This is one of our favorite StreetWise Hebrew episodes, and not surprisingly one of our most popular!

What’s happened to Hebrew-speaking romantics in these days of Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter? How do they convey their feelings in 140 characters?

Host Guy Sharett analyzes a unique song called ‘Smiley,’ whose lyrics are a collection of one-liners, sometimes just one word long, taken from real online chats between Israeli couples.

And, most importantly, which Hebrew word is used by Israelis to text their ex-partners at 3am?

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Words and expressions discussed:

Er, era – עֵר, עֵרָה

Dabri iti – דַּבְּרִי אִיתִי

Hit’orart, Lehitorer – הִתְעוֹרַרְתְ, לְהִתְעוֹרֵר

Tachzeri elay / tachzor elai – תַּחְזְרִי אֵלַיי, תַּחְזוֹר אֵלַיי

Lachzor, lachshov – לַחְזוֹר, לַחְשוֹב

Tachshov-tachshevi, tachzor-tachzeri – תַּחְשוֹב-תַּחְשְבִי, תַּחְזוֹר-תַּחְזְרִי

Halo? – ?הָלוֹ

Yachas, Yechasim – יָחָס, יְחָסִים

Kara mashehu – קָרָה מַשֶהוּ

Likrot – לִקְרוֹת

Eifo at? – ?אֵיפֹה אַת

Be-shiur – בְּשִיעוּר

Bi-fgisha – בִּפְגִישָה

Ba-byit – בַּבַּיִת

Be-nsi’a – בִּנְסִיעָה

Techef – תֵּיכֵף

Mi ze – מִי זֶה

Mitkasher me-chasum – מִתְקַשֵּר מֵחָסוּם

Tafsiki lesanen – תַּפְסִיקִי לְסֵנֵּן

Ma nish – ?מַה נִיש

Daber elay – דַּבֵּר אֵלַיי

Lo chashuv – לֹא חָשׁוּב

Izvi – עִזְבִי

Smiley boche – סְמַיילִי בּוֹכֶה

Smiley korets – סְמַיילִי קוֹרֵץ

Smiley tsochek – סְמַיילִי צוֹחֵק

Ch ch ch – חחח

 

Music:
Smiley - Matzav Ha-uma Tv Show, Reshet, TV2 (Israel) - from min. 01:20
Lyrics: Shachar Segal & Lior Schleien
Music: Daniel Salomon
Singing: Daniel Salomon & Roni Alter