Israelis love WhatsApp groups. It's how journalists receive the latest news updates, it's how sports teams arrange lifts for upcoming matches, it's how school parents communicate about homework, and, of course, it's how friends plan their weekend get-together. So this week, host Guy Sharett explains how Israelis communicate in WhatsApp groups. We use a special brand of concise, efficient Hebrew that should be acknowledged and celebrated!

Exclusive content for Patrons

New words & expressions:

No'ach le- – Convenient for – -נוח ל

Lo no'ach li lavo – It's not convenient for me to come – לא נוח לי לבוא

Shmone lo no'ach li – Eight is not good for me – שמונה לא נוח לי

No'ach lach machar ba-boker? – Is it convenient for you (f.) tomorrow morning? – ?נוח לך מחר בבוקר

No'ach lecha shavu'a ha-ba? – Is it convenient for you (m.) next week? – ?נוח לך שבוע הבא

No'ach lachem ha-yom me'uchar ba-layla? – Is it convenient for you (pl.) today late at night? – ?נוח לכם היום מאוחר בלילה

Le-Eyal lo no'ach ha-yom – For Eyal it's not convenient today – לאייל לא נוח היום

Eyal lo yachol ha-yom – Eyal can't (come) today – אייל לא יכול היום

Ze beseder im ani avo im mishehu? – Is it okay if I bring someone along? – ?זה בסדר אם אני אבוא עם מישהו

Okei – Okay – אוקיי

Li (ze) sababa – For me it's great – לי (זה) סבבה

Sababa legamrei – Totally great – סבבה לגמרי

Sababs, Sababation – Great – סבבס, סבביישן

Sagur – Deal – סגור

Mi yachol...? – Who can...? – ?...מי יכול

Mi yachol be-shesh? – Who can (meet/do it) at six? – ?מי יכול בשש

Yesh mishehu she-yachol…? – Is there someone who can…? – ?...יש מישהו שיכול

Sulam, yesh lemishehu? – Ladder, anyone has (one)? – ?סולם, יש למישהו

Ha-mispar shel Eli, yesh le-mishehu? – Eli's number, anyone has (it)? – ?המספר של אלי, יש למישהו

Eize kav, mi yode'a? – Which bus line, who knows? – ?איזה קו, מי יודע

Looking for the monologue text? It's available to our patrons at patreon.com/streetwisehebrew.

Playlist and clips: Portrait – Ad Elayich (lyrics) Sarit Haddad – Ha-kol Sagur (lyrics) Nira Rabinowitcz – Mi Yachol Lasim (lyrics)