Streetwise Hebrew

There's so much more to learning a language than studying grammar and vocabulary. The melodies of a language, Guy says, are equally as important. So join him on this short journey through Israel's many voices to learn a thing or two about Hebrew intonation. No need to think, analyze or translate. Just listen.

Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon.

Words and expressions discussed:

Intonatsyot – Intonations – אינטונציות

Music:

It's Okay, That's Love (Korean TV drama) Julieta movie trailer "Hayati" Moroccan TV series Dr. Gilad Goldshmidt, Galey Tsahal Radio interview Static and Ben-El Tavori, interviewed by Ba-tribuna Muhammad Kaabiya, TV1 Katya Kupchik, Ha-televizia Ha-hinuchit, show about 2nd generation immigrants from Russia Ahuvya Malkin, Hahagana Israel News (1958) Big Brother, Israeli channel 2, (2016)

Want to see more Hebrew gems? Like Streetwise Hebrew on Facebook and Instagram.

Want Guy to talk about a pressing Hebrew issue? Find him at StreetWiseHebrew.com or follow him on Twitter.

Think you already know Hebrew inside out? Well, the words for 'inside' and 'out' in Hebrew may stump you yet. Guy explains them and other tricky, related phrases.

Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon.

Words and expressions discussed:

Chutz, Bahutz – Outside – חוץ, בחוץ

Pnim, Bifnim – Inside – פנים, בפנים

Ata rotse lashevet bifnim o bahutz? – Do you want to sit inside or outside? – ?אתה רוצה לשבת בפנים או בחוץ

Hahutsa – Out, towards the outside – החוצה

Pnima – Inside, towards the inside – פנימה

Ani yotse hahutsa – I am going out – אני יוצא החוצה

I am getting in – Ani nichnas pnima – אני נכנס פנימה

Ha-tikva – The Hope – התקווה

Kol od ba-levav penima – As long as in the heart, within – כל עוד בלבב פנימה

Ve-im etse ha-hutsa – And if I get out – ואם אצא החוצה

Ha-matzav rak yahamir – The situation will only deteriorate – המצב רק יחמיר

Ani yotse ksat hahutsa – I am going outside for a while – אני יוצא קצת החוצה

Ein li hutz mimech klum – I don't have anything but you – אין לי חוץ ממך כלום

Hutz mi- – Except for, apart from – חוץ מ-

Hutz mi-ze ha-kol beseder – Apart from this, everything is fine – חוץ מזה הכל בסדר

Ma hutz? – What else is new? – ?מה חוץ

Hutz la'aretz, hul – Abroad – חוץ לארץ, חו"ל

Tachshov she-ze hutz laaretz – Think that you're abroad – תחשוב שזה חוץ לארץ

Yoshvim be-beit café – We sit in a café – יושבים בבית קפה

Vermargishim kmo be-hul – And we feel as if we're abroad – ומרגישים כמו בחו"ל

Mas nesi'ot – Tax on travel abroad – מס נסיעות

Im kvar anachnu lomdim "hutz" – If we are already learning "hutz" – "אם אנחנו כבר לומדים "חוץ

Matbe'a hutz – Foreign currency – מטבע חוץ

Sar ha-hutz – The Foreign Minister – שר החוץ

Misrad ha-huts – The Foreign Ministry – משרד החוץ

Yeled hutz – "Outside kid" in a kibbutz – ילד חוץ

Yoffi pnimi – Inner beauty – יופי פנימי

Yoffi hitzoni – External beauty – יופי חיצוני

Music:

Israeli National Anthem Mashina – Rakevet Laila Le-Kahir (lyrics) Rami Kleinstein – Ein li hutz mimech klum (lyrics) Ha-ofarim – Hutz mi-ze Ha-kol Beseder (lyrics) Ray Ventura – Tout va très bien, Madame la Marquise Balagan – Hutz La'aretz (lyrics) Teapacks – Yoshvim Be-beit Café (lyrics) Sar Ha-huts – Mabat, TV1 (Israel) Shahar Hasson Stand-up comedy

Want to see more Hebrew gems? Like Streetwise Hebrew on Facebook and Instagram.

Want Guy to talk about a pressing Hebrew issue? Find him at StreetWiseHebrew.com or follow him on Twitter.

The Hebrew word "sagur" means closed, but is also ever useful in making deals and plans, even satisfying your hunger. Today Guy explains this word and its artful expressions about closing, finalizing, and wrapping things up.

Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon.

Words and expressions discussed:

Lisgor – To close – לסגור

Lisgor delet – To close a door – לסגור דלת

Lisgor misradim – To close down offices – לסגור משרדים

Ba-lev sheli yesh hor – In my heart there's a hole – בלב שלי יש חור

She-i efshar lisgor – That you cannot close – שאי אפשר לסגור

Lisgor mashehu im mishehu – To finalize something with someone – לסגור משהו עם מישהו

Ma sagarta ito? – What did you finalize with him? – ?מה סגרת איתו

Anachnu sogrim ito al mahar be-tesha – We're confirming with him for tomorrow at nine – אנחנו סוגרים איתו על מחר בתשע

Ha-kol sagur – It's all set – הכל סגור

Ze od lo sagur – It's not final yet – זה עוד לא סגור

Sagur! – Deal! Finalized! – !סגור

Ze bichlal od lo sagur – It's not finalized yet at all – זה בכלל עוד לא סגור

Ulai tagidi ma nisgar – Maybe you'll tell what's going on – אולי תגידי מה נסגר

Ha-halon nisgar – The window was closed – החלון נסגר

Ma nisgar ba-sof im ha-mesiba? – What's happening with the party? – ?מה נסגר בסוף עם המסיבה

Ma nisgar im mishehu? – What's happening with someone? – ?מה נסגר עם מישהו

Ma nisgar im ha-hu/hi ba-sof? – What happened to that guy/girl at the end? – ?מה נסגר עם ההוא/ההיא בסוף

Ma nisgar? – What the hell? – ?מה נסגר

Ma nisgar im ha-bank ha-ze? – What's happening with this bank? – ?מה נסגר עם הבנק הזה

Ma nisgar im ha-rofe ha-ze? – What's going on with this doctor? – ?מה נסגר עם הרופא הזה

Lisgor pina – "to close a corner" – לסגור פינה

Sagarta li et ha-pina – This is exactly what I needed – סגרת לי את הפינה

Achi, sagarta li et ha-pina im ha-pizza hazot – Dude, this pizza was exactly what I needed – אחי, סגרת לי את הפינה עם הפיצה הזאת

Ze yisgor li et ha-pina, o she-zo mana mamash ktana? – Will I be full from this, or this is a small dish? – ?זה יסגור לי את הפינה או שזה מנה ממש קטנה

Yesh li rak kama she'elot, lisgor et ha-pina ha-zot shel ha-tiyul – I just have a few question to finalize the last details about the trip – יש לי רק כמה שאלות, לסגור את הפינה הזאת של הטיול

Sgor li rega ta'pina – Help me to wrap this up – סגור לי רגע ת'פינה

Mesugar – Introspective – מסוגר

Histager – Closed himself up – הסתגר

Hu sagar et ha-basta – He died/wrapped it up/went bankrupt – הוא סגר את הבסטה

Sagarnu ta-basta – That's a wrap – סגרנו ת'בסטה

Music: Dudu Tassa – Ani Ratz (lyrics) Sarit Haddad – Ha-kol Sagur (lyrics) Gil Korach – Ma Nisgar (lyrics) Bago Dago – Halo Halo (lyrics)

Want to see more Hebrew gems? Like Streetwise Hebrew on Facebook and Instagram.

Want Guy to talk about a pressing Hebrew issue? Find him at StreetWiseHebrew.com or follow him on Twitter.

It happens all the time. Someone cut you in the line at a Tel Avivi market, just stepped right in front. What do you say to put them back in their place? That is, back behind you in the queue. Let's learn what Israelis say in this situation, paying special attention to delicate intonations that make all the difference.

Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon.

Words and expressions discussed:

Ze rak she'ela – It's just a question – זה רק שאלה

Slicha – Sorry / Excuse me – סליחה

Ani hayiti kodem - I was (here) before – אני הייתי קודם

Chutspa – Nerve – חוצפה

Halo-halo! – Hey! – הלו-הלו

Halo, ma niya? – What's going on? – ?הלו, מה נהיה

Lo lo lo / Lo lo lo lo lo – No, no, no – לא לא לא / לא לא לא לא לא

Achshav ani – Now it's my turn – עכשיו אני

Achi / Haver / Gever / Adoni – Dude / mate / man / Sir – אחי / חבר / גבר / אדוני

Hayita po? – Were you here? – ?היית פה

Gvirti slicha, ani kodem – Ma'am excuse me, I am first – גבירתי סליחה, אני קודם

Episode 144 on 'nihya'

Music:

Matti Caspi - Slicha (lyrics) Amir Benayoun - Mehila (lyrics) George Bar – Halo, halo Shotei Ha-nevu'a - Yefehfiya (lyrics) Rivka Michaeli & Ran Eliran – Lo Lo Lo (lyrics) Ha-haverim shel Natasha – Achshav Ani (lyrics) Tsipi Shavit – Gveret Shokolada (lyrics)

Want to see more Hebrew gems? Like Streetwise Hebrew on Facebook and Instagram.

Want Guy to talk about a pressing Hebrew issue? Find him at StreetWiseHebrew.com or follow him on Twitter.

Some say kissing is a universal language. "What makes a good kisser?" certainly begs an answer from teens in all parts of the world. But what about giving passionate French smooches or just a peck in Hebrew? Guy divulges the details.

Words and expressions discussed:

Matai nitnashek? – When will we kiss? – ?מתי נתנשק

Lehitnashek – To kiss – להתנשק

Lehitkalech – To shower – להתקלח

Lehitlabesh – To get dressed – להתלבש

Lehitnashek – To kiss each other – להתנשק

Hem hitnashku – They kissed each other – הם התנשקו

Hitnashaktem? – Did you guys kiss? – ?התנשקתם

Hitnashakt ito – You (f.) kissed him – התנשקת איתו

Hitnashakt ita – You (f.) kissed her – התנשקת איתה

Nishakt oto – You (f.) kissed him – נישקת אותו

Nishakta oto – You (m.) kissed him – נישקת אותו

Lenashek mishehu – To kiss someone – לנשק מישהו

Ani rotse lishon itach – I want to sleep with you (f.) – אני רוצה לישון איתך

Lenashek otach – To kiss you (f.) – לנשק אותך

Le'at leat – Slowly – לאט לאט

Eich gormim le-yeled – How do you make a boy – איך גורמים לילד

Lenashek oti – To kiss me – לנשק אותי

"Bat 12, dahuf" – "A 12 year old girl, urgent" – "בת 12, דחוף"

Lo naim li lenashek oto levad – I don't want to be the one kissing him – לא נעים לי לנשק אותו לבד

Ki ani rotsa she-hu yenashek oti – Because I want him to kiss me – כי אני רוצה שהוא ינשק אותי

Ma ze nashkan tov? – What makes a good kisser? – מה זה נשקן טוב?

Neshika rishona – First kiss – נשיקה ראשונה

Khi million neshikot – Take (f.) a million kisses – קחי מיליון נשיקות

Neshikot! – Kisses! – נשיקות!

Hibukim ve-nishukim – Hugs and kisses – חיבוקים ונישוקים

Natan li neshika – He gave me a kiss – נתן לי נשיקה

Latet neshika – To give a kiss – לתת נשיקה

Ten/Tni li neshika – Give me a kiss – תן/תני לי נשיקה

Neshika tsarfatit – French kiss – נשיקה צרפתית

Lehitnashek neshika tsarfatit – To kiss a French kiss – להתנשק נשיקה צרפתית

Tenashek/Tenashki! – Kiss! (Imp.) – !תנשק/תנשקי

Habek oti, nashek oti – Hug me, kiss me – חבק אותי, נשק אותי

Nashki oti hazak – Kiss (f.) me hard – נשקי אותי חזק

Nashki ad she-yich'av – Kiss me until it hurts – נשקי עד שיכאב

Kama neshikot mitnashkim ba-aretz? – How many kisses do we kiss each other? – ?כמה נשיקות מתנשקים בארץ

Al ha-lehi – On the cheek – על הלחי

Mesubach – It's complicated – מסובך

Neshika – The edge of a loaf of bread – נשיקה

Music:

Evyatar Banai – Matai Nitnashek (lyrics) Matti Caspi – Lo Dibarnu Od Al Ahava (lyrics) Yehoram Gaon – Elef Neshikot (lyrics) Omer Adam – Milion Neshikot (lyrics) Gazoz – Halalit (lyrics) Joe Dassin - L'été indien (French) Septemberwind (German) Sarit Haddad – Bosem Tsarfati (lyrics) Sivan Shavit – Nashki Oti (lyrics)

Let's face it; you don't want to watch that movie your friends are going to see. So how do you say so without a blunt 'no'? The word פחות in Hebrew means "less", "minus" and a few other things. Guy explains how to use פחות in conversations when you want to let someone down easily.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Pahot – Less – פחות

Pahot aval od Koev – Less, but it still hurts – פחות אבל עוד כואב

Shneinu shavim, pahot o yoter – We're both equal, more or less – שנינו שווים, פחות או יותר

Teshalmu pahot al sal ha-kniyot – You'll pay less for your shopping basket – תשלמו פחות על סל הקניות

Ani pahot ko'es – I am less angry – אני פחות כועס

Pahot mi-sha'a – Less than an hour – פחות משעה

"Slicha, aval pahot mat'im li karega" – Sorry, it's less convenient right now – סליחה, אבל פחות מתאים לי כרגע

"Ba lecha seret? Pahot" – Do you feel like watching a movie? Less – בא לך סרט? פחות

Pahot hitchabarti – I didn't really connect to it – פחות התחברתי

Hamesh pahot shalosh – Five minus three – חמש פחות שלוש

Playlist and Clips:

Yehuda Poliker – Pahot Aval Ko'ev (lyrics)

Aviv Geffen – Shneinu Shavim (lyrics)

Misrad Ha'otsar (Ministry of Finance) – Pay less this Passover

Evyatar Banai – Yesh Li Sikui (lyrics)

Raheli Bar – Nail Artist

Rona Keinan – Mabul (lyrics)

Ep. no. 65 about lid'og, to worry HEB

Ep. no. 190 about shaveh, equal HEB

How do we say "I told you so" in Hebrew? And "Who said?" or "You don't say!" In this episode, host Guy Sharett teaches these useful expressions and more for, well, talking about what people say. They all stem from the root 'amar,' meaning 'he said.' What say you, Guy?

Words and expressions discussed:

Amar – He said – אמר

Amarta – You (m.) said – אמרתָ

Amart – You (f.) said – אמרתְ

Ma she-ne'emar – What was said – מה שנאמר

Amart li etmol – You (f.) told me yesterday – אמרת לי אתמול

She-halamt alai ba-laila – That you dreamt about me last night – שחלמת עליי בלילה

Kshe'elohim amar – When god said – כשאלוהים אמר

Ba-pa'am ha-rishona – In the first time – בפעם הראשונה

Mi amar – Who said so? – ?מי אמר

Hi amra li – She said to me – היא אמרה לי

Az amarti lo – So I told him – אז אמרתי לו

Hu amar li – He told me – הוא אמר לי

Az ma hu amar – So what did he say? – ?אז מה הוא אמר

Ve-ma at amart? – And what did you (f.) say? – ?ומה את אמרת

Amarti lecha/lach – I told you so – אמרתי לך

Ma amarnu? – What did we say? – ?מה אמרנו

Amru lo – They told him – אמרו לו

Omrim she-haya po same'ach lifnei she-noladeti – They say that happiness was here before I was born – אומרים שהיה פה שמח לפני שנולדתי

Ma omrim? – What do you say? – ?מה אומרים

Omrim she – They say that – ...אומרים ש

Ma at omeret? Ma ata omer? – You don't say? – ?מה את אומרת? מה אתה אומר

Tamshich lahlom – Keep dreaming – תמשיך לחלום

Zot omeret – It means – זאת אומרת

Maztomeret (Ma zot omeret)? – What does it mean? – (?מזתומרת? (מה זאת אומרת

Amur la'asot – Supposed to do – אמור לעשות

Hu amur lehagi'a be-shmone – He is supposed to come at eight – הוא אמור להגיע בשמונה

Music: Yehudit Ravit – Amarta (lyrics) Avtipus – Tash'iri Li Makom Lehabek Otach (lyrics) Matti Caspi – Kshe'elohim Amar Ba-pa'am Ha-rishona (lyrics) Monica Sex – Maka Afora (lyrics) Etti Ankri – Lech Titragel Ita (lyrics) David Broza – Yihye Tov (lyrics) Arik Einstein – Amru Lo (lyrics) Adriano Celentato – Azzuro Tzlil Mechuvan – Yachol Lihyot She-ze Nigmar (lyrics) Gazoz – Roni (lyrics) Shoshana Damari – Zot Omeret (lyrics) Ehud Banai – Starter (lyrics)

The most talked about video in Israel right now is of an Israeli Arab teacher singing a catchy Hebrew lesson to her students. Why did the video become so viral? Guy explains the civic discourse surrounding the famed tune and why this teacher is not alone in pronunciation blunders.

Words and expressions discussed:

Geshem Geshem Metaftef – Rain, rain pouring down– גשם גשם מטפטף

Eizé kef – How fun – איזה כיף

Li kanu me'il hadash – They just bought me a new coat – לי קנו מעיל חדש

Ve-hayom oto elbash – And today I will wear it – והיום אותו אלבש

Giz'ani – Racist – גזעני

Nahut – Inferior – נחות

Nesi ha-medina – President – נשיא המדינה

Beit ha-nasi – President's Residence – בית הנשיא

Tarbuyuot – Cultures – תרבויות

Ata tsarich lehakir ota – You need to know her – אתה צריך להכיר אותה

Metsuyan – Excellent – מצויין

Medaber – Speaking – מדבר

Music: Jihan Jaber – Geshem Geshem Metaftef (original clip) Channel 2 TV interview with Jihan Soldiers singing Palestinian Musawa TV Eden Ben Zaken Cover By Yves and Lir Trance Remix Bedouin version Version by Israeli Arabic teacher Version by another Israeli teacher Jihan at the Israeli President Residence

Why do we say 'Ani holech habaita', I am going home, in Hebrew? What exactly is the funny ending 'habai-ta,' if the word 'bayit' means home? Host Guy Sharett has returned home! On this episode, he explains 'habaita' and how to use it.

Words and expressions discussed:

Lahzor habaita – To come back home – לחזור הביתה

Haya mamash keif lifgosh etchem – It was great meeting you – היה ממש כיף לפגוש אתכם

Yerushalaima – Towards Jerusalem (biblical) – ירושלימה

Le-yerushalaim – Towards Jerusalem (modern) – לירושלים

Tsafona – Northbound – צפונה

Daroma – Southbound – דרומה

Smola – To the left – שמאלה

Yamina – To the right – ימינה

Kadima – Forward – קדימה

Achora – Backword – אחורה

Higati habaita – I reached home – הגעתי הביתה

Kama tov she-bata habaita – So good that you came back home – כמה טוב שבאת הביתה

Israeliyut – Israeliness – ישראליוּת

Bo ha-baita – Come home – בוא הביתה

Alé habaita – Come up home –עלה הביתה

Lech/Lechi/Lechu habaita – Go home – לך/לכי/לכו הביתה

Hu halach habaita – He went home – הוא הלך הביתה

Nir'eh li she-hu halach ha-baita – I think that he went home (standard) – נראה לי שהוא הלך הביתה

Nira li hu halach habaita – I think that he went home (Colloquial) – נראה לי הוא הלך הביתה

Music: Arik Einstein – Kama Tov She-bata Ha-baita (lyrics) Shula Hen – Bo Ha-baita (lyrics) Margo Guryan – Sunday Morning Marie Laforêt – Et Si Je T'aime Cottage cheese ad Sarit Hadad – Yalla Lech Habaita Moti (lyrics) Tel Aviv demonstration (2012) Dana Berger & Itai Pearl – Hinne Bati Habaita (lyrics)

Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon.

Want to see more Hebrew gems? Like Streetwise Hebrew on Facebook and Instagram.

Want Guy to talk about a pressing Hebrew issue? Find him at StreetWiseHebrew.com or follow him on Twitter.

When an Israeli tells you "al tid'ag," or "don't worry," that's when you should probably start worrying. In this episode we're re-posting, Guy Sharett teaches us how to talk about worrying and what else this root, דאג, has up its sleeve.

Words and expressions discussed:

Al tid'agi, al tid'ag, al tid'agu – אַל תִּדְאָגִי, אַל תִּדְאָג, אַל תִּדְאֲגוּ

Tilmad – תִּלְמָד

Al tid'agi li ima – אַל תִּדְאָגִי לי אִמָּא

Al tid'agu li aba – אַל תִּדְאֲגוּ לִי אַבָּא

Tilmedu – תִּלְמְדוּ

Ein lach ma lid'og – אֵין לָךְ מָה לִדְאוֹג

Mishehu do'eg li sham le-mala – מִישֶהוּ דּוֹאֵג לִי שָׁם לְמַעֲלָה

Mi doeg le-birot – מִי דּוֹאֵג לְבִּירוֹת

De'aga – דְּאָגָה

Al de'aga –  אַל דְּאָגָה

Ze seker mad'ig – זֶה סֶקֶר מַדְאִיג

Ani lo mud'ag me-ha-falastinim, ani mud'ag me-ha-israelim – אֲנִי לֹא מוּדְאָג מֵהַפָלָסְטִינִים, אֲנִי מוּדְאָג מֵהַיִּשְרְאֵלִים

Al tihyi mud'eget – אַל תִּהְיִי מוּדְאֶגֶת

Da'agan, da'aganit – דַּאֲגָן, דַאֲגָנִית

Da'aganut yeter – דַּאֲגָנוּת יֶתֶר

Music: Incognito, Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing  Aviv Geffen, Al tid'ag (lyrics)  Pablo Rozenberg, Al Tid'agi Li Ima (lyrics)  Ehud Banai, Kmo Tsipor Ve-sharah  Uzi Fuchs, Ein lach ma lid'og (lyrics)  Mishehu, Yehudit Ravitz (lyrics)  Shelly Yachimovich, interview TV10 Amnon Dankner, interview TV2 Shnei Sipurey Ahava Ktsarim, Ha-haverim shel Natasha (lyrics)