Streetwise Hebrew

There are quite a few words in Hebrew, like משמעות (meaning) and משמעת (discipline), that are connected to the root שמע (to hear) even though it might not seem like it at first sight. Let's go over some of these words together. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Mashmaoot – Meaning – משמעות Mashmaoot ha-shem – The meaning of the name – מה משמעות השם Ma mashmaaoot h...

If you didn't grow up as a child in Israel, chances are you don't know the sounds animals make in Hebrew, nor the verbs we use to describe them. Guy to the rescue. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Miao – Meow – מיאו Leyalel – To wail, to complain – ליילל Dai leyalel! – Stop complaining – די ליילל Klavlav – Small dog (kelev katan) – כלבלב Hav-hav – Woof-woof – הב-...

We have many expressions with animals in Hebrew. Like, איזה חמור הייתי. Which ones can you use day-to-day and which ones can get you in trouble? Guy explains. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Ein haya kazot – No such thing – אין חיה כזאת Eize hamor ani – I am so stupid – איזה חמור אני Eize hamor hayiti – How stupid I was – איזה חמור הייתי "Naavod kmo hamorim" – W...

In Israel, the person who runs our neighborhood vegetable stall, the ירקן, is an important figure. Guy explains why. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Yerakot – Vegetables – ירקות Yarkan – Vegetable seller – ירקן Yerek – Greens – יֶרֶק Haser li yerek – I am missing my greenery – חסר לי ירק Hanut yerakot, yarkaniya – Vegetable shop – חנות ירקות, ירקנייה Mishlo'ach...

The Hebrew word פנים means face, and on its face, an ordinary and simple word. But there's more to it in spoken Hebrew, including little things about its proper use. On this episode, Guy covers mafia talk, some politically incorrect uses of פנים, and a tourism campaign from the 1950's. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Panim – Face – פנים Bi-fnim – Inside – בפנים...

The Hebrew word להשכיב means, to put something  or someone  in a horizontal position. Read that sentence again and you'll understand why this episode is not suitable for children. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Lehashkiv – To put to rest, to put someone to bed – להשכיב "Kama kesef hishkavta al ze" – How much money did you spend on this – כמה כסף השכבת על זה "Ei...

The Hebrew word סחורה means merchandise. When sellers in the fruit and vegetable markets shout סחורה אלף-אלף, what are they saying? And how do we say drug trafficking and drug dealers in the language of the Bible? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Socher – Trader, merchant, dealer – סוחר Socher rahitim – Furniture merchant – סוחר רהיטים Diamond dealer – Socher yah...

Where do you go shopping? How do you pay? And what do we say to a friend who just bought something new? Guy explains shopping in Israel. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Kniyot, shopping – Shopping – קניות Metsiot – Findings, good deals – מציאות Mutag, mutagim – Brand name product – מותג Mutag ha-bayit – Home brand – מותג הבית Logo, logo'im – Logo, logos – לוגו,...

The Hebrew word for calendar is יומן. Our calendars used to be made of paper and hung up on the wall. But today, most of us have gone digital. That means all our events have to be synchronized across our many devices. So what does היומן לא מסונכרן mean? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Lua'ch shana – Calendar – לוח שנה Yoman – Calendar – יומן Lu'ach ha-shana ha-i...

What should we say in Hebrew when we see someone we haven't seen for a very long time? How about someone who just got back from an extended stay abroad? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Baruch shuvcha – Welcome back (m.) – ָברוך שובך Baruch shuvech – Welcome back (f.) – ברוך שובךְ Baruch shuvcha, chaver – Welcome back, my friend – ברוך שובך, חבר "Shalom rav shuve...

To aim, to tune, to intend, to really mean something. The Hebrew equivalent of these verbs all come from the root כ.ו.נ, a root which has many interesting uses in our spoken language. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Mi mechaven et ha-tnu'ah – Who is directing the traffic – מי מכוון את התנועה Lechaven ekdah le-ever mishehu – To aim a gun at someone – לכוון אקדח ל...

The word כיוון means direction but it's got many different uses in day-to-day Hebrew. In this episode, Guy talks about wind direction, career trajectory, prayer orientation and so much more. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Kivoon – Direction, bearing, orientation – כיוון "Kol kivoon she-bo halachnu" – Every direction in which we went – כל כיוון שבו הלכנו Kivoon...

What do we say to someone  really  tall who is sitting in front of us in the movie theater? And how do spies communicate with each other? Guy explains the Hebrew root ח.ב.א Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Machbo'im – Hide and seek – מחבואים Mesachkim be-machbo'im – We're playing hide and seek – משחקים במחבואים Machbo – Hideout, hiding place – מחבוא Mistor – Hidi...

In Hebrew, הפגנה is a demonstration, a protest. Israelis are very diligent protesters and demonstrators. Guy explains how to use the root פגנ to its fullest. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Hafgana - Demonstration, protest - הפגנה Hafganat neged - A counter demonstration - הפגנת נגד Hafganat ha-smol - The demonstration of the left - הפגנת השמאל Hafganat ha-yamin...

This episode is about the Hebrew root פקח. We call parking enforcement officers פקחי חניה. What might you say to one in order not to get a parking ticket? And what does this root have to do with kosher certificates? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Pikuach – Supervision, regulation – פיקוח Be-fikuach/be-pikuach – Under supervision – בפיקוח Gaz beiti – Domestic ga...

There are so many סכנות, dangers, in everyday life. How do we say, "it's not worth the risk," in Hebrew? And what does the Japanese word for fish have anything to do with taking risks? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Sakana la-demokratya – Danger to democracy – סכנה לדמוקרטיה Sakanat hitchashmelut – Danger of electrocution – סכנת התחשמלות Ha-demokratya be-sakana...

What Hebrew words and phrases do you need to know when looking for a new gym? How do we say fitness trainer, and what time is the best time to go to a gym? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Hadar kosher/Machon kosher – Fitness center, gym – חדר כושר, מכון כושר Ani holech la-machon – I am going to the gym – אני הולך למכון Minui (manuy) – Subscription, membership –...

The Hebrew word לחשוף   is commonly used by archaeologists, journalists, dermatologists and… strippers. What does it mean? Guy explains. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Lahsof – To expose – לחשוף "Anahnu hosfim et ha-or shelanu la-shemesh, bederech klal bimchuvan" – We expose our skin to the sun, usually intentionally – אנחנו חושפים את העור שלנו לשמש, בדרך כלל ב...

There are people you don't want to mess with, and there are things you shouldn't do because they're too much of a hassle. How do you say all this in Hebrew? Well, you'd use the עסק root, of course! Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Laasok be- – To deal with – לעסוק ב Hu osek be-ze harbe shanim – He's been dealing with this for many years – הוא עוסק בזה הרבה שנים A...

In Hebrew עסקים means business. Today, Guy talks about the root עסק and introduces other nouns we should know. Bonus: What do you do when you see an unfamiliar transaction in your credit card statement? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Esek – Business, matter – עסק Asakim – Business – עסקים Beit esek – Shop, store – בית עסק Ze lo ha-esek shelcha – It's none of yo...

The Hebrew word להגיש is a verb with several different meanings. Food, university papers and TV shows — these are all things we can להגיש. Guy explains. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Lehapil – To drop – להפיל, נפל Lehasi'ah – To drive someone somewhere – להסיע, נסע Lehagish bakasha – To submit a request, an application, or to apply for something – להגיש בקשה K...

In Hebrew, מתוק means sweet or sweetie. You might also hear מתוק used passive-aggressively by a person standing in a Tel Avivi line. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: "Matok, matok hu ta'am ha-hayim" – Sweet, sweet is the taste of life – מתוק, מתוק, הוא טעם החיים Matok li – It's too sweet – מתוק לי Matok/Metuka sheli – My darling – מתוק/מתוקה שלי Toda matok/metuka...

You're home, in front of the TV screen, watching one of the most important football games in the world cup. Suddenly, your team goes on the offensive. This could be the big moment. What Hebrew words and phrases do you shout in order to help bring them to victory? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Yalla – Yalla – יאללה Nu – Come on – נו Yeshhhhhhhhh – Yeaaaaaah! –...

The words להזהיר and אזהרה are used to warn someone of something or someone. We have many Hebrew expressions with אזהרה, warning, including the saying, רְאו הוזהרתם. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Lehazhir – To warn – להזהיר "Ani mazhira otcha" – I am warning you – אני מזהירה אותך Lehazahir mishehu mi-mashehu – To warn someone of something – להזהיר מישהו ממשהו...

How would you warn a friend who is about to be hit by an electric bike speeding on the sidewalk? We would shout, !זהירות The Hebrew word זהירות is an important word to know. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Zehirut – Caution, care, watch out – זהירות "Adoni, hizaher, al tiga ba-iris" – Be careful, Sir, don't touch the iris – אדוני, היזהר, אל תיגע באיריס Tizaher!...