, be'etsem , the difference between small talk and networking? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Be'etsem – Actually – בעצם Etsem (Pl. atsamim) – Object, gist, bone...

Today Guy Sharett teaches us all things  tsarich –  'need.' This root, צרכ, comes in many shapes and sizes: Need, necessity, consumption, consumer, and much more. Guy also tells us about a new word he found in the dictionary – kids, don't try this at home! Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Tsarich – One needs – צריך Kvar tsarich lehit'orer – One already needs...

This week, we dedicate the show to Paris and France, as a tribute to our French friends who are going through a difficult time. Many Israelis don't even know that some of the famous songs they enjoy humming are actually French songs translated into Hebrew – so we sample some of those. Guy Sharett also teaches us some new words like ga'agu'a – 'longing.' A tout de suite! Hear the All-Hebrew Episode...

Everyone in Israel is talking about March 17. Any idea what's happening on that date? That's right, b'chirot - 'elections.' A b'chira is a 'choice.' Guy Sharett teaches us how to choose, elect, and select in Hebrew, in time for March 17. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Bchirot – Elections, choices – בחירות Bchira, bchirot – Choice, choices – בחירה, בחירות Bachar...

There is one thing we Israelis dread above all: Being a 'fraier' – a 'sucker.' That's why we have to stand firm, drive a hard bargain, suspect anyone who offers super cheap prices, and never take things for granted. Guy Sharett teaches us about this crucial term, and we learn what the 'fraieriyoot' index is.   New Words and Expressions: Fraier – פְרָאיֵיר Lihyot fraier – לִהיוֹת פְרָאיֵיר Ata chos...

Ru’ach  means wind or breeze, so you'll hear it a lot on the weather forecast at this time of year. But it also means spirit, soul, or even ghost. Guy Sharett shows us the root's Biblical usages, as well as its cousins in other languages - we even hear a beautiful 13th century Farsi poem.   Words and expressions discussed : Ru’ach – רוּחַ Ru’ach stav – רוּחַ סְתָיו Ruchot chazakot – רוּחוֹת חֲזָקו...