Streetwise Hebrew

Lama ma kara can be literally translated as “why what happened”. What do we mean by this expression and how do you use it? Words and expressions discussed: Ze koré - זֶה קוֹרֶה Ma koré - מה קוֹרֶה Lo nora, koré - לֹא נוֹרָא, קוֹרֶה Hakol yachol likrot - הַכֹּל יָכוֹל לִקְרוֹת Lama ma kara, milchama? - למה מָה קָרָה, מִלְחָמָה? Lo yoda’at ma koré li - לֹא יוֹדַעַת מָה קוֹרֶה לִי Ma kara lecha - מָה קָרָה לְךָ? Music: Ze kore – Arik LaviSha’alti ma kara – Shlomo ArtziHa-kol yachol likrot - Ninet TayebLama ma kara - Moshe CohenMashup: Rani Rahav, lama ma kara - Noy AloosheKshe’ani itcha ani kmo dag - Sarit Hadad & Teapacks Want to see more Hebrew gems? Like Streetwise Hebrew on Facebook and on Instagram. Do you want Guy to talk about a pressing Hebrew issue? You can find him atStreetWiseHebrew.com

How do you say I’m tired, beat, drained, knackered, and the like in colloquial Hebrew? And what do you say when you crash on a Tel Avivi couch? Words and expressions discussed: Ayef, Ayefa – עָיֵף, עֲיֵפָהAyefoot - עֲיֵפוּתMi-ma ata ayef - מִמָּה אַתָּה עָיֵף?Ani ayef me-avoda - אֲנִי עָיֵף מֵעֲבוֹדָהAni shafuch - אֲנִי שָׁפוּךNishpachti al ha-sapa - נִשְפַּכְתִּי עַל הַסַּפָּהAni ma’uch tilim - אֲנִי מָעוּך טִילִיםKamti hafuch - קַמְתִּי הָפוּךGamur - גָּמוּרKaru’a me-ayefoot - קָרוּעַ מֵעֲיֵפוּתMootash - מוּתָשLenaker - לְנַקֵּר Music: Hanichi Li – Rami KletinsteinShir ha-debil – Yossi ElephantHafuch – Rami Fortis & Berry Sakharof Do you want Guy to talk about a pressing Hebrew issue? You can find him athttp://www.streetwisehebrew.com/

Elohim means God in Hebrew. Why does it have a plural suffix at the end? Is it really plural in Modern Hebrew? How do we use elohim in Israeli slang, and what did we borrow from Arabic? Words and expressions discussed: אֱלוֹהִים - Elohim אֵל, אֵלָה - El, Ela דָּנִיאֵל - Daniel אֱלוֹהִים אַדִּירִים - Elohim adirim אֱלוֹהִים נָתַן לְךָ בְּמַתָּנָה - Elohim natan lecha be-matana אֱלוֹהִים גָּדוֹל - Elohim gadol אֱלוֹהִים יוֹדֵעַ - Elohim yode’a אֱלוֹהִים! - Elohim! אֵין לְךָ אֱלוֹהִים - Ein lecha elohim אֲנִי נִשְבָּע בֶּאֱלוֹהִים - Ani nishba be’elohim בֶּאֱלוֹהִים - Be’elohim מֵאֱלוֹהִים - Me’elohim טָעִים לָאַללָה - Ta’im la-Allah אֱלוֹהִיn - Elohi אֱלוֹהוּת - Elohut אֲלוֹהַיי, אֱלוֹהִים שֶלִי - Elohai, Elohim sheli Playlist: Ze mi-kvar – Oshik Levy  Elohim natan lecha be-matana – Eitan Massouri  Tipat mazal – Zehava Ben  Ratsiti she-teda – Uzi Chitman 

Ayin means eye in Hebrew. How do we say 'eyes'? What happens in Arabic? What do you call the evil eye? And how do you say ‘The apple of my eye’ in Hebrew? Words and expression discussed: עַיִן – עֵינַיִים; Ayin - einayim עֵינַיִים שֶלִי, עֵינַיי; Einayim sheli, einai אַל תִּכְעַסִי עֵינַיִים שֶלִי; Al tich’asi einayim sheli עָיוּן, עוּיוּן (ערבית); Ayoon, Uyoon (Arabic) עָיוּנִי Ayooni בְּעֵינַיי, בְּעֵינֵיהָ; Be’einay, be’eineha זֶה מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינַיי; Ze matsa chen be’einay עַיִן הָרַע / עַיִן רָעָה; Ayin ha’ra, ayin ra’a בְּלִי עַיִן הָרַע; Bli ayin ha’ra Playlist: Einayim sheli - Yehuda Poliker Mi mou thimonis matia mou, Original Greek version by Stavros Kouyioumtzis El Bosta, Fairouz Mishaela, Achinoam Nini Chamsa, Ben Snof

The word Tachles is doing an amazing comeback to spoken Hebrew in the last few years. Where is it from, and what other words do we know from the same family? Words and expressions we talk about: תַּכְלִית tachlitתַּכְלִיתִי tachlitiרַב תַּכְלִיתִי rav tachlitiתַּכְלִיתִיּוּת tachlitiyutתַּכְלִית < תַּכְלֵס tachlit < tachlesשַבָּת < שָאבֵּס shabat < shabesטָלִית < טָאלֵס talit < talesבַּתַּכְלֵס ba-tachles Songs: Shalom Rav, Chava Albersteinhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5KC-F-ziV8Lyricshttp://shironet.mako.co.il/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=383&wrkid=4090 Yom Shishi, Hadag Nachashhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR9kivMfwmoLyrics http://shironet.mako.co.il/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=333&wrkid=35824

Let's talk about trains in Hebrew. What's the root of rakevet, how is itrelated to horse riding and how do we call the Jerusalem Light rail inHebrew and in Arabic? Words and expressions: רַכֶּבֶת רַכֶּבֶת קַלָּה הָרַכֶּבֶת הַקַּלָּה קָרוֹן שָקֵט לִרְכּוֹב עַל אוֹפַנַיִם נָסַעתִי בָּרַכֶּבֶת רוֹכֵב עַל סוּס רְכִיבָה עַל סוּסִים רֶכֶב קַטָּר קִטָאר אל קוּדס אל חָ'פִיף قطار القدس الخفيف Qitar al Quds al khafif קִיטוֹר Israel Railways announcement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0DJR2p5v-E Sound from the Jerusalem LRT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeEBPAx1lTY Song: Danny Robas, Rakavot 68-80-88 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZKEYg7_AEI Lyrics: http://shironet.mako.co.il/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=316&wrkid=5658

What's chafif, which language did we get it from, and how do you use it in Hebrew slang? And there's a verb, too, lechafef.   Words and expressions: חָפִיף   דָמוֹ חָ'פִיף دمه خفيف   קְחוּ חָפִיף את החַיִים   חָפִיפְנִיק   חָפִיפְנִיקִיוּת   לְחַפֵף, חִיפַפְתָ, מְחַפֵף   מְחוּפָף     Songs: Julia Boutros - Ala Ma Yabdou Eitan Massouri - Chafif Sarit Avitan - Gever Gever Lyrics  Aviva Avidan - Kchu chafif et hachayim 

What's Shitat Matsli'ach? And why do they say that everybody needs ksharim in life? And what protektsia? And what's Vitamin P? So many questions, so little time. Today we talk about bureaucracy in Israel. Words and expressions: "שִיטַת מַצְלִיחַ" קְשָרִים פְּרוֹטֵקְצְיָה סְנִיף שְבִיתָה לִשְבּוֹת   Click here for Israel Post's  office locator   Songs: Yoni Rechter - Instead of all this (Bimkom Kol Zeh) lyrics Dori Ben Ze'ev - I'm Dreaming of Summer (Ani Cholem al ha-Kayits) lyrics   Ehud Banay - Coming out to the Light (Yotse la-Or) lyrics Shalom Chanoch - Strike (Shvita) lyrics

So we Israelis are not the most polite people on earth, but from time to time even we say "I am sorry" and "excuse me." How do you say it in Hebrew? And what can you answer back? And how is it all connected to Korean? Listen and find out.   Here are some words and phrases we mention. For the meaning, you'll have to listen to the podcast: סְלִיחָה, סְלִיחוֹת Slicha, slichotסְלִיחָה עַל \שֶ Slicha al/she מַה-זֶה סְלִיחָה ma ze slichaמָמָש סְלִיחָה mamash slicha סְלִיחָה שֶאֲנִי חַי slicha she'ani chaiסְלִיחָה שֶׁאֲנִי נוֹשֵם slicha she'ani noshem הָלַכְתִּי לְבַקֵּש סְלִיחָה halachti levakesh slicha מִצְטָעֵר עַל mitzta'er al What can you answer? שְטוּיוֹת Shtuyot לֹא קָרָה כְּלוּם Lo kara klumזֶה בְּסֶדֶר ze beseder סָלַחְתִּי salachti ​Songs:  Pe'er Tasi - Slicha Ariel Zilber - Betty Bam Gazoz - Rony Liran Aviv - Tagidi 

When we need to use a foreign word in Hebrew, what do we do? Do we take it as is, or do we invite it to come along and wear Hebrew clothes? And how did my Dad say the word "Washington"?

Israelis are playing it tough most of the time. ​How do you ask an Israeli to do something for you?​ Here are some ideas on how to make your message come across, without sounding too bossy, which might wreak havoc in the Middle East. ​   ​Words and expressions we talk about: אפשר לקבל מפית? Efshar lekabel mapit? Efshar mapit? Could I have a napkin?​   ​אתה יכול לתת לי מפית בבקשה? Ata yakhol latet li mapit bevakasha? Can you give me a napkin please?   תוכל/תוכלי/תוכלו לתת לי מפית? Tukhal/Tukhli/Tukhlu latet li mapit? Will you be able to give me a napkin?   ​יש מצב שתיתן לי את האוטו שלך?​ ​Yesh matsav she-titen li et ha-oto shelkha? ​"Is there a situation where" you'll give me your car?   בא לך לעשות את זה עכשיו? Ba lecha laasot et ze achshav? Do you feel like doing it now?   בא לך לקלף את האבוקדו? Ba lach lekalef et ha-avocado? ​Do you feel like peeling the avocado?​   ​Songs:  Arik Einstein - Hen efshar  Arik Einstein - Don Quixote   Ha-saroof - Kol ha-yom sababa    Lyrics: http://shironet.mako.co.il/artist?

Relationships are sometimes hard for everybody all around the world. Hebrew has some cool slang terms to use with our beloved partners when in need. אֲנִי תָּפוּר עָלֵיהָ לִכְתּוֹב – כְּתִיבָה – כָּתוּב לִתפּוֹר – תְּפִירָה – תָּפוּר בָּנוּי, פָּנוּי, קָנוּי אֲנִי לֹא זָמִין הַמָּנוּי אֵינוֹ בָּנוּי לאֲהָבָה שִׂיחַת יחָסֵינוּ לְאַן Photo credit: Guy Sharett

The word beseder means okay, alright, and is one of the first words you learn in Hebrew. But where did it come from and what does it literally mean? And what's the connection to the Ashdod Port? בְּסֶדֶרבֶּסֶדֶר גָּמוּרסִידוּרִיםלְסַדֵּרהַכֹּל בְּסֶדֶריִהיֵה בְּסֶדֶרתָּגִיד לִי, אַתָּה בְּסֶדֶר?הוּא לֹא בְּסֶדֶר.אַתָּה מָמָש לֹא בְּסֶדֶר.הוּא רוֹצֶה לִהיוֹת בְּסֶדֶר עִם כּוּלָם."בְּסֶדֶרִיוּת"  Playlist:Boaz Sharabi - Etsli ha-kol besederYehudit Ravitz - Achshav ha-kol beseder Josie Katz - Etsli Ha-kol besederAviva Avidan - Yihye beseder   Photo: Zipa Kempinsky   Check out our Instagram page to find more Hebrew gems

Imperative in Hebrew: Often the 'real' imperative of our language sounds archaic to us, so we use the future instead. Here's a short manual to the Hebrew imperative. Paal verbs - usually in 'real' imperative ("Dog verbs"):קוּם כבר!בּוֹא הנה!לֵךְ מפה!שְבוּ בבקשה.תֵּן לי יד. For the rest of the binyanim (verb formats), we usually use the future instead:תְּלַמֵּד אותי להגיד משהו באנגליתתִּתְקַדְּמוּ בבקשה!תַּרְגִיש טוב!תִּיכַּנְסִי בבקשה! Negating the imperative: Just put 'al' before the future.אָל תְּסַפֵּר לִי.אָל תָּבוֹאִי. Playlist:Kama tov she-bata ha-bayta - Arik EinsteinTipat Mazal - Zehava BenTni lo perach - Gali AtariSa le'at - Arik EinsteinEmor shalom - Shokolad, Menta, MastikEin medina la-ahava - Tsvika Pick Photo: Zipa Kempinsky   Check out our Instagram page to find more Hebrew gems

How do we say darling or honey in Hebrew? And can we use kapara and motek to both male and female? Listen to our lovey dovey podcast. Words we learned today: כַּפָּרָה כַּפָּרָה עָלֵיך נְשָמָה נְשָמָה שֶל אַבָּא מָאמִי נְשָמָאמִי מוֹתֶק יָקִיר, יָקִירָתִי Songs we heard today: Kapara by Tomer Yosef, read lyrics. Mami by Miri Mesika Safek yalda safek isha by Dafna Armoni  Photo by Zipa Kempinsky  

Why do we sometimes repeat the same word twice in Hebrew? Mashu-mashu,gever-gever, for example. Today we'll talk about reduplication in Hebrewand... about Belize.​ ​Words we talked about:​​מָשֶהוּ-מָשֶהוּSometimes written like this: ּמָשוּ-מָשו​​גֶבֶר גֶבֶר​מִשְפָּט-מִשְפָּט​​חָבֵר-חָבֵר, אוֹ....?​ ​​​​​Song: Yeled Ra What's written in the photo and what's the pun? Check it out on our Facebookpage, where we can decipher it together.  

The level of service in Israel can change from day to day, hour to hour. It depends on many factors, like the mood of the serving staff, life in the city, and other seemingly random factors. Guy explains. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: “Lo yodea ma ba li, al ma at mamlitza?” – I don’t know what I feel like, what do you recommend? – ?לא יודע מה בא לי, על מה את ממליצה “Az ma ba lanu le-kinu’ach?” – So what do we feel like for dessert? – ?אז מה בא לנו לקינוח “Ha-salat ktsat ayef” – The salad looks a bit tired – הסלט קצת עייף Al ma ata mamlits? – What do you recommend – ?על מה אתה ממליץ “Et hishtachrarti ha-rof’im himlitsu li bikur hodshi bi-nmal ha-te’ufa” – When I was released (from hospital) the doctors recommended a monthly visit at the airport – עת השתחררתי הרופאים המליצו לי ביקור חודשי בנמל התעופה Mamlits – Recommending – ממליץ Hamlatsa – Recommendation – המלצה “Im at rotsa, zo rak hamlatsa, le-seret kolno’a shmeimi” – If you want, it’s only a recommendation for a d

Yes, you can learn Hebrew from pop culture. This time we decided to check out reality show Hebrew: We took one episode of The X Factor Israel and wrote down all the adjectives used there. Which ones made it to the top?

Zazim, we're making a move, zaznu, we made a move, and nazuz, we'll make a move, are all used to tell your friends "let's go". So, let's talk about tenses in modern Hebrew. ​Here are the words we talked about: זָזנוּ - זָזִיםהָלַכנוּ - הוֹלְכִיםאָהַבתִי - אוֹהֵב20 שְנִיוֹת הָיִיתֶם שָם SongAni Ratz (I am Running), Dudu Tassa

The word for *husband *in Hebrew, *ba'al*, means also *owner*. No wonder many women prefer to use other words. What do they say, and what do guys say?