Streetwise Hebrew

The word שואה, holocaust, used to be a sacred word. Not anymore. Like many loaded words, we used and reused it. Now you can hear people using Sho'a in totally different contexts. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Shoah – Holocaust – שואה Amud ha-esh – Pillar of fire – עמוד האש Yom Hazikaron La-shoah ve-la-gvura (Yom Ha-shoah) – The Holocaust and Heroism Remembranc...

The Hebrew language lay dormant for a very long while. When it reemerged from its slumber, we Israelis found ourselves without the right words for all things relating to sex. Just how serious is this problem? Quite serious. Guy explains. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   Words and Expressions: Zayin – Dick – זין Pot, nartik, Vagina – Vagina – פות Kus – Pussy – כוס Le'onen – To masturba...

Kombina is one of the most salient features of Israeli society. In order to survive in this country, one needs to fend for oneself, using all possible means: Contacts, resourcefulness and creative ideas. Some Israelis say we are even 'Medinat Kombina', a 'kombina' state. So how do you use this word, and how can you even turn it into a verb? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Ex...

In Hebrew, צוהריים means noon, and אחר הצוהריים means afternoon. But the actual afternoon hours, the ones we Israelis think of as afternoon, may be completely different than your own. So what do we mean when we say, "call me in the afternoon"? Guy explains. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Tsohorayim – Noon – צוהריים Hu hits-hir – He declared – הוא הצהיר "Be-tsoh...

What happens when we add the suffix -oosh to a word? And how do young people call Instagram in Hebrew? Hint: Not insta. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Hi-oosh – Hey there (slang) – היוש Guyoosh, Galitoosh, Eyaloosh – Guy, Galit, Eyal (diminutive) – גיוש, גליתוש, איילוש Havitoosh – חביתוש Havit – Barrel – חבית Bat mitsvoosh – Bat mitzvah (diminutive) – בת מצווש...

People say that Israelis can sometimes be rude when speaking. Or are we simply too direct? Contrary to popular belief, we do have ways to be courteous in modern Hebrew. Want to know how? Bevakasha! Check Out the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Bevakasha – Please, here you are – בבקשה Ani rotse cappuccino – I want (I'd like) cappuccino – אני רוצה קפוצ'ינו "Hayiti rotsa ca...

What Hebrew language teachings can we pick up from the documentary TV series " Mishpachot ," by the Heymann Brothers? The series is composed of five Israeli families who utilize many different layers of the language. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Mishpacha, mishpachot – Family, families – משפחה, משפחות "Ani ha-gever shelach" – I am your man – אני הגבר שלך "Ata...

Today, I'll give you a few tips: how to improve your  accent  and  pronunciation in Hebrew. There are many things you can do on your own, at home. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: "Ma ata omer?" – What do you say? – מה אתה אומר "Ata omer li dvarim" – You are telling me things – אתה אומר לי דברים   Playlist and Clips: My Fair Lady My Fair Lady – Hebrew version Kol...

The word סחבק comes from Arabic and means "your friend." So what's its meaning when used in Hebrew? And what's סחבקייה? Oh, and there's even a verb, להסתחבק. Guy explains. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: "Sahbak qal li" – Your friend told me (Ar.) –  صاحبك قالي – סחבק קאל לי "Ve'az sahbak ro'eh she-hamatsav lo tov" – And then yours truly sees that things are not...

In Hebrew, the default form is the masculine form. But what happens when a navigation application speaks to women as if they were guys? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Maslul – Route – מסלול Ya'ad – Destination – יעד Pni – Turn (Imp., fem.) – פני Pneh – Turn (Imp., m.) – פנה Hayim, hayot – Live (present tense, pl. m, pl. f.) – חיים וחיות Anachnu hayavot ve-hayav...

The word כבר, meaning "already," has so many functions in modern Hebrew that we decided to dedicate an entire episode to it. Check Out the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Kvar acharey chatzot – It's already past midnight – כבר אחרי חצות Nu, dai kvar – Come on, enough already – נו, די כבר Achalta kvar – Have you already eaten? – אכלת כבר Ani kvar ba – I will come soon – א...

Polish mother or Jewish mother? What does Ima Polanyia mean in contemporary Hebrew? Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Ima Polanyia - Polish Mother - אמא פולנייה Polania ze kan - Poland is here - פולניה זה כאן Lo, al takum, be'emet shelo tsarich – No, don't get up, there's really no need - לא, אל תקום, באמת שלא צריך Polaniyut - "Polishness" - פולניות Tafsik li...

Tihye bari means "be well". When do we use it, and what are the other ways to sign off a message in Hebrew? Click here for the all-Hebrew version of this episode   New Words and Expressions: Tihye bari (m.)/Tihyi bri'a (f.)/Tihyu bri'im (pl.) - All the best, be well ("Be healthy") - תהיה בריא Ve-she-tamid tihye bari - May you always be healthy - ושתמיד תהיה בריא Tihye li bari - I oppose to what yo...

How do you say 'dude' in Hebrew? You'll hear ' achi'  ('brother') on the street all the time, but in which contexts should you use it? Can women say it? Guy Sharett explains.   Words and expressions discussed: Ahi / ah sheli – My brother, dude – אחי / אח שלי Gever – Man – גבר Bendam – Human being – בנאדם Haver – friend – חבר Ahi, ma kore? – What's happening, dude? – אחי, מה קורה? Ma nishma, benada...