Streetwise Hebrew

Shalom means 'peace,' 'hello' and 'goodbye' – it's one of the most popular words in Hebrew, and the first one everybody learns. But there are other words, all derived from the root sh.l.m , that are very active in our language. Let's meet the family! Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Shalom – Peace, hello, goodbye – שלום Shalom rav lachem ve-erev tov – Hello and g...

Mamad is a protected room we Israelis got intimately familiar with during the operation in Gaza. What does it stand for? What do they call it in the safety instructions in Amharic and Russian? And last but not least, let's analyze the Hamas Hebrew propaganda song. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of the Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Az'aka – Alarm, siren – אזעקה "Yesh azaka kan b...

"Let's stay in touch," "Something has to change," "It's not you, it's me" – all languages have these disingenuous, non-committal and empty phrases. So how do we say them in Hebrew? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Ata achshav kvar lo muchan lehitchayev – You're no longer ready to commit – אתה עכשיו כבר לא מוכן להתחייב Mechuyavoot – Commitment – מחוייבות Chayav –...

All languages love the word 'to go' and Hebrew is no different. If you type the verb's root הלכ into Google you get two million results! And we'll take you through them all… Just kidding! How do we use this verb holech? Let's learn some of the most current expressions. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Holech, holechet – Going – הולך, הולכת Lalechet – To go –...

Lizrok means 'to throw' in Hebrew, but how is it used in relationship lingo? Oh, and who is the most famous 'Varda' in Israel? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: "Ve-chamesh shanim itach zarakti la-pach" – And five years with you, I threw in the garbage – וחמש שנים איתך זרקתי לפח "Ulai tafsik lizrok aleyha kesef?" – Maybe you'll stop throwing money on her? – אולי ת...

One of the most used words in Israeli slang is actually from Arabic. Yalla is used to encourage someone to do something, but with the right intonation you can deliver an array of different notions. Yalla , press 'play!' Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   Words and expressions discussed: Yalla – יָאללָה Ya Allah – יָא אַללָה Yalla zazim – יָאללָה זָזִים Yalla lech ha-bayita Motti – יָאלל...

Sometimes you need to ask a driver, or anyone really, "Could you stop here, please?" Today we'll learn how to say it in Hebrew, and we'll also find out what it has to do with bowel movements. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Lo otser be-adom – He doesn't stop in red light – לא עוצר באדום "Tagid li eich la'atsor et ha-dma'ot – Tell me how to stop the tears – תגיד...

Gadol, 'big,' and its root, g.d.l, have made a huge career in written and spoken Hebrew. Let’s meet the family today; from mustaches and fast food chains, to towers and plastic surgery. Words and expressions discussed: Gadol – גָּדוֹל Haya gadol – הָיָה גָּדוֹל Ani yodaat elohim, ata Gadol me-hachayim – אֲנִי יוֹדַעַת אֱלוֹהִים, אַתָּה גָּדוֹל מֵהַחַיִים Rosh gadol – רֹאשׁ גָּדוֹל Gdolim – גְּדוֹל...

Having קשרים in Hebrew means knowing people (in the right places) who can help you get stuff done quickly and efficiently. The root קשר has many uses that you definitely need to know! Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Kesher, ksharim – Connection, connections, knots, ties – קשר, קשרים Le-kesher amiti – For a real relationship – לקשר אמיתי At/a be-kesher kareg...

Israelis are obsessed with their head, rosh, in Hebrew. There are so many words and expressions with rosh, and today we talk about a few of them. Have a listen and find out what 'rosh gadol' and 'rosh katan' mean. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: "Al tefached lihyot rosh gadol" – Don't be afraid to be "rosh gadol" – אל תפחד להיות ראש גדול "Rosh gadol ze davar she...

Coffee culture is everywhere in Israel. How do you ask for a cappuccino to go, the Tel-Avivi way? And what's הפוך דל? Here's your short Hebrew language manual for all you coffeeholics. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: "Ani shote cafe shachor" – I drink black coffee – אני שותה קפה שחור Kafé shachor – Black coffee – קפה שחור Kafé turki – Turkish coffee – קפה טורקי...

The Hebrew phrase, למה מה קרה, can be literally translated as, "why, what happened." What do we mean by this expression and how do you use it?   Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Ze koreh – It's happening – זה קורה Ma koreh? – How are you? – מה קורה Lo nora, koreh – That's ok, these things happen – לא נורא, קורה "Sha'alti ma kara" – I asked "what happened?" – שאלת...

How do you say I'm tired, beat, drained, knackered, and the like in colloquial Hebrew? And what do you say when you crash on a Tel Avivi couch? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: "Lifamim ani ayef" – Sometimes I am tired – לפעמים אני עייף Ayefoot – Tiredness – עייפות Ani ayef me'avoda – I am tired of work – אני עייף מעבודה Ani ayef me-ha-chayim – I am tired of life...

Elohim means God in Hebrew. Why does it have a plural suffix at the end? Is it really plural in Modern Hebrew? How do we use elohim in Israeli slang, and what did we borrow from Arabic? Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Elohim – God – אלוהים El, Ela – God, Goddess – אל, אלה Elohim adirim – God Almighty – אלוהים אדירים "Elohim natan lecha be-matana" – God gave...

The Hebrew word עין means eye. How do we say it in plural? What is עין הרע? And how do we say 'The apple of my eye' in Hebrew? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Ayin – Eye – עין Einayim – Eyes – עיניים "Al tich'asi einayim sheli" – Don't be mad, darling – אל תכעסי, עיניים שלי  Ooyoon, ayoon – Eyes (Arabic) – عيون – עויון, עיון Ayooni – My darling (Arabic) – عيوني...

The word Tachles is doing an amazing comeback to spoken Hebrew in the last few years. Where is it from, and what other words do we know from the same family? Words and expressions we talk about: תַּכְלִית tachlit תַּכְלִיתִי tachliti רַב תַּכְלִיתִי rav tachliti תַּכְלִיתִיּוּת tachlitiyut תַּכְלִית < תַּכְלֵס tachlit < tachles שַבָּת < שָאבֵּס shabat < shabes טָלִית < טָאלֵס talit < tales בַּתַּכ...

Let's talk about trains in Hebrew. What's the root of רכבת, and how is it related to horse riding? Also, what do we call the Jerusalem Light rail in Hebrew and in Arabic? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Rakevet – Train – רכבת Karon shakket – Quiet train car – קרון שקט Lirkav al ofanyaim – To ride a bicycle – לרכב על אופניים Nasati barakevet – I went by train – נ...

What's חפיף, which language did we get it from, and how do you use it in Hebrew slang? Oh, and there's a verb, too, לחפף. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Chafif (Ar.) – Light (opp. Of heavy), easy going – חפיף Dammo chafif (Ar.) – "His blood is light", he's funny, an easy going guy – دمه خفيف – דמו ח'פיף "K'chu chafif et hachayim" – Take life easy – קחו חפי...

What's Shitat Matsli'ach? And why do they say that everybody needs ksharim in life? What's protektsia? And what's Vitamin P? So many questions, so little time. Today we talk about bureaucracy in Israel. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of This Episode   New Words and Expressions: Shitat matsliach – "The maybe successful technique" – שיטת מצליח "Ani matsliach lehavin pachot" – "I am successful in u...

We Israelis may not be the most polite people in the world, but from time to time even we say "I'm sorry" and "excuse me." How do you say it in Hebrew? And what can you answer back? And how is it all connected to Korean? Listen and find out. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Slicha – Forgiveness – סליחה Sole'ach, solachat – Forgiving – סולח, סולחת "Slichot" w...

When we need to use a foreign word in Hebrew, what do we do? Do we take it as is, or do we invite it to come along and wear Hebrew clothes? And how did my Dad say the word "Washington"? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: "Zot rak comedia yeshana, parodia meshuna" – C'est rien que de la comédie, que de la parodie (It's nothing but a comedy, a parody) – זאת רק קומדיה...

Israelis are playing it tough most of the time. ​How do you ask an Israeli to do something for you?​ Here are some ideas on how to make your message come across, without sounding too bossy, which might wreak havoc in the Middle East. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Efshar – Possible – אפשר Efshar lekabel mapit? – Could I have a napkin? – אפשר לקבל מפית Efshar ma...

Relationships are hard. Here are some Hebrew slang terms to express your undying love — or lack thereof — with your significant other. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Tafur aleyha – She's made to measure for me – תפור עליה Ha-job ha-hadash tafur alai – The new job is cut out for me – הג'וב החדש תפור עליי Tfira – Sewing – תפירה Mechonat tfira – Sewing machin...

The word בסדר means okay, alright, and is one of the first words you learn in Hebrew. But where did it come from and what does it literally mean? And what's the connection to the Ashdod Port? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Beseder – Fine, ok, alright – בסדר Be+seder – In (the) order – בַּסדר Seder pesach – Passover dinner – סדר פסח Lesader – To organize, to put...

Imperative in Hebrew: Often the 'real' imperative of our language sounds archaic to us, so we use the future instead. Here's a quick how-to on the Hebrew imperative. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Saper/sapri/sapru – Tell (imp.)! – ספר, ספרי, ספרו Tesaper – You will tell – תספר "Elohim, ten li rak tipat mazal" – God, just give me a bit of luck – אלוהים תן לי רק...