Kacha ze, ein ma la’asot, “This is the way it is, there’s nothing you can do about it”, is something you hear a lot in Israel. Today we learn how to use it, and other expressions using the verb la’asot, to do. Make sure you listen well! The episode is short and sweet.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Ma La’asot – What can you do? – מה לעשות

Ein ma la’asot, kacha ze – This is the way it is, that’s life – אין מה לעשות, ככה זה

Ein li ma la’asot im ze – I’ve got nothing to do with it – אין לי מה לעשות עם זה

Ein li ma la’asot im mechonat ha-kvisa ha-yeshana – I’ve got nothing to do with the old washing machine – אין לי מה לעשות עם מכונת הכביסה הישנה

“Mitsta’arim, ein lanu mamash ma la’asot im ze” – We don’t really have anything we could do with this – מצטערים, אין לנו ממש מה לעשות עם זה

Ma osim im – What does one do with…? – מה עושים עם

Ma osim im kilo agasim? – What does one do/what do we do with one kilogram of pears? – מה עושים עם קילו אגסים

Ma osim im kol ze? – What do you do with all this? – מה עושים עם כל זה

Ma osim kshe-? – What does one do when…? – מה עושים כש

Eich osim pie agasim – How do you make a pear pie? – איך עושים פאי אגסים

Az ma osim – So what are we going to do? – אז מה עושים

Eich osa para? – How does a cow go? – איך עושה פרה

La’asot mishehu o mishehi – To do someone – לעשות מישהו/מישהי

Mi osé ma – Who’s doing what – מי עושה מה

Playlist and Clips:

Dana International – Ma La’asot (lyrics)

Maor Cohen – Ein Ma La’asot (lyrics)

Ha-dorbanim – Yatsanu Lirkod (lyrics)

Mosh Ben-Ari – Ma Osim (lyrics)

Ep. no 140 about kacha HEB

The Hebrew word מת means dying and the word למות means to die. Today, Guy teaches us to use these words to mean 'cool' and 'happy.'

As usual, prepositions must rear their ugly head. But don’t worry, we’re stronger!

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Lamoot – To die – למות

“Ata chayav lamoot alai” – You must go crazy about me – אתה חייב למות עליי

“Ani meta aleyhem” – I am crazy about them – אני מתה עליהם

Ani meta al shokolad – I am crazy about chocolate – אני מתה על שוקולד

Hu met mi-sartan – He died of cancer – הוא מת מסרטן

“Hayom kvar lo metim me-ahava” – Today people don’t die over love – היום כבר לא מתים מאהבה

Lamoot mi-tschok – To die of laughter – למות מצחוק

Lamoot mi-shiamoom – To die of boredom – למות משעמום

Hu met mi-pachad – He’s really scared – הוא מת מפחד

Ani met me-raav – I am really hungry – אני מת מרעב

Ani raev met – I’m dead hungry – אני רעב מת

Ani ayef met – I am really tired – אני עייף מת

Ani holé met – I am really sick – אני חולה מת

Ani meta mi-ze – I cannot stand it – אני מתה מזה

Ani meta le-croissant – I am dying for a croissant right now – אני מתה לקרואסון

“Ani met lirot ota ha-laila” – I am dying to see her tonight – אני מת לראות אותה הלילה

Hi meta al shokolad – She’s crazy about chocolate – היא מתה על שוקולד

Hi meta mi-shokolad – She died of too much chocolate – היא מתה משוקולד

Hi meta le-shokolad – She’s got this urge to have some chocolate – היא מתה לשוקולד

Hi meta le’echol shokolad – She really feels like eating chocolate – היא מתה לאכול שוקולד

“Mateti le-shokolad” – I was dying for chocolate – מתתי לשוקולד

Hayita met – You wish – היית מת

Ani met/meta – I cannot believe it – אני מת/מתה

Ta’im mavet – Hysterically delicious – טעים מוות

Yafé mavet – Amazingly handsome – יפה מוות

Playlist and Clips:

Chamsa – Hayav Lamoot Alay (lyrics)

Boaz Sharabi – Etsli Ha-kol Beseder (lyrics)

Arik Einstein – Ha-or Ba-katse (lyrics)

Lahakat Pikud Ha-darom – Ani Met (lyrics)

Subliminal – Eize Seret (lyrics)

The word רועד means shivering, shaking, and in this episode Guy explains its meaning and usage. Along the way we learn to say earthquake, and vibrato.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Roed – Trembling, shivering – רועד

Kshe-tsiltsalt ra'ad kolech – When you called your voice trembled – כשצלצלת רעד קולך

Ha-kol shelach ra'ad – Your voice was trembling – הקול שלך רעד

Lir'od me-rov hitragshoot – To tremble out of excitement – לרעוד מרוב התרגשות

Roed mi-pahad – Trembling from fear – רועד מפחד

Roed me-ha-mivchan – Trembling from the exam – רועד מהמבחן

Ra'ad – Shivering, trembling – רעד

Re'ida – Shivering – רעידה

Re'idot / ra'ad ba-yadayim – Shivering in the hands – רעידות / רעד בידיים

Re'idat adama – Earthquake – רעידת אדמה

"Al titnu la litpos etchem lo muchanim" – Don't let it catch you unprepared – אל תתנו לה לתפוס אתכם לא מוכנים

Re'idot mishneh – Aftershocks – רעידות משנה

Har'ada – Vibrating, shaking – הרעדה

Lehar'id – To vibrate – להרעיד

Dai lehar'id et ha-shulchan – Stop rocking the table – די להרעיד את השולחן

Avar bi ra'ad – A chill ran down your spine – עבר בי רעד

Playlist and Clips:

Nurit Galron – Kshe-tsiltsalt ra'ad kolech (lyrics)

How not to tremble before public speaking

Benny Amdursky – Ha-na'ara me-ipanema (lyrics)

Re'idat adama

Vibrato – Har'ada

One of your friends or colleagues is talking your ear off – blabbering, nagging, or over analyzing. In Hebrew, you would kindly ask that person to stop being a ‘hafran,’ or literally, ‘digger.’ Guy explains how and when to use this illustrative slang.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Hofer, hoferet – Digging, excavating, talk a lot – חופר, חופרת

Lahpor (lahfor) – To dig, to talk a lot – לחפור

Lahpor bor – To dig a hole – לחפור בור

“Hi lo mafsika lahfor li” – She wouldn’t stop talking to me – היא לא מפסיקה לחפור לי

“Tagidu la, giveret, at hoferet, kol ha-zman medaberet” – Tell her, mam, you keep talking all the time – תגידו לה, גברת, את חופרת, כל הזמן מדברת

“Ma ata hofer?” – Why do you keep talking, overanalyzing? – מה אתה חופר

Dai lahfor – Enough talking and talking – די לחפור

Dai lahfor li – Stop blabbering – די לחפור לי

Hafarti? – Did I talk too much? – חפרתי

Hafira, hafirot – Excavation, excavations – חפירות

Hafira Archi’ologit – An archaeological excavation – חפירה ארכיאולוגית

Hafran, hafranit (hafrawi) – Someone who obsessively, never stops talking – חפרן, חפרנית

Hafarperet – Mole, double agent – חפרפרת

Playlist and Clips:

E-Z – Kolboinikit (lyrics)

Shai Yom Tov – At Hoferet

Hafira Archi’ologit

Hafran (monologue)

This week, we dedicate the show to Paris and France, as a tribute to our French friends who are going through a difficult time.

Many Israelis don’t even know that some of the famous songs they enjoy humming are actually French songs translated into Hebrew – so we sample some of those.

Guy Sharett also teaches us some new words like ga’agu’a – ‘longing.’ A tout de suite!

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Kita hei – 5th grade – כיתה ה

Dimdumim – Twilight – דמדומים

Erev – Evening – ערב

Ma’arav – West – מערב

“Im ha-zman ha-kol cholef” – With the time, everything is passing – עם הזמן הכל חולף

Hazman cholef – Time is passing by – הזמן חולף

Lachlof al pnei mishehu – Pass by someone (without noticing) – לחלוף על פני מישהו

“Ahava bat esrim” – A 20 year old love – אהבה בת עשרים

“Yafa sheli” – My darling – יפה שלי

Bat arba – Four years old (f.) – בת ארבע

“Im kol kach tov li po, az lama shuv, ani bocha umishtagat?” – If it’s so good for me here, how come I am crying and going crazy? – אם כל כך טוב לי פה, אז למה שוב אני בוכה ומתגעגעת

Lehitga’age’ah – To miss someone/something – להתגעגע

Ga’agu’a – Longing, missing – געגוע

Herut – Freedom – חירות

Playlist and Clips:

Yves Montand – Sous le ciel de Paris

The Jerusalem Orchestra East West – Dimduim

Aviv Geffen – Ve’im Ha-zman (lyrics)

Léo Ferré – Avec le temps

Yossi Banai – Ahava Bat Esrim (lyrics)

Jacques Brel – La chanson des vieux amants

Yael Naim – Paris (lyrics)

George Moustaki – Ma Liberté

Chava Alberstein – At Cheruti (lyrics)

Ep. 52 about erev, maghreb, HEB

The Hebrew word רעל means poison. Its root provides us with interesting words related to the military and to bosses, some of whom make our work environments toxic.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Ra'al – Poison – רעל

Re'alim – Poisons – רעלים

Ra'al neged achbarim – Mouse poison – רעל נגד עכברים

Ra'al neged chuldot – Poison against rats – רעל נגד חולדות

Nikuy re'alim – Detoxification – ניקוי רעלים

Sadnat nikuy re'alim – Detox workshop – סדנת ניקוי רעלים

Raalan – Toxin – רעלן

Noged ra'alanim – Neutralizes toxins – נוגד רעלנים

Ru'ach ha-lechima, Rahal – The fighting spirit – רוח הלחימה, רה"ל

"Ani rotse lir'ot raal ba-einayim" – I want to see in your eyes the enthusiasm to fight – אני רוצה לראות רעל בעיניים

Ra'il – Toxic – רעיל

Homarim re'ilim – Toxic, poisonous substances – חומרים רעילים

Svivat avoda re'ila – Toxic work environment – סביבת עבודה רעילה

Avira re'ila ba-avoda – Toxic atmosphere at work – אווירה רעילה בעבודה

Ma'arechet yechasim re'ila – Toxic relationship – מערכת יחסים רעילה

Benadam ra'il – Toxic person – בנאדם רעיל

"Hashash she-ha-iranim yenasoo lehar'il et mekorot ha-mayim be-israel" – Fear that the Iranians will try to poison water sources in Israel – חשש שהאיראנים ינסו להרעיל את מקורות המים בישראל

Lehar'il mishehu – To poison someone – להרעיל מישהו

Lehar'il et ha-avira – To poison the social atmosphere – להרעיל את האווירה

Har'ala – Poisoning – הרעלה

Har'alat mazon – Food poisoning – הרעלת מזון

Hu hur'al – He was poisoned – הוא הורעל

Tapu'ach mur'al – Poisoned apple – תפוח מורעל

Hayal mur'al – A soldier who is excited about army life – חייל מורעל

Mur'al al ha-tsava – Obsessed with military – מורעל על הצבא

Playlist and Clips:

Or Litman – Ra'al (lyrics)

Nikuy re'alim

Lehar'il et ha-mayim

Omer Moskovich – Lo Zman Tov (lyrics)

Lahakat Ha-nachal – Haver sheli mur'al al Ha-tsava

What Hebrew language teachings can we pick up from the documentary TV series “Mishpachot,” by the Heymann Brothers? The series is composed of five Israeli families who utilize many different layers of the language.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Mishpacha, mishpachot – Family, families – משפחה, משפחות

“Ani ha-gever shelach” – I am your man – אני הגבר שלך

“Ata ha-gever sheli, aval ata gam ha-yeled sheli” – You are my man, but you’re also my son – אתה הגבר שלי, אבל אתה גם הילד שלי

Playlist and Clips:

Mishpachot ep. 6 trailer

The Hebrew word אירוע means an event, most often a happy event, like a wedding or bar/bat mitzvah. But its usage has changed lately. Guy explains.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Eru'ah yeri – Shooting – אירוע ירי

Eru'ah dkira – Stabbing – אירוע דקירה

Eru'ah mitgalgel – Developing event – אירוע מתגלגל

"Yesh li eru'ah" – I have an event (wedding, bar/bat mitzvah) – יש לי אירוע

"Slicha, atem osim eru'im?"- Do you do events? – סליחה, אתם עושים אירועים

"Wai, yesh li maleh eru'im ha-hodesh" – Oh no, I have many events this month – וואי, יש לי מלא אירועים החודש

Bein avodot – Between jobs – בין עבודות

Eru'ah hevra – Company event – אירוע חברה

"Le-hazmanat eru'im" – To book an event – להזמנת אירועים

Eru'ah hokara – Tribute – אירוע הוקרה

"Eru'ah hokara le-tsivtey hachinuch shel ha-ir bat yam" – A tribute to the teachers and educators of the city of bat yam – אירוע הוקרה לצוותי החינוך של העיר בת ים

Erua hokara le-mishehu – Tribute to someone – אירוע הוקרה למישהו

Eru'ah be-hafrada / eru'ah nifrad – An event with separation between men and women – אירוע בהפרדה / אירוע נפרד

"Ani nichnas la-eru'ah" – I am getting into this – אני נכנס לאירוע

"Ze lo ha-eru'ah" – It's not the same – זה לא האירוע

"Ze eru'ah acher / shoneh" – It's a different thing altogether – זה אירוע אחר/שונה

"Ani ba-eru'ah"- I am on the case – אני באירוע

Playlist and Clips:

Shuli Rand – Eru'ah Mitgalgel (lyrics)

Eru'a hokara – Tribute

Eru'ah be-hafrada

"Ani nichnas la-er'ua"

Kama lehavi – The event gift calculator

Ep. no. 103 about dkira, stabbing

Ep. no. 220 about 'yesh li eru'ah' HEB

Ep. no. 243 about eru'ah be-hafrada HEB

Today, I’ll give you a few tips on how to improve your accent and pronunciation in Hebrew. There are many things you can do on your own.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

“Ma ata omer?” – What do you say? – מה אתה אומר

“Ata omer li dvarim” – You are telling me things – אתה אומר לי דברים

Playlist and Clips:

My Fair Lady

My Fair Lady – Hebrew version

Kol Israel – Yehudit Ben Yaakov

88FM (Kan) – Kan, Sham uv-khol makom

Israeli Radio in foreign languages

Daniela Spektor – Ha-kochav Ha-ze Met (lyrics)

Songs in StreetwiseHebrew.com

The word סחבק comes from Arabic and means “your friend.” So what’s its meaning when used in Hebrew? And what’s סחבקייה? Oh, and there’s even a verb, להסתחבק. Guy explains.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

“Sahbak qal li” – Your friend told me (Ar.) –  صاحبك قالي – סחבק קאל לי

“Ve’az sahbak ro’eh she-hamatsav lo tov” – And then yours truly sees that things are not going well”. – ואז סחבק רואה שהמצב לא טוב

Ha-sahbakiyoot ha-israelit – The notion of the lack of protocol, and genuine friendliness in Israel – הסחבקיות הישראלית

Fraier – Sucker – פראייר

“Sahbak lo fraier” – I am not a fraier – סחבק לא פראייר

Hibook sahbaki – A hearty hug – חיבוק סחבקי

Sahbakiya – Army slang for lack of distance – סחבקייה

“Patachnu po sahbakiya?” – We’re not friends hanging out together – פתחנו פה סחבקייה

I am not your sahbak – I am not your mate – אני לא סחבק שלך

Lehistahbek – To be chummy with someone – להסתחבק

“Nisiti lehistahbek im ha-shoter, aval ze lo halach li” – I tried to be chummy with the policeman, but it didn’t work out – ניסיתי להסתחבק עם השוטר אבל זה לא הלך לי

“Ehud Barak lo sahbak, manhig” – Ehud Barak is not a dude, he’s a leader – אהוד ברק לא סחבק, מנהיג

Lashevet, lakoom – To sit, to stand up – לשבת, לקום

“Dai im ha-nimnoom, sahbak lo rotse lihyot radoom” – Enough with the numbness, sahbak does not want to be numb – די עם הנמנום, סחבק לא רוצה להיות רדום

Playlist and Clips:

Hassan El Asmar – Sahbak Qal Li 

Tachles – Shuvo shel ha-sahbak (lyrics)

Sahbak lo fraier

Shabak Samech – Lashevet: Lakoom! (lyrics)

Ep. no. 67 about Fraier, sucker HEB