Streetwise Hebrew

In Hebrew, עניין (inyan) means matter, business, or thing. Many Hebrew learners confuse מעוניין and מתעניין, often switching between them as if they are one and the same, which they are not. So in this episode, Guy explains these important differences.

For the first time in its history, the Eurovision Song Contest was cancelled. But hopefully only this year. Many other events, both global and local, were also cancelled, all because the Coronavirus.

How do we say "to cancel" in Hebrew, in the present? How about in the past? And what army radio comm talk breached the divide and made its way to civilian slang?

Guy explains the root ב.ט.ל.

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of This Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Bitul ha-hofesh ha-gadol – Cancellation of the summer school holiday – ביטול החופש הגדול

Va'ada – Committee – ועדה

"Kabel/kabli bitul" – Scratch that, abort – קבל/קבלי ביטול

Kabel bitul al ha-kafe, tsats mashehu – Abort the coffee, something came up – קבל ביטול על הקפה, צץ משהו

Kaftor bitul – Cancel button – כפתור ביטול

Mediniut bitulim – Cancellation policy – מדיניות ביטולים

Dmei bitul – A cancellation fee – דמי ביטול

Bitulim – Cancellations – ביטולים

Levatel et ha-hafsakot – To cancel school breaks – לבטל את ההפסקות

Slicha, ani tsarich/tsricha levatel – Sorry, I must cancel – סליחה, אני צריך/צריכה לבטל

Ani rotse/rotsa levatel – I'd like to cancel – אני רוצה לבטל

"Be-chol 64 shnot kiyum ha-eurovision, me-olam lo butla tacharut" – "During the entire 64 years of conducting the Eurovision, never before was the competition cancelled" – בכל 64 שנות קיום האירוויזיון, מעולם לא בוטלה תחרות

Ha-eru'a butal – The event (m.) was cancelled – האירוע בוטל

Shnehem butlu – Both were cancelled – שניהם בוטלו

Mevutal, mevutelet, mevutalim, mevutalot – Cancelled – מבוטל, מבוטלת, מבוטלים, מבוטלות

Ha-tacharut mevutelet – The contest is cancelled – התחרות מבוטלת

Ha-kenes butal lifnei kama yamim – The conference was called off a few days ago – הכנס בוטל לפני כמה ימים

Ha-kenes hitbatel biglal ha-corona – The conference got cancelled because of the Coronavirus – הכנס התבטל בגלל הקורונה

Hitbatel li mashehu, az yesh li zman – Something got cancelled for me, so I have time. – התבטל לי משהו, אז יש לי זמן

Hitbatla li pgisha – A meeting was cancelled for me – התבטלה לי פגישה

Hitbabtlu li pgishot – Meetings were cancelled for me – התבטלו לי פגישות

Hitbatel li tor la-rofa – A doctor appointment was cancelled for me – התבטל לי תור לרופא

Hitbatlu li kama torim la-rofa – A few doctor appointments were cancelled for me – התבטלו לי כמה תורים לרופא

Lehitbatel – To chill, to slack – להתבטל

"Ha-boker hashavti lehitbatel" – "This morning I planned on doing nothing" – הבוקר חשבתי להתבטל

Ma at osa? Mitbatelet be-kef – What are you doing? Nothing, just chilling – מה את עושה? מתבטלת בכיף

Hu ma-ze mitbatel befnei ha-boss shelo – He really caves in front of his boss – הוא מה-זה מתבטל בפני הבוס שלו

Muvtal – Unemployed – מובטל

"Hu kitsets be-daka shlosha mif'alim" – "He axed within a minute three factories" – הוא קיצץ בדקה שלושה מפעלים

"Ve-400 ish hafchu muvtalim" – "And 400 people became unemployed" – ו-400 איש הפכו מובטלים

Avtala – Unemployment – אבטלה

Ledaber le-mishehu be-bitul – To talk to someone dismissively – לדבר למישהו בביטול

Playlist and Clips:

Bitul ha-hofesh ha-gadol (KAN TV)

Bitulim – Rakevet

Ha-tacharut butla

Gusto – Hashavti Lehitbatel (lyrics)

Tislam – Partsufa Shel Ha-medina (lyrics)

Tamuz – Holech Batel (lyrics)

Join us in celebrating our 300th episode with the best פספוסים (fisfusim), bloopers, by Hebrew learners from around the world.

Learning Hebrew can be difficult. And we Israelis, who often swallow certain letters when we speak or don't pronounce our words clearly, sure don't make it any easier. So as a student trying to understand and speak the language, you're bound to make mistakes. And that's okay. The most important part is not letting your fear stop you from trying. Speaking Hebrew is and forever will be fun and exciting.

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Yare'ach – Moon – ירח

Re'ach – Smell – ריח

Ke'ev garon – Throat ache – כאב גרון

Ga'on – Genius – גאון

Ani shmena – I am fat – אני שמנה

Shament – Cream – שמנת

Shament chamutsa – Sour cream – שמנת חמוצה

Ani mechoeret – I am ugly – אני מכוערת

Ani me'acheret – I am late – אני מאחרת

Le'acher – To be late – לאחר

Rachatsti – I washed – רחצתי

Ratsachti – I murdered – רצחתי

Lachfof se'ar – To wash the hair – לחפוף שיער

Milga – Scholarship – מילגה

Achayot – Sisters – אחיות

Chayot – Animals, pets – חיות

Yesh li kalba ktana – I have a small dog (f.) – יש לי כלבה קטנה

Aravim – Arabs – ערבים

Arevim – Guarantors – ערבים

Minyan – Minimum 10 men needed for prayer in synagogue – מניין

Me'anyen – Interesting – מעניין

Yain lavan – White wine – יין לבן

Dam – Blood – דם

Yain adom – Red wine – יין אדום

Lehorid et ha-michnasayim – To take off his pants – להוריד את המכנסיים

Lehorid et ha-mishkafayim – Take off his glasses – להוריד את המשקפיים

Chut dentali – Dental floss – חוט דנטלי

Chutini – G-string – חוטיני

Horim – Parents – הורים

Chorim – Holes – חורים

Chaki li / techaki li – Wait for me – חכי לי / תחכי לי

Lechakot le-mishehu – To wait for someone – לחכות למישהו

Lechakot mishehu – To imitate someone – לחקות מישהו

Hayiti rotsa linso'a le-Tel Aviv – I would like to go to Tel Aviv (very polite) / I would have loved to go to Tel Aviv (but I can't) – הייתי רוצה לנסוע לתל-אביב

"Az tis'ee" – "So just go there!?" – !אז תסעי

"Ze le-Tel Aviv?" – Is it going to Tel Aviv? – ?זה לתל-אביב

Malon – Hotel – מלון

Milon – Dictionary – מילון

Lehitkale'ach – To take a shower – להתקלח

Hitkalachti – I took a shower – התקלחתי

Hitlakachti – I caught on fire – התלקחתי

"Cham li" in episode no. 177

Haticha in episode no. 242

Gever – Man – גבר

Mitz gezer – Carrot juice – מיץ גזר

Playlist and Clips:

Gazoz – Cafe Ba-tachtit (lyrics)

Lilit Nagar – Tsel Etz Tamar Ve-or Yare'ach (lyrics)

Avi Toledano – La Boheme (lyrics)

Ha-ofarim – Huts Mi-ze Ha-kol Beseder (lyrics)

Guy teaches us more naughty words and reveals the unlikely connection between 'friends with benefits' and the Austrian composer Franz Schubert.

When job hunting, the Hebrew word דרושים, wanted, is what you'll find written on job ads. Guy also talks about a slang term that, well, doesn't hold anything back. A real hitter, one could say.

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of This Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Ha'am doresh tsedek hevrati – The people (sg.) demands social justice – העם דורש צדק חברתי

Lidrosh mashehu mi-mishehu – Demand something from someone – לדרוש משהו ממישהו

Anashim dorshim ha'alaat sachar – People demand a pay raise – אנשים דורשים העלאת שכר

Hi doreshet leshalem la – She demands to be paid – היא דורשת לשלם לה

Hi doreshet she-yeshalmu la – She demands to be paid – היא דורשת שישלמו לה

Doresh/doreshet stira – "Begs to be smacked" – דורש/דורשת סטירה

Partsuf doresh stira – A face in need of a slap (Backpfeifengesicht) – פרצוף דורש סטירה

Drisha, drishot – Request, demand – דרישה, דרישות

Drishat tashlum – Payment request – דרישת תשלום

Lavo le-mishehu be-drishot – To come to someone with demands – לבוא למישהו בדרישות

Drishot ha-tafkid – The job requirements – דרישות התפקיד

Drishot hova – Mandatory requirements – דרישות חובה

Drishot yitaron – Advantage requirements – דרישות יתרון

Darush – Needed – דרוש

Modaot drushim – Wanted ads – מודעות דרושים

Darush chaver – A friend is needed – דרוש חבר

Drushim ovdim – Staff needed – דרושים עובדים

Darush chatan – A groom is needed – דרוש חתן

Drusha shutafa – A female roommate is needed – דרושה שותפה

"Ma nidrash kedei lihyot mefate'ach tov" – What's needed in order to be a good developer – מה נדרש כדי להיות מפתח טוב

"Ve-ma nidrash kedei lehitkabel la-avoda" – And what's needed to get a job – ומה נדרש כדי להתקבל לעבודה

Drasha – Sermon – דרשה

Drashat bat mitzva / Drashat bar mitzva – A bat/bar mitzva speech – דרשת בת מצווה, דרשת בר מצווה

Midrasha – Seminary, college – מדרשה

Madrasa (Ar.) – School – מדרסה, בית ספר – مدرسة

Playlist and Clips:

Ha-am Doresh Tsedek Hevrati

Drishot hova

Modaot drushim – Wanted ads

Daniel Salomon – Darush Chaver (lyrics)

Aya Korem – Yonatan Shapira (lyrics)

Ma nidrash

Drashat Bar/Bat mitzvah

Dyler – MadrasaHa-dag Nachash – Shirat Ha-sticker (lyrics)

Today Guy Sharett teaches us all things 'tsarich' - 'need.' This root, צרכ, comes in many shapes and sizes...

The Hebrew word גבול means border, boundary, and limit. Its root provides us words like restrictions, limitations, and disabilities.

So how would we say, "this offer is available for a limited time only"? Guy explains.

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of This Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Gvul (m.) (pl. gvulot) – Border, boundary, frontier, limit – גבול, גבולות

Gvulot be-beit ha-sefer – Boundaries at school – גבולות בבית הספר

Az ani bati ve-amarti "rabotai, yesh gvulot" – And I came and said, "gentlemen, there are boundaries" – אז אני באתי ואמרתי, "רבותי, יש גבולות"

"Kshe-samim lo gvulot, ein shum siba ba-olam, she-hu yamshich lehitnaheg be-ofen lo na'im ve-lo yafe" – When you set boundaries for him, there is no reason in the world that he will continue to misbehave – כששמים לו גבולות, אין שום סיבה בעולם שהוא ימשיך להתנהג באופן לא נעים או לא יפה

Lehatsiv/lasim gvulot le-mishehu – To set boundaries for someone – להציב/לשים גבולות למישהו

"Ein shum ra'ash she-ya'atsor o yagbil oti" – There is no noise that will stop me or will limit me – אין שום רעש שיעצור או יגביל אותי

Yagbil oti – Will limit me – יגביל אותי

Yagbil sounds like yazmin (he will invite) – יגביל, יזמין

"Ha-kadursal higbil oti" – Basketball limited me – הכדורסל הגביל אותי

Magbit – Limiting – מגביל

Lehagbil – To limit – להגביל

Lehagbil masachim – To limit screen time for children – להגביל מסכים

"Achat le-eize zman mugbal" – once every period of time – אחת לאיזה זמן מוגבל

Ha-mivtsa mugbal be-zman/Mivtsa le-zman mugbal – The special deal is available for a limited time only – המבצע מוגבל בזמן / מבצע לזמן מוגבל

Mivtsa mugbal le-yechida achat le-lako'ach – The offer is limited to one unit per customer – מבצע מוגבל ליחידה אחת ללקוח

Mahadura mugbelet – Limited edition – מהדורה מוגבלת

Bira be-mahadura mugbelet be-itsuv meyuchad – A limited edition beer with special design – בירה במהדורה מוגבלת בעיצוב מיוחד

Heshbon bank – Restricted bank account – חשבון בנק

Be-eravon mugbal – Limited, Ltd. – בערבון מוגבל, בע"מ

Lakachat mashehu be-eravon mugbal – Take something with a grain of salt – לקחת משהו בערבון מוגבל

Kach/k'chi/k'chu et ze be-eravon mugbal – Take it with a grain of salt – קח/קחי/קחו את זה בערבון מוגבל

Mugbalut, mugbaluyot – Disability, disabilities – מוגבלות, מוגבלויות

Anashim im mugbaluyot / ba'alei mugbaluyot – People with disabilities – אנשים עם מוגבלויות, בעלי מוגבלויות

"Tachat migbalot corona" – Under Corona restrictions – תחת מגבלות קורונה

"Ba-migbalot" – In the given circumstances – "במגבלות"

"Ma nishma? beseder, ba-migbalot" – "How are you? Ok, given the limitations" – "מה נשמע? בסדר, במגבלות"

Hagbalat gil/Migbalat gil – Age minimum or limit – הגבלת גיל/מגבלת גיל

Yesh hagbalat gil? – Is there an age restriction? – יש הגבלת גיל?

Hagbalat s'chum, hagbel s'chum – Limit the total sum – הגבלת סכום, הגבל סכום

Hu avar kol gvul – He crossed the line – הוא עבר כל גבול

Playlist and Clips:

Rabotai, yesh gvulot (KAN TV)

Yonatan Razel – Achshav Ani Af (lyrics)

Ha-kadursal higbil oti – Basketball limited me (KAN TV)

Meir Ariel – Neshel Ha-nachas (lyrics)

Mivtsa le-zman mugbal

Mahadura mugbelet – Limited edition

Anashim ba'alei mugbaluyot – People with disabilities (KAN TV)

Tachat migbalot Corona – Under the Corona restrictions (KAN TV)

Ep. #226

Using pronouns in conversation is easy when speaking our mother tongue. But in Hebrew, it might be more difficult.

In this episode, Guy explains the mechanism of Hebrew pronouns which, in turn, will help you sound more natural and casual.

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of This Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Lama ze magi'a lanu? – Why do we deserve it? – למה זה מגיע לנו?

Ze magi'a le-mishehu/lo – Serves him right – זה מגיע למישהו/לו

Magi'a le-eli – Eli deserves it – מגיע לאלי

Lo yafe, lama ata omer she-magi'a lo – It's not nice to say these things, why do you say he deserves it – לא יפה, למה אתה אומר שמגיע לו

Lama ze magi'a li – Why do I deserve it – למה זה מגיע לי

Lo higi'a la – She didn't deserve it – לא הגיע לה

Shanim she-lo shamati shum davar mimena – For years I haven't heard a thing from her – שנים לא שמעתי שום דבר ממנה

Lo shamati me-Racheli klum – I haven't heard anything from Racheli – לא שמעתי מרחלי כלום

Gam ani lo shamati klum mimena – I, too, haven't heard anything from her – גם אני לא שמעתי כלום ממנה

Lishmo'a mashehu mi-mishehu – To hear something from someone (To know how they are doing) – לשמוע משהו ממישהו

Eifo od timtsa achat kamoni she-tavin otcha – Where else can you find someone like me who would understand you – איפה עוד תמצא אחת כמוני שתבין אותך

Eifo od emtsa echad kamocha she-mevin oti – Where else could I find someone like you who understands me – איפה עוד אמצא אחד כמוך שמבין אותי

Kmo Benny – Like Benny – כמו בני

Kamohu – Like him – כמוהו (formal: Kmoto)

Kamoni, kamocha, kamoch, kamohu, kamoha, kamonu, kamochem, kamohem – Like me, you, etc. – כמוני, כמוך, כמוך, כמוהו, כמוה, כמונו, כמוכם, כמוהם

"Kamoni – kamocha" – I am like you – כמוני – כמוך

Anachnu sofrim tsiporim ki anachnu kol ha-zman rotsim levadé she-(ha)tsiporim nish'arot itanu – We count birds, because we want to make sure all the time, that the birds stay with us – אנחנו סופרים ציפורים כי אנחנו כל הזמן רוצים לוודא ש(ה)ציפורים נשארות איתנו

Im (with) + anachnu (us) = Itanu – עם + אנחנו = איתנו

Ani margisha she-li pi million yoter kashe me-hem – I feel that for me, it's million times more difficult than it is for them – אני מרגישה שלי פי מיליון יותר קשה מהם

Yoter kashe li mi-le-mishehu acher – It's harder for me than it is for someone else – יותר קשה לי מלמישהו אחר

Pi shtayim – Twice as much – פי שתיים

Pi million – A million times – פי מיליון

Ani lo rotsa she-yihyu kalim klapai – I don't want them to make it easier for me – אני לא רוצה שיהיו קלים כלפיי

Playlist and Clips:

Daniel Barzilai – Lama Ze Magi'a Lanu (lyrics)

Rami Kleinstein – Al Ha-gesher Ha-yashan

Liran Danino – Achat Kamoni (lyrics)

Hen nish'arot itanu – They stay with us (bird counting in Israel)

Li pi million yoter kashé me-hem

In Hebrew, תרגיל means an exercise. This episode includes many תרגילים, of all kinds. Guy also explains the difference between לְ and לַ.

And as a bonus: a song in Ladino, the language of the Spanish Jews.

Send Guy your audio message [email protected]

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Targil – Exercise – תרגיל

Targilei neshima – Breathing exercises – תרגילי נשימה

Targilei kol – Voice exercises – תרגילי קול

Hayom anachnu na'ase kama targilim bi-myuchad la-davar ha-ze – Today we'll do a few exercises, especially for this thing – היום אנחנו נעשה כמה תרגילים, במיוחד לדבר הזה

Ze targil tov le-chizuk ha-beten – This is a good exercise to strengthen the stomach – זה תרגיל טוב לחיזוק הבטן

"Tsarich laasot gam kama targilei squatim ve-mishkolot" – You also need to do a few squat and weight lifting exercises – צריך לעשות גם כמה תרגילי סקוואטים ומשקולות

Lo chayavim la-targil ha-ze mishkolot bichlal – One doesn't need weights for this exercise at all – לא חייבים לתרגיל הזה משקולות

Ha-yeled ha-katan – The small kid – הילד הקטן

Lé – to/for a – ל

La – to/for the – ל

Bé – in a – ב

Ba – in the – ב

Asa le-mishehu targil – He tricked someone – עשה למישהו תרגיל

Hu asa li ma-ze targil, hi asta li ma-ze targil, hem asu li ma-ze targil – He/She/They pulled a trick on me – הוא עשה לי מה-זה תרגיל, היא עשתה לי מה-זה תרגיל, הם עשו לי מה-זה תרגיל

Targil meluchlach/masri'ach – Dirty trick – תרגיל מלוכלך/מסריח

Hem metargelim – They exercise – הם מתרגלים

Hem metargelim hilutz – They are practicing a rescue – הם מתרגלים חילוץ

Tirgul – Exercise (noun) – תרגול

Letargel – To exercise, to practice – לתרגל

Ata kvar meturgal – You know the drill – אתה כבר מתורגל

Ani lo meturgal be-dvarim ka-ele – I am not used to these things – אני לא מתורגל בדברים כאלה

Playlist and Clips:

Kenan (in ladino)

Targilei neshima

Targilei beten – Stomach exercises

Metargelim

Bnaya Berrebi – Achrei She-yigamer

Yehoram Gaon – Avre Tu Puerta Cerrada

'Eich omrim be-ivrit?' means 'how do you say in Hebrew?'. Today Guy explains the impersonal in Hebrew. What linguistic tools do we have to say generic things about everybody and anyone?

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of This Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Guf stami – The Impersonal (gramm.) – גוף סתמי

Matchilim me-chadash – Starting anew – מתחילים מחדש

Lo ichpat li – I don't care – לא אכפת לי

Ma omrim alai – What they say about me – מה אומרים עליי

Eich omrim "wi-fi" be-ivrit? – How do you say 'wi-fi' in Hebrew? – ?איך אומרים ויי-פיי בעברית

Yesh Dvarim she-lo osim – There are things you shouldn't do – יש דברים שלא עושים

Lo ochlim lifnei she-shotfim yadayim – You don't eat before washing your hands – לא אוכלים לפני ששוטפים ידיים

Lo no'alim sandalim al ha-garbayim – You don't wear sandals on your socks – לא נועלים סנדלים על הגרביים

Nish'arim ba-bayit, nish'arim ba-chayim – Staying at home, staying alive – נשארים בבית, נשארים בחיים

Lo me'archim, lo mit'archim – You are not to host others, you are not to be hosted by others – לא מארחים, לא מתארחים

Lo yot'sim le-picnicim – You shouldn't go out on a picnic – לא יוצאים לפיקניקים

Playlist and Clips:

Omanei Israel – Matchilim Me-chadash

Noa Kirel – Medabrim (lyrics)

Tzlil Mechuvan – Yachol Lihyot She-ze Nigmar (lyrics)

Ha-tikva 6 – Ha-ivrit Ha-chadasha (lyrics)

Omer Adam – Yesh Dvarim She-lo Osim (lyrics)

Misrad Ha-bri'ut – Nish'arim ba-bayit, staying at home

Ep. 161 – Omrim