Streetwise Hebrew

We often hear the same errors made over and over again by those learning to speak Hebrew. Some sound worse than others. But once pointed out, they'll be easy to fix. On this episode, Guy explains some of these common mistakes — why they happen and how to correct them.

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Toda al X - Thanks for X - תודה על משהו

Toda al ha-prachim - Thanks for the flowers - תודה על הפרחים

Toda al ha-shi'ur - Thanks for the lesson - תודה על השיעור

Toda al mi she-at - Thanks for being who you are - תודה על מי שאת

Toda le-itai shelem, al ha-hafaka - Thanks Itai shelem for the production - תודה לאיתי שלם על ההפקה

Toda le-Shai al ha-quiche - Thanks Shai for the quiche - תודה לשי על הקיש

Toda al something, toda le someone

Toda lach mami al ha-yom she-bo hiskamt lihyot ha-ima li-yeladai - Thank you darling for the day on which you agreed to

become the mother of my children - תודה לך מאמי על היום שבו הסכמת להיות האמא לילדיי

Toda al ha-cafe - Thanks for the coffee - תודה על הקפה

Toda she-shalachta - Thanks for sending - תודה ששלחת

Ra'iti be-youtube - I saw it on youtube - ראיתי ביוטיוב

Karati ba-iton - I read in the newspaper - קראתי בעיתון

Shamati ba-radio - I heard it on the radio - שמעתי ברדיו

Shamati ba-hadashot - I heard it on the news - שמעתי בחדשות

Ha-turkit sheli lo tova - My Turkish is not good - הטורקית שלי לא טובה

Aval ha-shir hamud - But the song is cute - אבל השיר חמוד

Ha-ivrit sheli lo tova - My Hebrew is not good - העברית שלי לא טובה

Ha-hindi sheli lo tova - My Hindi is not good - ההינדי שלי לא טובה

Ani lo medaber sinit tov - I don't speak Chinese well - אני לא מדבר סינית טוב

Ha-turkit sheli lo tova - My Turkish is not good - הטורקית שלי לא טובה

Ahrei she-bati - After I came - אחרי שבאתי

Lifnei she-halacht - Before you went - לפני שהלכת

Lifnei ha-geshem - Before the rain - לפני הגשם

Ahrei ha-geshem - After the rain - אחרי הגשם

Playlist and Clips:

Kobi Peretz - Toda Lach Mami (lyrics on YouTube)

Shlomo Artzi - Erets Hadasha (lyrics)

Gülşen - Bangır Bangır (Turkish)

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai - Shahrukh Khan, Kajol & Rani Mukerji (Hindi)

Natan Goshen - Lifnei she-ahava tipol (lyrics on YouTube)

Ronit Shachar - Ahrei she-at Tivki Yam (lyrics)

Guy's links and tips page

Did you know that "I loved her" in Hebrew can be expressed using only a single word? On this episode, Guy talks love. "Loving", "in love", "falling in love", "love me, love me not"... he covers all the bases. We're pretty sure you're going to love this episode.

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Ani ohev shokolad - I like chocolate - אני אוהב שוקולד

Ohevet lo ohevet - She loves me, she doesn't love me - אוהבת לא אוהבת

"Lo ohev" - I don't like it - לא אוהב

Zachiti le'ehov - I was fortunate to get the opportunity to love someone - זכיתי לאהוב

Le'ehov - To love - לאהוב

Ani shuv mit'ahev - I am falling in love again - אני שוב מתאהב

Lehit'ahev be-mishehu - To fall in love with someone - להתאהב

Mitlabesh - I am getting dressed - מתלבש

Lehitkatev - To correspond - להתכתב

Hit'ahavti ba-ktsina sheli - I fell in love with my officer - התאהבתי בקצינה שלי

Yesh la yofi teimani - She's got a Yemenite beauty - יש לה יופי תימני

Hi ve-ani be-tkufat hit-ahavoot - She and I are in a period of falling in love - היא ואני בתקופת התאהבות

Ha-hit-a-ha-voot - The process of falling in love - ההתאהבות

Meohav, meohevet - In love - מאוהב, מאוהבת

Nira li she-ani meohevet be-Yiftach - I think I'm in love with Yiftach - נראה לי שאני מאוהבת ביפתח

Ma yesh bo she-kulchen me-ohavot bo? - What has he got that all the girls are in love with him? - מה יש בו שכולכן מאוהבות בו

Vaksha al tagidi li she-yesh lach eize crush alav - Please don't tell me you've got a crush on him - בבקשה אל תגידי לי שיש לך איזה קראש עליו

Ahavtiha (Ahavti ota) - I loved her - אהבתיה

Playlist and Clips:

Ha-keves Ha-Shisha-Asar - Ani Ohev (lyrics)

Arkadi Duchin - Ohevet Lo Ohevet (lyrics)

Ivri Lider - Zachiti Le'ehov (lyrics)

Gidi Gov - Ani Shuv Mit'ahev (lyrics)

Moti Taka - Hit'ahavti Ba-Ktsina Sheli (lyrics on YouTube)

Ben Artzi - Bediyuk (lyrics)

Ha-hit-ah-ha-voot - Dr. Liat Yakir

Meohav, meohevet - Ha-hamama TV show

Shlomo Artzi - Ahavti'ha (lyrics)

In Hebrew, צד is side. And what about its plural צדדים, sides? It's a bit of a mouthful. Today Guy explains the different sides of צד, as well as useful expressions like, "fine by me" and "there are two sides to every story."

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Tsad, tsdadim - Side, sides - צד, צדדים

Le-shnei ha-tsdadim - To both sides - לשני הצדדים

"Birds-dadim" > (bir)ds-dadim > tsdadim

Hatsida - Towards the side - הצידה

Mi-tsad el/le tsad - From one side to the other - מצד אל צד, מצד לצד

Mi-tsad ehad… Mi-tsad sheni - On one hand, on the other hand - מצד אחד, מצד שני

Le-chol matbe'a yesh shnei tsdadim - There are two sides to every story - לכל מטבע יש שני צדדים

Le-tsidech - On your (f.) side - לצידך

Al tefani li makom le-tsidech - Don't make room for me by your side - אל תפני לי מקום לצידך

Ze lo yafe mi-tsidech - It's not a nice thing to do by you - זה לא יפה מצידך

Mamash lo yafe mi-tisdo/mi-tsida - It's not a nice thing to do from his/her side - ממש לא יפה מצידו/מצידה

Zo hutzpah mi-tsido - It's a hutzpah thing to do on his part - זו חוצפה מצידו

Mi-tsidi she-haproyekt ha-ze lo yihye - For me, this project can be cancelled - מצידי, שהפרוייקט זה לא יהיה

Mi-tsidi ein be'aya - On my part, no problem - מצידי אין בעיה

Mi-tsidi sababa - From me it's ok - מצידי סבבה

Tsad gimel - Third party - צד ג

Ba-tsad shel ha-tovim - On the side of the good guys - בצד של הטובים

Avoda tsdadit - Side gig - עבודה צדדית

Had tsdadi - One sided - חד-צדדי

Hachlata had tsdadit - One sided decision - החלטה חד-צדדית

Playlist and Clips:

Yishai Levy - Mi-tsad le-tsad (lyrics)

Imun sport

Ha-haverim shel Natasha - Yesh Zman (lyrics)

Matityahu Rozen - Mi-tsad Ehad, Mi-tsad Sheni (lyrics on YouTube)

Dor Daniel - Makom le-tsidech (lyrics)

Sheygets - Ha-milim hachi yafot (lyrics)

Ron Hulda'i, mayor of Tel Aviv

Tsad Gimel

Rona Keinan - Ba-tsad shel ha-tovim (lyrics)

Hachlata had tsdadit - TV2

In Hebrew, mefunak is spoiled (as in a spoiled kid) while lefanek is to spoil. On this episode, Guy explains how to spoil someone rotten and how to deal with spoiled brats.

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Mefunaki, pinuki - Spoiled person/kid - מפונקי, פינוקי

Dai, tafsik leyalel, mefunaki - Stop wailing, mefunaki - די, תפסיק ליילל, מפונקי

Ani medaberet al otam elu she-hem mefunakim - I speak about those who are spoiled - אני מדברת על אותם עלו שהם מפונקים

Shiluv katlani - Lethal combination - שילוב קטלני

Horim she-mefankim ad bli gvul - Parents who spoil to no end - הורים שמפנקים עד בלי גבול

Eizo mefuneket - What a spoiled girl - איזו מפונקת

Eich oti at mefaneket - How you spoil me - איך אותי את מפנקת

Havayat tisa mefaneket - Pampering flight experience - חוויית טיסה מפנקת

Sherut mefanek - A service that pampers you - שירות מפנק

Lehit'orer le-boker mefanek - Wake up to a gratifying morning - להתעורר לבוקר מפנק

Shokolad rach yoter, mefanek yoter - A chocolate which is softer and more satisfying - שוקולד רך יותר, מפנק יותר

Pashut lehenot mi-pinuk amiti - To simply enjoy a real pampering - פשוט להנות מפינוק אמיתי

Pinuk - Indulgence - פינוק

Eize pinuk - How spoiled he is - איזה פינוק

Wow eize pinuk - What a treat - וואו, איזה פינוק

Lefanek mishehu be-kafe la-mita - To pamper someone by bringing them coffee in bed - לפנק מישהו בקפה למיטה

Lehafnik et ha-yeladim sheli be-uga - Pamper my children with a cake - להפניק את הילדים שלי בעוגה

Bran flakes pinukim - Bran flakes indulgence - ברנפלקס פינוקים

Be-tosefet perot mefankim - With extra gratifying fruits - בתוספת פירות מפנקים

Mitpaneket - Spoiling herself rotten - מתפנקת

Kmo hataltula - Like a kitten - כמו חתלתולה

Lehitpanek - To spoil yourself rotten, to indulge - להתפנק

Efo ata? - Mitpanek li ba-mita - Spoiling myself in bed - איפה אתה? מתפנק לי במיטה

Playlist and Clips:

Mefunakim nim'astem

Stalos & Oren Hen - Mefuneket (lyrics)

Tisa mefaneket

Boker mefanek

Shokolad mefanek

Pinuk amiti

Danit - Pinukim (Subtitles in English)

Liora Gonzalez - Mitpaneket (lyrics on YouTube)

Pinuki

Spot in the Woods

The word mag'il in Hebrew means disgusting. And even though we're keeping it clean on the podcast, the topic of disgust might not be for everyone. That said, knowing how to say eeew gross in Hebrew is critical! We think you'll be fine as long as you're not eating lunch.

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Achil - Edible - אכיל

Mag'il - Disgusting - מגעיל

Ze mag'il oti - It disgusts me - זה מגעיל אותי

Go'al nefesh - Disgusting - גועל נפש

"Roletat go'al nefesh" - "Disgusting roulette" - רולטת גועל נפש

Go'al nefesh shel ben adam/anashim - Disgusting person/people - גועל נפש של בנאדם/אנשים

Go'ali - Revolting - גועלי

Doche, docha - Repulsive - דוחה

Kshe-anachnu nig'alim mi-mashehu - When we are disgusted by something - כשאנחנו נגעלים ממשהו

Lehigael mi-mashehu - To be disgusted by something - להיגעל ממשהו

Lehag'il mishehu - To disgust someone - להגעיל מישהו

Ichs, ichsa, ich - Eww - איכס, איכסה, איך

If/ichs/ich eize re'ach - Eew, what a smell - איף/איכס/איך איזה ריח

Dai, ya mag'il - Stop it, you're disgusting - די, יא מגעיל

Dai, ya doche/docha - Stop it, you're disgusting - די, יא דוחה

Playlist and Clips:

Achil o mag'il

Rouletat go'al nefesh

Tochnit "Docha" - Educational TV

Ichs - Reality Show

Poliana Frank - Ziva (lyrics)

For advanced listeners (stand-up comedy)

What do we say to a friend who's in bed with high fever? And to someone who got a minor scratch? And to that one person who keeps on complaining but has no right to complain? Oy misken!

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Misken Juanito - Poor Juanito - מסכן חואניטו

Misken Jerry, shamat ma kara lo? - Poor Jerry, did you hear what happened to him? - מסכן ג'רי, שמעת מה קרה לו?

Oy misken/miskena/miskenim/miskenot - You poor thing - אוי מסכן, מסכנה, מסכנים, מסכנות

Oy miskenon/miskenonet sheli - Oh my poor little thing - אוי מסכנון/מסכנונת שלי

Oy, miskenonet sheli, lehavi lach marak? - Oh you poor little thing, shall I get you some soup? - אוי מסכנונת שלי, להביא לך מרק?

Miskenchik, miskenon, miskeni, miskenoni - Poor thing (m.) - מסכנצ'יק, מסכנון, מסכני, מסכנוני

Miskenonet - Poor thing (f.) - מסכנונת

Miskenoni ktana - Poor thing (f.) - מסכנוני קטנה

Ba li lihyot miskenoni ve-lo lalechet machar la-avoda - I feel like being miskenoni and not go to work tomorrow - בא לי להיות מסכנוני ולא ללכת מחר לעבודה

Oof miskenoni sheli - Oh no, my poor thing - אוף מסכנוני שלי

Oi miskenoni - You poor thing (sarcastically) - אוי מסכנוני

Se'adia ha-misken - Poor se'adia - סעדיה המסכן

Hitstanen ha-misken - The poor (rabbit) got a cold - הצטנן המסכן

Miskenoot - Poorness - מסכנות

Tacharut miskenoot - Poorness competition - תחרות מסכנות

Lehitmasken - To pretend to be miserable - להתמסכן

Nu dai lehitmasken - Come on, stop complaining - נו, די להתמסכן

Hitmaskenoot - Pretending to be a poor thing - התמסכנות

Maskin/a (Arabic) - Poor (Arabic) - מסכין, מסכינה

Playlist and Clips:

David Broza - Ha-isha she-iti (lyrics)

Joan Manuel Serrat - La mujer que yo quiero

Miskenchik

Shlomo Makoa - S'eadia Ha-misken

Ha-shafan Ha-katan - Children song (lyrics)

Matsav Ha-uma TV show - Miskenoot

Jane Bordeaux - Rotza Livkot (lyrics below clip on youtube)

Maskina - Abd el Aziz Louis

Arik Einstein - Sa Le'at (lyrics)

In Hebrew, "Nim'as li kvar" means I just can't take it anymore, I am so fed up. The root, mem-alef-samech, is an interesting one and can be used in all sorts of ways, like in the translated sentence, "Are you fed up with 'butterflies'?" What does that even mean?! Guy explains.

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Nim'as li - I am fed up with something - נמאס לי

Nimas le-someone from something

Dai, nim'as li mi-shkarim - I am fed up with lies - די, נמאס לי משקרים

Nim'asta kvar alai - I am already fed up with you - נמאסת כבר עליי

Nimas conjugated + al someone

Hu nim'as alai - I am fed up with him - הוא נמאס עליי

Hi nim'asa aleha - She's fed up with her - היא נמאסה עליה

Nim'asti al atsmi - I got fed up with myself - נמאסתי על עצמי

Dai nim'asta - Enough already, I am fed up with you - די, נמאסת

Ts, dai nim'as - Enough already - טסס, די, נמאס

Nim'as lachem she-melachlechim lachem et ha-shati'ach? - Are you fed up when people dirty up your carpet? - נמאס לכם שמלכלכים לכם את השטיח?

Nim'as lach mi-parparim - Are you fed up with 'butterflies'? - נמאס לך מ'פרפרים'?

Parpar - Butterfly, Don juan, womanizer - פרפר, רודף שמלות

Tagidu, lo nim'as lachem le'echol ota? - Tell me, aren't you sick and tired of being suckers? - תגידו, לא נמאס לכם לאכול אותה?

Mush'chatim nim'astem! - You the corrupted, we're fed up with you! - מושחתים נמאסתם!

Ani a'ase et ha-kol al menat leham'is alehem et ha-shehut ba-aretz - I will do everything in order to make their stay in Israel miserable - אני אעשה את הכל על מנת להמאיס עליהם את השהות בארץ

Leham'is shir hadash - To overplay a song - להמאיס שיר חדש

Leham'is ochel al mishehu - To make someone tired of eating the same thing - להמאיס אוכל על מישהו

Ma ze nim'as li mimenu - I am so fed up with him - מה-זה נמאס לי ממנו

Lo yima'es lecha/lach mi-ze ahrey yom-yomayim? - Won't you be fed up with it after a day or two? - לא יימאס לך מזה אחרי יום-יומיים?

Nim'asa alay kvar ha-avoda hazoti - I am really fed up with this job - נמאסה עליי כבר העבודה הזאתי

Playlist and Clips:

Ofer Levy - Dai nim'as li (lyrics)

Margalit Tsan'ani - Al Tagid Li Bye (lyrics)

Matti Caspi - Zemer Mapuhit (lyrics)

Mazi Cohen & Yoel Lerner - Dai (lyrics)

Commercial - Nim'as lachem

Nim'as lach mi-parparim?

Tagidu, lo nim'as lachem…?

Mush'chatim nim'astem

Eli Yishai about Sudanese in Israel

Noa Kirel, Stephane Legar & Arisa (lyrics)

We talk a lot about lahats (stress, pressure) in Israel. You'll often hear, "ma ata lahuts?", why are you stressed, and "ein lahats", there's no pressure, just as your stress level is hitting its all-time high.

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Lahats - Pressure, stress - לחץ

Ani ma-ze be-lahats ha-shavu'a – I am really stressed this week - אני מה-זה בלחץ השבוע

Al tilahtsu - Don't get stressed - אל תילחצו

Ein lahats - There's no pressure - אין לחץ

Lahats dam gavoha - High blood pressure - לחץ דם גבוה

Kibalti lahats dam gavoha - I got high blood pressure - קיבלתי לחץ דם גבוה

Lahats dam namuch - Low blood pressure - לחץ דם נמוך

Yeshnam alai lechatsim she-ani ashuv lechahen ke-rosh iriyat yerushalayim - There's pressure on me to return and serve as the mayor of Jerusalem - ישנם עליי לחצים שאני אשוב לכהן כראש עיריית ירושלים

Lehaf'il lahats al mishehu laasot mashehu / she-hu yaase mashehu - To put pressure on someone to do something / that he'd do something - להפעיל לחץ על מישהו לעשות משהו / שהוא יעשה משהו

Lilhots al kaftor - To press a button - ללחוץ על כפתור

Lehitsa - Pressing - לחיצה

Lehitsat yad - Handshake - לחיצת יד

Lehitsa aruka - Long press (on button) - לחיצה ארוכה

Lehitsa pa'amayim - Pressing twice - לחיצה פעמיים

Ze lohets li - It's too tight - זה לוחץ לי

Na'alayim lohatsot - Tight shoes - נעליים לוחצות

Eifo lochets lecha? Po. Baregel - Where is it pressing you? Here, in my foot - איפה לוחץ לך? פה, ברגל

Lahuts - Stressed, anxious - לחוץ

Nilhats - Easily pressured - נלחץ

Lahits - Pressable, easily influenced by pressure - לחיץ

Ya lahuts - You're so stressed! - יא לחוץ

Ya lehutsa, rega! - You're so stressed, wait a sec. - יא לחוצה, רגע

Lahuts-bayit - "Home-stressed" soldier - לחוץ-בית, לחוצת בית

Lehitsoot-bayit - "Home-stressed-ness" by soldiers - לחיצות-בית

Lahuts-hatuna, Lehutsat-hatuna - Wedding-obsessed person - לחוץ-חתונה, לחוצת חתונה

Hi ma-ze lehutsat-hatuna - She's so obsessed with getting married - היא מה-זה לחוצת חתונה

Lehalhits mishehu - To pressure, rush, worry someone - להלחיץ מישהו

Hilchits oti ktast - He worried me a bit - הלחיץ אותי קצת

Metavchim - Real estate agents - מתווכים

Ani lo rotse lehalchitz otcha - I don't want to pressure you - אני לא רוצה להלחיץ אותך

Aval yesh od anashim she-hit'anyenu ba-dira - But there are more people interested in the apartment - אבל יש עוד אנשים שהתעניינו בדירה

Al talchits/talchitsi oti - Don't pressure me - אל תלחיץ/תלחיצי אותי

Ma ha-lahats? - What's the stress about? - מה הלחץ?

Playlist and Clips:

Berry Sakharof - Lahats (lyrics)

Jacky Mekaiten - Ha-me'antezet (lyrics)

"Yeshnam alay lechatsim" - I am being pressured (Kikar Ha-shabat)

Boaz Banai - Lilhots al Kaftor (lyrics)

Lehitsat Yad - Handshake

Ariel Sharon about Netanyahu: Lahuts ve-nilhats (TV10)

Lahits

Danny Robas - Hine Ani (lyrics)

How do you say rehearsal in Hebrew? And what do the Hebrew words for tax-refund and rabbi-preacher have in common? A root, of course! Guy returns for another Streetwise Hebrew lesson.

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Rehearsal - Hazara - חזרה

Choir rehearsal - Hazarat mak'hela - חזרת מקהלה

Hazara generalit - Dress rehearsal - חזרה גנרלית

Hazara la-limudim - Back to school - חזרה ללימודים

Lahzor - To go back, to return - לחזור

Ha-hazara le'anshehu - The returning somewhere - החזרה לאנשהו

Ani loke'ach ba-hazara dvarim kashim nora she-amarti lach - I take back harsh things that I said to you - אני לוקח בחזרה דברים קשים נורא שאמרתי לך

Lakahat be-hazara - To take back - לקחת בחזרה

Neshikot (be)hazara - Kisses back - נשיקות (ב)חזרה

Lashuv ba-hazara - To return - לשוב בחזרה

Ad she-tahzor ba-hazara - Until you come back - עד שתחזור בחזרה

Hozer bi-tshuva - A person who is becoming religious - חוזר בתשובה

Hazara bi-tshuva - Becoming religious - חזרה בתשובה

Lahzor be-she'ela - Becoming secular - חזרה בשאלה

Haloch-hazor / haloch va-shov - Back and forth - הלוך-חזור/הלוך ושוב

Kartis haloch-hazor / haloch va-shov - Return ticket - כרטיס הלוך-חזור/הלוך ושוב

Hechzer mas - Tax refund - החזר מס

Lehachzir sefer lehaver - To return a book to a friend - להחזיר ספר לחבר

Mivtsa hachzarat tsiyud tsva'i - "Returning Military Equipment" campaign - מבצע החזרת ציוד צבאי

Machzirim bi-tshuva - Rabbi-preachers who lecture on getting back to religion - מחזירים בתשובה

Huchzar - It was returned - הוחזר

Yuchzar X, Tuchzar Y - Bring back X/Y - יוחזר X, תוחזר Y

Kaspechem yuchzar lachem - Your money will be returned to you - כספכם יוחזר לכם

Mihzur - Recycling - מיחזור

Lemachzer - To recycle - למחזר

Playlist and Clips:

TV2 news report - Hazara Generalit

TV10 - Hazara la-limudim

Yehuda Poliker - Lo Yode'a (lyrics)

Arik Einstein - Shabat ba-boker (lyrics)

Eden Ben-Zaken - Ad she-tahzor ba-hazara (lyrics)

Kan TV - Hozrim bi-tshuva, people who become religious

Idan Reichel's Project - Ha-baita Haloch-Hazor (lyrics)

Hechzer mas - Tax refund

Hachzarat tsiyud - Returning military equipment to the army

TV10 - Mahzirim bi-tshuva (rabbi-preachers)

Kaspechem yuchzar lachem - You money will be returned

Doron Mazar - Ani hozer ha-baita (lyrics)