Streetwise Hebrew

The word "miss" has many meanings in English: You can miss a bus, a lesson, miss someone, miss the point, and much more. Hebrew does not use one verb for all of the above, and some acrobatics is needed. Host Guy Sharett explains.   Exclusive content   New words & expressions: I miss you – Ani mitga'a'gea eleycha/elayich – אני מתגעגע אלייך Pashut lehitga'ge'a – Just to miss, to long for – פשוט להתגעגע Hitga'gati az bati – I had a longing, so I came by – התגעגעתי אז באתי Hitga'aganu elayich – We missed you (f.) – התגעגענו אלייך Techsar lanu, techsari lanu, techsaru lanu – We'll miss you – תחסר לנו/תחסרי לנו/תחסרו לנו Chaser – Missing – חסר Ata po chaser li – You're missed by me here – אתה פה חסר לי Lehachsir shi'urim – To miss lessons – להחסיר שיעורים Hichsarta harbe shi'urim – You missed many lessons – החסרת הרבה שיעורים Chisur/im – Absence/s – חיסור/ים Yesh lecha harbe chisurim – You've got many absences – יש לך הרבה חיסורים Fisfasta et ha-otobus - You missed the bus – פספסת את האוטובוס Fisfasta – You mis

You probably know that ochel kasher is "kosher food." But did you know that kasher also means "fit," "valid," "reliable"? And what does the verb lehakhshir mean, and how is it all related to talent? Host Guy Sharett explains all.   Exclusive content   New words & expressions: Kasher – Kosher, fit, valid, reliable – כשר Mashehu po lo kasher – Something is a bit dodgy here – משהו פה לא כשר Kashrut – Kosherness – כשרות Teudat kashrut – Kosher(ness) certificate – תעודת כשרות Mashgiach kashrut – Kosher(ness) inspector – משגיח כשרות Kosher – Fitness, ability, capability – כושר Madrichat kosher – Fitness instructor – מדריכת כושר Chadar/Machon kosher – Fitness center – חדר/מכון כושר Kosher bituy – Articulation – כושר ביטוי Mishehu im kosher bituy – An articulate person – מישהו עם כושר ביטוי Kosher gufani – Fitness – כושר גופני Kosher sichli – Mental ability – כושר שכלי Kashir – Capable – כשיר Kashir la-avoda – Fit to work – כשיר לעבודה Haya li kisharon gadol – I had a big talent – היה לי כישרון גדול Kishurim – Qu

Rofé - "doctor" - actually means "healer." So how do you bless someone to get well soon? And how is the first name Raphael related? In this episode Guy Sharett explains all things medical.   Exclusive content   New words & expressions: Refu'ah – Medicine, cure – רפואה Refu'ah alternativit – Alternative medicine – רפואה אלטרנטיבית Refu'ah shlema – (May you reach) full recovery – רפואה שלמה Baruch rofe holim – Blessed is he who cures the sick – ברוך רופא חולים Ein al pney kadur ha-aretz hesed li-rfuah – Nowhere on the planet can one find a tiny bit of kindness – אין על פני כדור הארץ חסד לרפואה Refu'i/t – Medical – רפואית Tayarut refu'it, tayarut marpe – Medical tourism – תיירות רפואית, תיירות מרפא Cannabis refu'i – Medical cannabis – קנאביס רפואי Rofe – Doctor – רופא Rof'aa, rof'im, rof'ot – Doctor (f.), doctors (m., f.) – רופאה, רופאים, רופאות Nirpa – It was cured – נרפא Lerape ke'eva – To heal her pain – לרפא כאבה Ripuy – Treatment, therapy – ריפוי Ripuy be-isuk – Occupational therapy – ריפוי בעיסוק Ve-ha

The shoresh ר.ש.מ is one of those Hebrew roots with so many different words stemming from it, you could easily get baffled. Whether you want to make an impression, write a list, pick up a prescription, register for an event, or create a flow chart, host Guy Sharett will help you make sense of it all.   Exclusive content   New words & expressions: Im yesh lachen she'elot, aten muzmanot lirshom li – If you've got questions you're invited (f.) to write to me – אם יש לכן שאלות אתן מוזמנות לרשום לי Lirshom – To write down; to list; to sketch – לרשום Reshima - List - רשימה Haya roshem be-milono – He used to note in his dictionary – היה רושם במילונו Rishum – Sketch – רישום Rashum – Noted, registered – רשום Kablan rashum – Registered contractor – קבלן רשום Doar rashum – Registered mail – דואר רשום Ma rashum ba-tofes – What's written in the form – מה רשום בטופס Roshem – Impression – רושם Ha-yom anachnu holchot ledaber al eich laasot roshem rishoni hiuvi – Today we're going (f.) to talk about how to make a first po

The word "mischak" can mean so many things in Hebrew - from a game, a match, or a toy, to acting in a movie or a play. Host Guy Sharett explains this root, שֹחק, and teaches us how to thank a good friend who brought coffee to our office desk without even being asked.   Exclusive content   New words & expressions: Lesachek – To play a game; to play with a toy; to act in a movie or play – לשֹחק Lo lesachek im lev shel gever – Don't play with a guy's heart – לא לשֹחק עם לב של גבר Mesachek be-esh – Playing with fire – משׂחק באש Hu mesachek tafkid – He's playing a role – הוא משׂחק תפקיד Hu mesachek et ha-tafkid shel ha-rasha – He plays the part of the villain – הוא משׂחק את התפקיד של הרשע Sichakt/Sichakta/Sichaktem ota (be'emet) – You've (really) nailed it; good on you – שׂיחקת אותה באמת Wow, achi, sichakta ota, toda! - Wow, dude, you nailed it, thanks! – !וואו, אחי, שׂיחקת אותה, תודה Sichakta ota im ha-espresso ha-ze - You nailed it with that espresso – שׂיחקת אותה עם האספרסו הזה Lesachek ota metumtam – To pl

"Inyan" - matter, business, thing - is a word that's had an amazing career in Hebrew. In this episode host Guy Sharett explains some useful slang expressions using "inyan" and "inyanim," and then delves into the verbs derived from this four letter root.   Exclusive content   New words & expressions: Inyan – Matter – עניין Ma ha-inyanim (manyanim)? – How are things? – ?מה העניינים Yesh lach po inyan im po'alei binyan – You've got business here with builders – יש לך פה עניין עם פועלי בניין Ma ha-inyan? – What's the matter? – ?מה העניין Ze lo inyan shel kesef – It's not a matter of money – זה לא עניין של כסף Ze lo inyani – It's none of my business – זה לא ענייני Ze lo inyancha – This is none of your business – זה לא עניינך La'asot inyan – To make a fuss about/a big deal of (something) – לעשות עניין Hi lo osa li inyanim – She doesn't give me hard time – היא לא עושה לי עניינים Daber la-inyan – Get to the point – דבר לעניין Bachur/bachura la-inyan – Great guy/girl – בחור/בחורה לעניין Lichyot be-katan ze lo la-i

“I don’t know” is one of the most important things you need to know how to say in any language. Guy explains how to say to someone that you don’t have a clue in Hebrew, and even suggests what you should do with your shoulders and bottom lip while saying it. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Ani lo yode’a / yoda’at – I don’t know – אני לא יודע / אני לא יודעת “Lo yode’a, slicha” – Sorry, I don’t know – לא יודע, סליחה Ani mamash lo yode’a/yoda’at – I really don’t know – אני ממש לא יודע/יודעת Kshe’at omeret lo, le-ma at mitkavenet? – When you say no, what do you actually mean? – כשאת אומרת לא למה את מתכוונת “Kshe-isha omeret lo, hi mitkavenet le-lo” – When a woman says ‘no’, she means no – כשאישה אומרת לא, היא מתכוונת ללא Me-efo ani yodea – How would I know? – מאיפה אני יודע/ת Me-efo li lada’at? – How would I know? – מאיפה לי לדעת Me-efo ani eda – How would I know? – מאיפה אני אדע Ani yode’a, ani? – How do I know? – אני יודע, אני Ein li musag ma osim – I don’t have a clue what to

Sometimes we’re just “in basa” – in a state of annoyance, not really angry, but just bummed. Guy teaches us verbs derived from “basa,” plus more nouns like “hitba’asut,” which could be translated as “the process of getting bummed out.” Who said Hebrew isn’t a rich language? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Bassa – Bummer – באסה Eize bassa – What a bummer – איזה באסה Eize basa ze she… – It’s so annoying when… – איזה באסה זה ש Ani be-basa – I am depressed – אני בבאסה Kuli be-basa – I am so bummed out – כולי בבאסה Ani al ha-panim – I am not doing well at all – אני על הפנים Meva’es, m’va’es – It’s bumming me out – מבאס Ze ma ze m’va’es – That’s so annoying – זה מה-זה מבאס Mva’es ta-tachat – It’s so annyoing – מבאס ת’תחת Mevo’as – Annoyed – מבואס “Ze lo meshane she-chavera shelcha mevo’eset” – It doesn’t matter that your girlfriend is bummed out – זה לא משנה שחברה שלך מבואסת Mevo’eset mi- Bummed out because of something – מבואסת מ “Ani merutse me’od, kamuvan hitba’asti she-lo kib

This week we're celebrating half a million downloads of our podcast, so host Guy Sharett has decided to dedicate this episode to "hatsi/hetsi" - "half" in Hebrew. From telling the time, to sports, to fashion, "hetsi" gets everywhere. But when do we say "hetsi" and when "hatsi"? Listen to find out. Exclusive content New words & expressions: Omrim li she-ani hatsi benadam ve-hi hatsi meshuga'at – They tell me that I am half a person and that she's half crazy – אומרים לי שאני חצי בנאדם והיא חצי משוגעת Hetsi/Hatsi, pl. hatsa'im – Half, halves – חצי, חצאים Hatsi olam sone hatsi – Half the world hates the other half – חצי עולם שונא חצי Tsarat rabim hatsi nechama – Distress of many people is half consolation; "others' troubles are a half-consolation" – צרת רבים חצי נחמה Matsati li heder va-hetsi – I found myself a room-and-a-half – מצאתי לי חדר וָחצי Hamesh va-hetsi – Half past five – חמש וחצי Hatsi daka – Half a minute – חצי דקה Ten li hatsi daka – Give me a second – תן לי חצי דקה Hatsi gmar, hatsi ha-gmar – Se

The Middle East is a place where people swear "on the honor of their mom" without thinking too much. Host Guy Sharett teaches us all the uses of the Hebrew word "kavod" - "honor" - right from the Prime Minister's official title to what you jot on the front of an envelope. Exclusive Content New words & expressions: Kavod – respect, honour – כבוד Kol ha-kavod (lecha, lach, lachem) – Bravo; well done (to you) – (כל הכבוד (לך, לך, לכם Kvodo shachach levarech – Your honor, you forgot to bless – כבודו שכח לברך Ma shlom kvodo? – How are you, your honor? – ?מה שלום כבודו Ze kavod gadol she… – It's a great honor that… – ...זה כבוד גדול ש Ani mitkabed lehazmin – I am honored to invite – אני מתכבד להזמין Ha-rishon she-hevin et godel ha-eru'a – The first to understand the magnitude of what happened – הראשון שהבין את גודל האירוע Kvod rosh memshelet israel – His Excellency, the Prime Minister of Israel – כבוד ראש ממשלת ישראל Kvod ha-shofetet – Your honor (to a female judge) – כבוד השופטת Kvod nesi ha-medina – His Excel

Even advanced learners have difficulties with the pagash-nifgash verb forms, both meaning 'he met.' Host Guy Sharett explains the differences between the two, so you know how to meet up with your best friends as well as how to bump into them time and again. New words & expressions: Lo taaminu et mi pagashti – You won't believe whom I bumped into – לא תאמינו את מי פגשתי Eifo nifgashim – Where do we meet – איפה נפגשים Pagashti oto be-lev ha-midbar – I met him in the middle of the desert – פגשתי אותו בלב המדבר Nifgashnu – We met – נפגשנו Lo pogeshet anashim – (You're) not meeting people – לא פוגשת אנשים Nifgashten – You met (fem. Pl.) – נפגשתן Me-az nifgashten? – Have you (ladies) met since then? – מאז נפגשתן? Nifgashnu kan be-cheder ha-ipur – We met here in the make up room – נפגשנו כאן בחדר האיפור Pagashnu achat et ha-shniya – We met one another – פגשנו אחת את השנייה Ve-shuv ani nifgash im rega shel atsvut – And again I am meeting a moment of sadness – ושוב אני נפגש עם רגע של עצבות Az eich ze ba-sof she-ku

The word for "support" - "tmicha" - is vastly used in Hebrew, mainly in the context of tech support. The verb is "litmoch." This week, host Guy Sharett has a special message at the end of the show related to this. Curious? Have a listen and click this link: https://www.patreon.com/streetwisehebrew   New words & expressions: Hu tamach be-mishehu/mashehu – He supported someone/something – הוא תמך במשהו Hu dei tamach ba-ra'ayon – He kinda supported the idea – הוא די תמך ברעיון Be-otam mikrim – In those cases – באותם מקרים Dafdefan – Browser – דפדפן Lo tomech be-java script – Does not support java script – לא תומך בג'אווה סקריפט Tomech – He's supporting / support desk agent – תומך Tmicha – Support (noun) – תמיכה Hem natnu lo tmicha – They supported him – הם נתנו לו תמיכה Tmicha mishpachtit – Family support – תמיכה משפחתית Tmicha technit – Technical support – תמיכה טכנית Titkasher la-tmicha – Call the support – תתקשר לתמיכה Tmicha kaspit – Financial support – תמיכה כספית Tmicha me-rachok – Remote support – תמי

The word "dkira" - "stabbing" - is unfortunately becoming the soundtrack to our lives here in Israel at the moment. StreetWise Hebrew is not shying away from what's going on, so today host Guy Sharett explains the shoresh (root) "DKR." New words & expressions: Pigua – Terror attack – פיגוע Dkira – Stabbing, prick – דקירה Bo nikach dkira ktana – Let's take a little jab – בוא ניקח דקירה קטנה Mashehu mukar et libi dakar – Something familiar stabbed my heart – משהו מוכר את ליבי דקר Lidkor mishehu – To stab someone – לדקור מישהו Ze doker – It  – זה דוקר Dakru oti be-machat – They pricked me with a needle – דקרו אותי במחט Zo rak dkira ktana – It's just a little prick – זו רק דקירה קטנה Mabata ha-chai haya doker oti la-bechi – Her living stare "is pricking me to tears"  – מבטה החי דוקר אותי לבכי Be-afula emesh nidkar chayal – In Afula a soldier was stabbed – בעפולה אמש נדקר חייל Lehidaker – To be stabbed – להידקר Eich le'echol sabres bli lehidaker – How to eat cactus fruits without getting pricked – איך לאכול סב

We are going through some yamim meshugaim - "crazy days" - in Israel at the moment, so let's talk about how we drive someone crazy in Hebrew (something we cook to perfection!). We promise a special sanity episode once things get back to normal. New words & expressions: Yamim meshugaim – Crazy days – ימים משוגעים Meshuga – Crazy – משוגע Pgu'a nefesh – Mentally ill – פגוע נפש Leshage'a – To drive someone crazy – לשגע Ze ha-erev ha-ze ha-meshge'a – It's this terrific evening – זה הערב הזה המשגע Meshgea – Wonderful, terrific, smashing – משגע Hu meshage'a et kulan – He drives everybody (f. pl.) crazy – הוא משגע את כולן Al teshag'i oti – Don't drive me crazy – אל תשגעי אותי Shige'a – He drove crazy – שיגע Ha-bachura shelcha, hi rak shig'ah otcha – Your girl, she only drove you crazy – הבחורה שלך, היא רק שיגעה אותך Ba'al ha-bayit hishtag'ea – The owner lost his mind – בעל הבית השתגע Yesh tipot shel shiga'on beinenu – There are drops of insanity between us – יש טיפות של שיגעון בינינו Shiga'on – Craziness/groovy –

How do we sleep in Hebrew? What about snoozes and power naps? Host Guy Sharett talks about our sacred shnatz, and introduces us to some very sleepy words. New words & expressions: Hu yashen – He’s asleep/sleeping – הוא ישן Yashen, ra’ev, ayef, same’ach – Sleeping, hungry, tired, happy – ישן, רעב, עייף, שמח Yeshena, yeshenim, yeshenot – Sleeping (f., sing.), sleeping (m., pl.), sleeping (f., pl.) – ישנה, ישנים, ישנות Lishon – To sleep – לישון Shoel "gam at yashant?" – I am asking "were you (f.) sleeping as well?" – "שואל "גם את ישנת Yashnuni – Sleepy – ישנוני Sheina – Sleep (noun) – שינה Shnatz, shnat tsohorayim – Afternoon nap – שנ"צ, שנת צהריים Ha-amuta le-kidum tarbut ha-shnatz be-israel – The association for promoting the culture of the shnatz in Israel – העמותה לקידום תרבות השנ"צ בישראל Nedudei sheina – Insomnia – נדודי שינה Nedudim – Wandering, travels – נדודים Ha-koshi leheradem – The difficulty of falling asleep – הקושי להירדם Arba lifnot boker lo nirdemet – 4am, I am not falling asleep – ארבע לפנו

This is our 100th podcast episode, and it’s time to say, "toda raba," thanks so much for your support. This is a good opportunity to learn how to thank someone profusely and cynically in Hebrew. New words & expressions: Toda al ha-osher – Thanks for the happiness – תודה על האושר Toda la-el – Thank god – תודה לאל Toda le-X al Y – Thank someone for something – תודה למישהו על משהו Be’emet toda raba – Thank you so much – באמת תודה רבה Toda raba be’emet/ toda raba lecha be’emet – Thanks for nothing – תודה רבה (לך) באמת Mamash/Hamon/Ma-ze toda – Thank you so much – ממש/המון/מה-זה תודה Rav todot – Much obliged – רב תודות Be-toda – With thanks – בתודה (Be)toda me-rosh – Thanks in advance – ב)תודה מראש) Asir toda – Grateful – אסיר תודה Mode Ani – I thank – מודה אני Ein anachnu maspikim lehodot lecha – We cannot thank you enough – אין אנחנו מספיקים להודות לך Hakol nachon, ani mode ba-ashma – Everything is true, I plead guilty – הכל נכון, אני מודה באשמה Lehodot be-mashehu – To admit to doing something – להודות במשהו

Hebrew has this interesting structure: Verb "haya" (past tense of "to be") plus a conjugated verb in the present, like "hayiti holech." It can mean several different things, and host Guy Sharett teaches us all of them, including some conditional phrases. New words & expressions: Hayita bone li kirot – You’d build me walls – היית בונה לי קירות Hayita matkin menorot – You’d install lamps – היית מתקין מנורות She-yihie li or – So that I’d have light – שיהיה לי אור Three options for haya + present: 1. He would. 2. He would have. 3. He used to. Lu hayiti shnei alim ba-stav – If I were two leaves in the fall – לו הייתי שני עלים בסתיו Hayiti nosheret alecha achshav – I’d fall on you right now – הייתי נושרת עליך עכשיו Ma Atem Hayitem Osim? – What would you do? – מה אתם הייתם עושים? Ani zocher be-leilot shel yare’ach male, hayit ba’a elay, lo be-mikre – I remember in full moon nights, you used to come to me, not at random – אני זוכר בלילות של ירח מלא, היית באה אליי, לא במקרה Hayit sholachat yad ve-okeret et ha-pach

It's been exactly a year since we had Gadi (Grego) in the TLV1 studio for a short conversation. He's made aliyah since then. We wanted to check in with Gadi to see how he's doing and to get some Hebrew speaking tips from him. Last year's interview: http://tlv1.fm/streetwise-hebrew/2014/09/02/how-a-peruvian-interpreter-goes-about-learning-hebrew-streetwise-hebrew

An ozer is an "assistant," but could also mean "he’s helping" - a verb in the present tense. How are you supposed to know which one it is? Host Guy Sharett teaches us how to work it out from the context, and he explains what initials religious people jot on every piece of paper they write on. New words & expressions: Azar – He helped – עזר Shalom, efshar laazor – Hello, may I help? – ?שלום, אפשר לעזור Efshar laazor lecha? – May I help you? – ?אפשר לעזור לך La’azor, laavod, laanot – To help, to work, to answer – לעזור, לעבוד, לענות Ata yachol laazor li bevakasha? At yechola laazor li bevakasha? – Could you help me please? – ?אתה יכול לעזור לי בבקשה? את יכולה לעזור לי בבקשה Ulay at yechola la’azor li – Maybe you can help me – אולי את יכולה לעזור לי Eich ani yachol/yechola laazor lecha? – How can I help you? – איך אני יכול/יכולה לעזור לך? Ze mamash azar li – This really helped me –זה ממש עזר לי Ze lo azar – It didn’t help – זה לא עזר Hayiti be-20 tipulim, shum davar lo azar – I went to 20 sessions, nothing h

Omed, "stands," and omed le-, "is about to," are two different things. Host Guy Sharett teaches us the important words in this shorseh ("root"), ע.מ.ד, one of which is also a sexual term. At the end of the episode, Guy explains how you can learn Hebrew from reading tombstones at an old Tel Aviv cemetery. New words & expressions: Hu amad – He stood – עמד La’amod – To stand – לעמוד Ha-kol omed ba-makom – Everything stands still – הכל עומד במקום Hu omed – He is standing – הוא עומד Omedet, omdim, omdot – עומדת, עומדים, עומדות Hu omed lalechet – He’s about to go – הוא עומד ללכת Omed + infinitive – About to – עומד +שם פועל Hi amda linsoa le-chul – She was about to go abroad – היא עמדה לנסוע לחו"ל Aval ba-sof hi lo nas’aa – But she didn’t go at the end – אבל בסוף היא לא נסעה Ani rotse lada’at eifo ani omed ba-avoda – I want to know my standing at work – אני רוצה לדעת איפה אני עומד בעבודה Omed lo – He’s got an erection – עומד לו Ha-lev sheli lo omed be-ze yoter – My heart cannot stand this – הלב שלי לא עומד בזה י