Streetwise Hebrew

The Hebrew word לשחרר means to release, to free. It is used often when speaking about the hostage crisis in Gaza. How else do we use לשחרר, and how do we say it in the passive? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Leshachrer – To release, to free, to liberate – לשחרר Israelim kor'im la-memshala laasot hakol kedei leshachrer et ha-hatufim me-hamas. – Israelis call on...

"When will the hostages be released?", מתי הם ישתחררו, is what everyone in Israel is asking themselves. This week we saw the release of some of the hostages taken on October 7th. Guy explains how we talk about it in Hebrew. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: "Et hishtachrarti" – When I got released – עת השתחררתי Hu hishtachrer – He got released, he was liberated –...

Especially these days, it's important to keep on smiling and to try and stay optimistic. Guy explains how to smile in Hebrew. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Hiuyooch male shinayim – A smile full of teeth – חיוך מלא שיניים Hiyoochim mezuyafim – Fake smiles – חיוכים מזוייפים Raper/it – Rapper – ראפר/ית "Toda, he'eleta hiyooch al panai" – You brought a smile to my...

In time of war, we need to cheer one another up. How do we cheer on and provide words of encouragement to those around us in Hebrew? Guy explains. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Idood – Encouragement – עידוד Shir idood – An encouragement song – שיר עידוד Milot idood – Words of encouragement – מילות עידוד Ha-keren le-idood yozmot hinoochiyot – The fund for promo...

Israel is at war. There are a few words that we hear on the news all the time — words you should absolutely know. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Retsu'at aza – The Gaza Strip – רצועת עזה Retsua la-kelev – Leash for a dog – רצועה לכלב Otef aza (Ha-otef) – The area bordering with the Gaza Strip – עוטף עזה, העוטף Yeshuvey otef aza – Villages near the Gaza Strip, i...

What can you write to your family and friends in Israel during these difficult days of war? What's appropriate at this moment? Guy has some ideas. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Letaksher im haverim ve-krovim – Communicate with family and friends – לתקשר עם חברים וקרובים Ve-eich lehabi'ah de'agah ve-tmicha – And how to express concern and support – ואיך להביע ד...

Israel is at war. Guy explains the word מלחמה and others from the same root, לחמ, that we hear on Israeli news coverage. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Milchama – War – מלחמה Milchama ve-shalom – War and Peace – מלחמה ושלום Milchemet ha-olam ha-rishona, ha-shniya – The First/Second World War – מלחמת העולם הראשונה, השנייה WW2 – מלחה"ע ה-2  Mivtsa – Operation – מ...

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...