Streetwise Hebrew

Hebrew provides plenty of ways to wish someone well, and they all depend on the severity of the illness. So what should we say to someone with a cold? How about the flu? Pneumonia? This winter, Guy provides a linguistic toolkit for all you well-wishers to use in almost any circumstance. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode https://tlv1.fm/happy6 Bassa ep. 108 Tihye Bari ep. 3 Polish Mo...

Get the special course and at a special price by visiting https://tlv1.fm/happy6 The podcast recently celebrated its 6th birthday. And as part of our celebrations, Guy asked Ruben Adery to put together a special introductory online course for Streetwise Hebrew listeners. The course goes through the most mispronounced sounds in Hebrew. It combines explanatory videos with longer practice videos and...

The Hebrew word פיצוץ (pitsuts) means explosion but is also used in the same fashion as the English phrase, "a blast," meaning incredible or highly entertaining. And did you know that our neighborhood corner store is called a פיצוצייה (pitsutsiya)? Today, Guy covers the root פ.צ.צ, which is the foundation for many slang words and phrases to say things like, "I'm loaded with money" or "this cafe is...

What does an Israeli judo champion mean when she says, האש כבתה לגמרי ("ha-esh kavta legamrei")? And how do you tell a technician that your laptop keeps dying on you? In Hebrew, לכבות ("lechabot") means to extinguish and to turn off. So please turn off all cell phones and listen as Guy explains all things כ.ב.ה. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Lechabot...

How do you say "buzz off" or "beat it" in Hebrew? And how might it relate to paying off your mortgage? Guy explains. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Lesalek - To remove, get rid of, expel - לסלק Lesalek et kol ha-regashot ha-meyutarim - To remove all unnecessary feelings - לסלק את כל הרגשות המיותרים Lesalek metachim - To get rid of tension - לסלק מתחים...

Israelis need everything here and now, immediately. Preferably yesterday. That's why the Hebrew word זריז (zariz), quick or quickly, is constantly in use. This episode is a crash course (קורס מזורז) on the root ז.ר.ז. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Zariz - Speedy, quick - זריז Kaduri zariz mahir - My ball is quick and fast - כדורי זריז מהיר Kinu'ach s...

In Hebrew, גנב (ganav) is a thief. Perhaps you already know its Yiddish pronunciation, ganef (גאַנעוו). But there are other, more exciting words that belong to the Hebrew root גנב, including several slang uses. Guy explains. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Ganav - Thief - גנב Ganef - Thief (Yiddish) - גאַנעוו Lignov - To steal - לגנוב Ganav sidrati - S...

The Hebrew words סביב (saviv), סביבה (sviva), מסביב (misaviv), סבב (sevev), all come from the ס.ב.ב root. They also come in very handy in spoken Hebrew. So today, Guy explains the many words and phrases that stem from this interesting root. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Saviv – Around – סביב Tistakel kama lirdim mi-saviv – See how many hot guys there are aroun...

We all deserve to receive good customer service and to be treated with respect. But let's be real – that's not always the case. The Hebrew word יחס means treatment, attention and service, while the plural יחסים means relations. There's lots to cover so pay close attention as Guy explains. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Tni li ktsat yachas cham, po va-...

"You decide." "No you decide." "No no, you decide!" So many decisions to make. On this episode, Guy talks about Hebrew words and phrases related to decision-making. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Lehachlit - To decide - להחליט Ze ha-zman lehachlit - This is the time to make a decision - זה הזמן להחליט Hu hichlit - He decided - הוא החליט Tsahal hichlit...

What Hebrew words and phrases can we use to disagree with someone? Which can be written in a reply online but not said to someone face to face? And which can be said but not written, and what intonation will give that extra oomph? On this episode, Guy goes over how to disagree with someone in written and spoken Hebrew. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: M...

Sometimes people offer us things that we simply don't want. Telemarketing? No thanks. A leaflet about a new yoga studio around the corner? No thank you. What about an offering of a slice of cheesecake baked by your friend when you're on a diet? How do we decline an offer (politely or impolitely) in Hebrew? On this episode, Guy supplies you with a toolkit for those moments when you need to decline...

This week we celebrate our podcast's sixth anniversary. Can you believe it? Six years, שש שנים. It's a good excuse to talk about שש, six, and its family of Hebrew words. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Kvish shesh - Highway six - כביש שש Kvish hotse Israel - Cross Israel highway - כביש חוצה ישראל Kav shesh - Bus no. 6 - קו שש Hayinu shisha - We were si...

How would we say, "you really scared me," in Hebrew? How about a horror film? A coward? This week, Guy doesn't share his deepest fears but rather explains the Hebrew root פחד and its many words and phrases. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Mafchid - Scary - מפחיד Ze ma-ze mafchid - It's really scary - זה מה-זה מפחיד Ze haya ma-ze mafchid - It was really...

So you're on summer holiday. Do you stay at a hotel or go for a house swap? Will you exchange currency? Who is filling in for you at work while you're gone? The Hebrew root חלפ is the focus of this week's episode. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Lehachlif - To exchange, to replace, to swap - להחליף Atsa, atsot - Seaweed - אצה, אצות Ha-atsa yechola leha...

There are times in life when we are left disappointed ( me'uchzavim ) and it would be helpful to know how to express this disappointment in Hebrew. On this episode, Guy covers this special four letter root אכזב and checks Twitter to see what disappoints Israelis the most. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Achzava - Disappointment - אכזבה Le'achzev misheh...

Ok, so you know how to order schnitzel in an Israeli restaurant. But what about asking for an extra plate? For a non-spicy dish? Extra parsley? Or maybe you need to notify the kitchen of a food allergy. This is serious stuff. Guy delivers the #Hebrew language goods on this week's episode. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Efshar od petrozilia vaksha? - C...

The word revach רווח means profit, gain, benefit, and a few other things. You'll benefit greatly from learning the root רוח, we promise. Learn phrases like "chill on the sofa," "beware of the gap," and "make sure to leave a margin of safety." Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Revah - Profit, gain, space - רווח La'asot revahim - To make a profit - לעשות ר...

How do we agree with someone in Hebrew? How do we say, I hear you, totally, yeah, right, spot on, exactly? Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Bool ma she-amart/amarta - Exactly what you've said - בול מה שאמרת Bool - Spot on, absolutely - בול Bool ba-zman - Right on time - בול בזמן Maskim - I agree - מסכים Maskim itcha lahalutin - I totally agree with you...

In Hebrew, סוף סוף (sof-sof ) means at last . Sof-sof can also mean finally , but not in all situations. Confusing, right? And how would we say final and infinite in Hebrew, which are derived from the word סוף, end? On this episode, Guy is going to clarify the appropriate usage of סוף סוף – finally. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Sof-sof - At last - ס...

How do we greet a stranger in the elevator, in Hebrew? How about a neighbor from our building? Could we perhaps just look down and not say anything at all? Guy presents a concise guide to Israeli elevator etiquette 101. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Ze yachol lehechashev lo menumas - It might be considered impolite - זה יכול להיחשב לא מנומס Hagana atsm...

Letting go of someone or something can be a difficult thing to do. How do we let it all go, in Hebrew? Guy explains. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Lo ozev et ha-ir - I am not leaving town - לא עוזב את העיר Hu ozev - He is leaving, letting go - הוא עוזב Azva et ha-ima ve-ha-mishpachca - She left her mom and the family - עזבה את האמא והמשפחה Azva et ha...

Guy noticed that even his most advanced students have problems with the Hebrew words for city, town, and municipality, so he decided to dedicate this episode to these words, once and for all. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: Ir gdola - Big city - עיר גדולה Ir hachama - Smart city - עיר חכמה Arim gdolot - Big cities - ערים גדולות Arim yafot - Beautiful c...

Reflecting on the recent decision in Israel to go to elections again only months after the last, US President Trump said that Israeli politics are messed up and that the country needs to "get its act together." One Hebrew translation of Trump's quote read: "hem tsrichim lehit'apes al atsmam" (הם צריכים להתאפס על עצמם), which is extremely slangy and highly appropriate for the moment. So on today's...

There is a small yet significant difference between the Hebrew words פוטרתי and התפטרתי which share the common root פ.ט.ר. The former means "I was fired" and the latter means "I quit." On this episode, Guy covers all things פ.ט.ר, including the words for exemption, resignation, and dismissal. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode   New Words and Expressions: "Ani putarti, lo hitpatarti"...