Streetwise Hebrew

What do we mean when we say קפה מחוזק (roughly translated as strengthened coffee), and is it legitimate to drink it at 1:30 PM? Or when we say הוא מתחזק (he's getting stronger) about someone? It's not what you might think. Check Out the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Eich lechazek et kol ha-rosh – How to strengthen the head voice – איך לחזק את קול הראש Lehazek – Strengt...

It's asked as a question but it's actually a statement: ?תחזיק רגע That's how we ask a friend to hold our bags while we run into another store to buy something. And how would we say, "I think highly of him" (or not so highly)? Guy explains. Check Out the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Tachzik/tachziki/tachziku rega – Hold this for a sec. – תחזיק/תחזיקי/תחזיקו רגע 'Tachz...

Israelis sometimes use a single word to review a movie or tv series: "!חזק" In Hebrew, חזק (pronounced  hazak ) means strong. So what are they trying to convey and how else can we use the word חזק? Guy explains. Check Out the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Hazak – Strong – חזק Klaf hazak – High card – קלף חזק Hazak! – Deep, intense, powerful, moving – !חזק Hazak be- mas...

The Hebrew word לחפש means "to search for." So what does "המורה סתם מחפש אותי" or "לכי חפשי ת'חברים שלך" mean? Both are slang and they don't mean what you might think they mean! On this episode, Guy covers the root ח.פ.ש and explains several ways to say, "take a hike!" Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of This Episode   New Words and Expressions: Lechapes – To search for, to look for – לחפש Chipus...

The Hebrew word לנסות,  to try , is very handy in everyday conversation. People always say, "try this," "don't try that," "try these pants on," "try this dish." On this episode, Guy tries to explain it all. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of This Episode   New Words and Expressions: Nasui – Married – נשוי Linso'a – To travel – לנסוע "Nisiti meod lehilachem ba-ruchot" – I really tried to fight the...

Vé- ( and  in Hebrew) is sometimes pronounced Va- or Oo-, depending on the usage. So when is the letter ו at the beginning of a word pronounced Vé, Va or Oo? And should Hebrew learners invest their time to learn these elaborate rules? Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of This Episode   New Words and Expressions: Ve – And – ו (letter vav) "Al safsal ba-gan yoshevet, u-frachim bi-se'ara" – "She's sit...

The word נגד means  against , and its root gives us the Hebrew words for contrast, contradiction and conflict. We'll also head over to the Knesset in Jerusalem to hear an up or down vote take place. Hear the All-Hebrew Version of This Episode   New Words and Expressions: Neged – Against, nay – נגד  Be'ad – For, yea – בעד Hatsba'ah ba-knesset – A vote in the knesset – הצבעה בכנסת Haver knesset – Me...

In this episode, Guy covers the different words and meanings derived from the root ק.ר.א, like how to say, "Call an ambulance", "Let's call a spade a spade," and perhaps most useful sentence of all, "Let me read to you the text he sent me." He'll also introduce you to the girl who currently holds the record for the youngest, most prolific reader of the city of Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Listen to the All-Heb...

In Hebrew, נחמה (nechama) means consolation, comfort. It's also a woman's first name. The difference comes down to pronunciation. Today Guy explains how to give your condolences and how to jokingly comfort a friend who was delivered a cold pizza. Bonus: How do we say "Misery loves company"? How about comfort food? LISTEN TO THE ALL-HEBREW VERSION OF THIS EPISODE   New Words and Expressions: Ko zku...

For the first time in its history, the Eurovision Song Contest was cancelled. But hopefully only this year. Many other events, both global and local, were also cancelled, all because the Coronavirus. How do we say "to cancel" in Hebrew, in the present? How about in the past? And what army radio comm talk breached the divide and made its way to civilian slang? Guy explains the root ב.ט.ל. Listen to...

Join us in celebrating our 300th episode with the best פספוסים ( fisfusim ), bloopers, by Hebrew learners from around the world. Learning Hebrew can be difficult. And we Israelis, who often swallow certain letters when we speak or don't pronounce our words clearly, sure don't make it any easier. So as a student trying to understand and speak the language, you're bound to make mistakes. And that's...

When job hunting, the Hebrew word דרושים, wanted, is what you'll find written on job ads. Guy also talks about a slang term that, well, doesn't hold anything back. A real hitter, one could say.   Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of This Episode   New Words and Expressions: Ha'am doresh tsedek hevrati – The people (sg.) demands social justice – העם דורש צדק חברתי Lidrosh mashehu mi-mishehu – Demand...

The Hebrew word גבול means border, boundary, and limit. Its root provides us words like restrictions, limitations, and disabilities. So how would we say, "this offer is available for a limited time only"? Guy explains. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of This Episode   New Words and Expressions: Gvul (m.) (pl. gvulot) – Border, boundary, frontier, limit – גבול, גבולות Gvulot be-beit ha-sefer – Bou...

Using pronouns in conversation is easy when speaking our mother tongue. But in Hebrew, it might be more difficult. In this episode, Guy explains the mechanism of Hebrew pronouns which, in turn, will help you sound more natural and casual. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of This Episode   New Words and Expressions: Lama ze magi'a lanu? – Why do we deserve it? – למה זה מגיע לנו? Ze magi'a le-misheh...

In Hebrew, תרגיל means an exercise. This episode includes many תרגילים, of all kinds. Guy also explains the difference between לְ and לַ. And as a bonus: a song in Ladino, the language of the Spanish Jews.   Send Guy your audio message guy@tlv1.fm   Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Targil – Exercise – תרגיל Targilei neshima – Breathing exercises – תרגיל...

'Eich omrim be-ivrit?' means 'how do you say in Hebrew?'. Today Guy explains the impersonal in Hebrew. What linguistic tools do we have to say generic things about everybody and anyone?   Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of This Episode   New Words and Expressions: Guf stami – The Impersonal (gramm.) – גוף סתמי Matchilim me-chadash – Starting anew – מתחילים מחדש Lo ichpat li – I don't care – לא אכ...

This is the second episode on the Hebrew word מלא (malé), meaning full. Derived from מלא is the slang word מלאנתלפים (malantalafim). What does it mean and how do we say "a stuffed eggplant"? Guy gives a full explanation.   Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of This Episode   New Words and Expressions: "Shesh-esré mal'u la-na'ar" – The boy has reached the age of 16 – שש עשרה מלאו לנער Mal'u + le-mish...

In Hebrew, מלא (malé) means full, just like how we feel after eating too many french fries. So what does the phrase מודה בפה מלא, literally, I admit with a full mouth, mean?   On this episode, Guy explains the root מ.ל.א   Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions:   Malé, mele'ah – Full – מלא, מלאה   "Ani zocher be-leilot shel yare'ach malé" – I remember, on ful...

What are your plans for the weekend? What are your plans for next year? Planning anything? Was this planned? Hey, any plans? On this episode, Guy explains the Hebrew root ת.כ.נ and how to say that something was unplanned.   Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Ten li koach – Give me strength – תן לי כוח Tochnit – Program, plan – תוכנית "Ha-sha'a shmone, ein...

The Hebrew word כוח means power, strength, or energy. Other than the frequently used saying, אין לי כוח, there are other words and expressions that we must cover, like "super powers," "evil forces" and "gravity." Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Ten li koach – Give me strength – תן לי כוח Yesh bi od koach – I still have strength – יש בי עוד כוח Ein li koa...

How do we say the words contagious and  infect in Hebrew, and how are they related to the Hebrew word for glue ? Bonus: We'll learn how to say sticky rice ! Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Devek - Glue - דבק Hu nidbak be-Corona - He was infected with Corona - הוא נדבק בקורונה Yesh sham nidbakim - There are infected people there - יש שם נדבקים Ha-im nitan...

The מדחום (thermometer) could be our best friend or worst nightmare. For some, it determines whether they can go out or must stay quarantined. So on this episode Guy covers the Hebrew words and phrases you need to know about למדוד חום, to take one's temperature, and other useful idioms during these crazy days of Corona. Stay safe! Listen to The Promised Podcast Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of...

The Hebrew word בידוד, quarantine, will likely be the word of the year. So it's appropriate that Guy discusses its root, ב.ד.ד, and covers some of the Hebrew words derived from it, like isolation, insulation and solitude. Ruben's Pronunciation Course: https://tlv1.fm/happy6 Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Ani be-bidud ba-bayit - I am in quarantine at hom...

What does it mean when an Israeli says, זרום איתי (zrom iti), flow with me? And what is זרם הגולף ? Guy goes with the flow and explains it all. Ruben's Pronunciation Course: https://tlv1.fm/happy6 Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Lizrom - To flow - לזרום "Hashmal Zorem Be-chapot yadeicha" - Electricity flows in your hands - חשמל זורם בכפות ידיך "Taamin...

What's לקנפג ( lecanfeg ) in Hebrew? What's לסמס ( lesames )? And what do we Israelis mean when we ask you to give us your 'mail'? Guy explains what happens to foreign words when they start feeling comfortable in their new Israeli home. Ruben's Pronunciation Course: https://tlv1.fm/happy6   Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Homo'im - Gays - הומואים Ha-ho...