Streetwise Hebrew

The Hebrew word אסור means forbidden, must not. Its root, אסר, provides us all sorts of ways to say, “we shouldn’t do that.” So let’s try to follow the rules because otherwise we might end up as an אסיר! Guy explains. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Asur – Forbidden, unauthorized, must not – אסור Ze asur – It’s not allowed, it’s forbidden – זה אסור Asur le-mishehu laasot masaheu – It’s not allowed for someone to do something – אסור למישהו לעשות משהו Asur lachem lefasfes et ha-katava ha-zo – You guys must not miss this story – אסור לכם לפספס את הכתבה הזו Asur lefasfes – Not to be missed – אסור לפספס Asur likpots mi-koma gvohah – You must not jump from a high floor – אסור לקפוץ מקומה גבוהה Asur latset le-hadar madregot afuf ashan ve-asur lehishtamesh ba-maalit – You must not go down a smokey staircase, and you must not use the elevator – אסור לצאת לחדר מדרגות אפוף עשן ואסור להשתמש במעלית Ha-knisa asura – Entry Forbidden, No Entry – הכניסה אסורה Ha-hanaya asura – Parking

Israelis google lots of questions with the word מותר. To whom are they turning for answers? Doctors, experts, rabbis and others knowledgeable people. They want to know what’s allowed and what’s forbidden. Sometimes you get the strangest questions… Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Mutar – Authorized, allowed, permitted – מותר Mutar le-mishehu laasot masheu – Someone is allowed to do something – מותר למישהו לעשות משהו “Mutar le’ehov” – It’s allowed to love – מותר לאהוב Kama shaot be-yom mutar le-yeladim lehishtamesh be-masachim? –  How many hours a day should children be allowed to use screens? – כמה שעות ביום מותר לילדים להשתמש במסכים Mutar li lehachmi lach? – Am I allowed to compliment you? – מותר לי להחמיא לך Mutar lehagid? – Are we allowed to say? – מותר להגיד Mutar li laasot mashehu? – Am I allowed to do something? – מותר לי לעשות משהו Asur lishtot mashkaot hamim – You’re not allowed to consume hot drinks – אסור לשתות משקאות חמים Mayim, mutar – מים, מותר – Water is a

The Hebrew word לתאר means to describe. It can also mean to imagine. Guy explains how to use the verb לתאר and teaches a slang term to use when rolling your eyes at someone out of disbelief from what they just said. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: “At yafa she-kashe leta-er” – You’re pretty that it’s hard to describe – את יפה שקשה לתאר Leta’er – To describe, to imagine – לתאר Ein li milim leta’er lach – I don’t have words to describe this to you – אין לי מילים לתאר לך “Lo, ein leta’er” – Undescribable, unbelievable – לא, אין לתאר “Teta’aru Lachem olam yafe” – Imagine a beautiful world – תתארו לכם עולם יפה Ani meta’er/meta’eret le’atsmi – I imagine/I would imagine – אני מתאר/מתארת לעצמי Ata mt’aer le-atsmecha ma ze? – Can you imagine a thing like that? – אתה מתאר לעצמך מה זה Mi haya metaer le-atsmo davar kaze? – Who would have imagined a thing like this? – מי היה מתאר לעצמו דבר כזה Ani lo te’arti le-atsmi she-ze yihye kacha – I didn’t imagine that it would be like this

A listener wrote to us asking, “what can we say in Hebrew when we see the horrendous footage from Ukraine?” Guy explains some of the words and phrases we can use, and what to say when we are left speechless. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Nora – Terrible, horrible, awful – נורא “Pashut nora, ma she-kore sham” – It’s simply horrible, the things happening there – פשוט נורא, מה שקורה שם Ze nora, pashut nora, mamash nora – It’s just horrible – זה נורא, פשוט נורא, ממש נורא Ayom – Horrible – איום Ze ayom ve-nora – It’s horrible – זה איום ונורא Machrid – Terrifying, shocking – מחריד Harada – Anxiety – חרדה Ze meza’azeh, ma she-kore sham” – It’s shocking, what’s happening there – זה מזעזע מה שקורה שם Leza’ah’ze’ah – To shake, to shock – לזעזע Zva’ah – Horror – זוועה “Ze zva’ah ma she-holech sham” – It’s horror what’s going on there – זה זוועה מה שהולך שם Ze pashut zva’ah – It’s just horror, it is horrifying – זה פשוט זוועה Lo ye’amen – It’s unbelievable – לא ייאמן Ha-lev nish

I need to make some בירורים, inquiries about someone, לברר a few things about him. This is Guy’s second episode dedicated to the root ב-ר-ר. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Daber barur – Speak clearly – דַּבֵּר ברור Daber barur, ata tsarich kesef? – Speak clearly, do you need money? – דַּבֵּר ברור Lashir barur – To sing with good diction – לשיר ברור Levarer – To inquire – לברר Shalom, ratsiti levarer im ani yachol lavo machar bimkom ha-yom – I wanted to check whether I could come tomorrow instead of today – שלום, רציתי לברר אם אני יכול לבוא מחר במקום היום Ratsivi levarer, shilamti online, aval lo kibalti mail ishur – I paid online but I didn’t get a confirmation email – רציתי לברר, שילמתי אונליין, אבל לא קיבלתי מייל אישור “Tevarer ba-kabala, ulai hem mats’u et ha-kartis shelcha” – Check with reception, perhaps they found your card – תברר בקבלה, אולי הם מצאו את הכרטיס שלך Tevarer im ha-hevra – Check with the company – תברר עם החברה Tevarer im Michael – Check with Michae

In Hebrew, ?הייתי ברורה means ,“was I clear?” Guy’s school principal would lecture him and his peers after they did something wrong, and she would end with “?הייתי ברורה”. This episode is dedicated to the word ברור. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Barur – Clear, clearly, of course – ברור Barur ka-shemesh – It’s crystal clear – ברור כשמש Barur! – Got it – ברור Ha-kol barur? She’elot? – Is everything clear? Any questions? – הכל ברור, שאלות Baroooor – Duh, of course – ברוווור “She-nazmin et ha-tiramisù? Baroooor – Shall we get the tiramisù? Of course – שנזמין את הטירמיסו? ברווווור “Sure barur” – Sure, of course – שור-ברור Rak she-yihye barur – Just to make it clear – רק שיהיה ברור “She-yihye barur, ani lo nish’ar achrey ha-avoda ha-yom” – Just to make it clear, I am not doing overtime today – שיהיה ברור, אני לא נשאר אחרי העבודה היום She-yihye lecha barur – Let me make this clear to you (m.) – שיהיה לךָ ברור Sheyihye lach barur – Let me make this clear to you (f.) – שיהיה

How do you translate the word nice to Hebrew? Well, it depends on the context. Guy explains when we can use נעים and when we must opt for a more appropriate Hebrew word. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Na’im – Nice, pleasant – נעים Na’im lehakir – Nice to meet you – נעים להכיר Nice to see you – Tov lir’ot otcha/otach – טוב לראות אותך Hi ma-ze nechmada – She is such a nice person – היא מה-זה נחמדה Hu ma-ze nechmad – He is such a nice person – הוא מה-זה נחמד Mi ha-benadam hachi nechmad she-pagashta/she-pagasht ei paam? – Who’s the nicest person you’ve ever met? – מי הבנאדם הכי נחמד שפגשת אי פעם Eize kelev yafe! – Nice dog! – איזה כלב יפה Wow, eize kef lishmo’a – Oh wow, that’s really nice to hear!’ – וואו, איזה כיף לשמוע Eize yafe mitsidam – It’s so nice of them – איזה יפה מצידם Eize hamudim! – They are so nice – איזה חמודים Meri’ach po mamash tov – It smells so nice in here – מריח פה ממש טוב Nice (slang) – Nice – נייס, ניייייייייייס Lo naim li levakesh kesef me-anashim

We pick up where we last left off with the root יצר. This time, we focus on the nifal, piel and pu’al verb formats. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Keitsad notsar kadur ha-arets? – How was planet earth formed? – כיצד נוצר כדור הארץ Notsar – Formed, created, made – נוצר Eich notsarim yeladim – How are babies created – איך נוצרים ילדים  Eich notsra ha-shemesh – How was the sun formed – איך נוצרה השמש Eich notsru harei-gaash – How were volcanoes formed – איך נוצרו הרי הגעש Lehivatser – To be formed – להיווצר “Alul lehivatser zihum” – There’s a high chance of infection – עלול להיווצר זיהום “Alul lehivatser matsav lo na’im” – This might result in an unpleasant situation – עלול להיווצר מצב לא נעים Notsra hizdamnut – Opportunity presented itself – נוצרה הזדמנות Notsra lanu hizdamnut – We happen upon an opportunity – נוצרה לנו הזדמנות Hivatsroot – Formation – היווצרות “Ezrach israeli meyatser bi-memutsa kilogram va-hetsi shel ashpa be-yom” – An Israeli citizen produces on aver

A listener wrote to ask, “how do you say creative in Hebrew?” Wow, there is so much to cover with the root י.צ.ר that it requires two full episodes! So roll up your sleeves and prepare your notebook and pencil because we’re about to get our creative juices going. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Yetsira – Creation, piece, work – יצירה Yetsirat omanut – A piece of art, a work of art, a composition – יצירת אמנות “Yetsirot Nivcharot be-tarbut ha-maarav” – Selected pieces of the western culture – יצירות נבחרות בתרבות המערב Yetsira muzukalit – Musical piece – יצירה מוסיקלית Litsor – To create, make, produce – ליצור “Anu mamlitsot lehachin et ha-yetsirot be-livuy ha-horim” – We recommend to prepare the pieces accompanied by your parents – אנו ממליצות להכין את היצירות בליווי ההורים “Tir’eh et ha-yetsira shel ha-bat sheli” – Look at my child’s craft – תראה את היצירה של הבת שלי Sadnat yetsira li-yeladim – Art creativity workshop for kids – סדנת יצירה לילדים Yotser, yotseret, yot

An Argentinean architect listener of the podcast wrote to say that we had to do an episode about the word לבנות (livnot), which means to build. We don’t have it in us to tear down his hopes. So today we check out the root בנה. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Adrichal – Architect – אדריכל Hu bana – He built – הוא בנה Baniti – I built – בניתי [Like kaniti, ratsiti, bachiti – קניתי, רציתי, בכיתי] “Kan noladeti, kan noldu li yeladai” – I was born here, my children as well – כאן נולדתי, כאן נולדו לי ילדיי “Kan baniti et beiti bi-shtei yadai” – This is where I built my house with my own two hands – כאן בניתי את ביתי בשתי ידיי Harkada – Israeli dancing gathering – הרקדה Ha-bonim ha-hofshiyim – Freemasonry – הבונים החופשיים Bikoret bona – Constructive criticism – ביקורת בונה Bné, bni, bnu – Build (Imperative) – בנה, בני, בנו Bné betcha – Build your (own) home – בנה ביתך Bniya – Construction – בנייה Atar bniya – Construction site – אתר בנייה Atarei bniya – Construction sites – אתרי

How do we congratulate a friend who closed on a new house? How about someone who just landed a new job? New partner? Today Guy explains תתחדש. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Lehitchadesh – To be renewed; to be resumed – להתחדש “Acharei ha-chagim yitchadesh ha-kol” – After the holidays everything will resume – אחרי החגים יתחדש הכל “Yitchadshu ve-yashuvu yemei ha-hol” – The regular weekdays will also return” – יתחדשו וישובו ימי החול “Gam ata titchadesh” – You too will return renewed – גם אתה תתחדש Hitchadshut ironit – Urban renewal, urban regeneration – התחדשות עירונית Energia mitchadeshet – Renewable energy – אנרגיה מתחדשת Misrad ha-energia – Ministry of Energy – משרד האנרגיה Energiot mitchadshot – Renewable energies – אנרגיות מתחדשות Ha-energiot ha-mitchadshot – The renewable energies – האנרגיות המתחדשות Mitchadesh ha-masa u-matan – The negotiations have resumed – מתחדש המו”מ Mitchadshim ha-maga’im ben ha-medinot – The talks between the countries have resumed – מתחדשי

We all know the symptoms: Runny nose, cough, and headaches. What do Israelis say when they go to see their family doctor? Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Ani mekorar, mekoreret – I have a cold – אני מקורר, אני מקוררת Ani metsunan, metsunenet – I have a cold – אני מצונן, אני מצוננת Hatafti tsinun – I caught the cold – חטפתי צינון Ani metsunan/metsunenet kvar kama yamim – I’ve been having this cold for a few days – אני מצונן, מצוננת כבר כמה ימים  Yesh li tsinoon she-lo over – I have a cold that won’t go away – יש לי צינון שלא עובר Yesh hom? – Do you have a fever? – יש חום Shi’ul – A cough – שיעול Shi’ul yavesh – Dry cough – שיעול יבש Shi’ul lach - “Humid” cough - שיעול לח Leicha – Mucus – ליחה Shiul she-lo over – A cough that won’t go away – שיעול שלא עובר Lehishtael – To cough – להשתעל Ata mishtael, at mishtaelet? – Do you have a cough? – אתה משתעל, את משתעלת Tishtael rega, tishta’ali rega – Cough please – תשתעל רגע, תשתעלי רגע Nazelet – Runny nose – נזלת “Ha-shafan ha-

What happens when there’s a disagreement between us and a service provider about money, arrival time, or about their deadline to finish the work? We check what was agreed upon and point to the facts. Today Guy explains how we do it in Hebrew. As part of our podcast’s 8th birthday celebrations, we are giving all Streetwise Hebrew podcast listeners $50 USD towards Ruben Adery’s full Hebrew pronunciation course. The course consists of 4 modules, 31 high-definition videos, and a bonus vowel audio course with 400+ common daily practice words. Check out the course material and have the $50 discount applied automatically at to tlv1.fm/happy8 Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Titalem mimenu – Ignore him – תתעלם ממנו Lesakem – To summarize / To agree on something – לסכם Lo sikamnu be-tesha? – Didn’t we agree on 9 o’clock? – לא סיכמנו בתשע Lo kavanu be-tesha? – Didn’t we say 9 o’clock? – לא קבענו בתשע Lo sikamnu al elef? – Didn’t we agree on 1,000 shekel? – לא סיכמנו על 1,000 “Rak

In Hebrew, עצור means stop!, imperative. When driving in Israel, if you suddenly hear עצור בצד (atsor ba-tsad) blaring from a loudspeaker, you better know what to do. Guy explains. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Tamrur atsor – Stop sign – תמרור עצור Tamrur – Road sign – תמרור Ktov – Write! (Imp. m.) – כתוב “Atsor ba-tsad” – Pull over to the side – עצור בצד “Volkswagen atsor ba-tsad – Volkswagen, stop on the side – פולקסווגן עצור בצד Atsor li po vaksha’ – Please stop so that I can get off here – עצור לי פה (ב)בקשה Lo tsarich laatsor lefanav – No need to stop in front of it – לא צריך לעצור לפניו Laatsor – To stop – לעצור Otsrim – Stopping – עוצרים Atsor, atsor, atsor, rega, lo hevanti – Stop stop stop, I didn’t get it – עצור, עצור, עצור, רגע, לא הבנתי Taatsru et ha-olam, ani rotse laredet – Stop the world, I want to get off – תעצרו את העולם, אני רוצה לרדת Atsru, taatsru – Stop (Imp., pl.) – עצרו, תעצרו Atsri, taatsri – Stop (Imp., f.) – עצרי, תעצרי Laatsor – To arrest,

In Hebrew, עין הרע means the Evil Eye. There are folks here in Israel who perform ceremonies to get rid of עין הרע. On this episode, Guy explains the word רע (ra), and also discusses nasty gossip and the campaign to rid our society of it. As part of our podcast’s 8th birthday celebrations, we are giving all Streetwise Hebrew podcast listeners $50 USD towards Ruben Adery’s full Hebrew pronunciation course. The course consists of 4 modules, 31 high-definition videos, and a bonus vowel audio course with 400+ common daily practice words. Check out the course material and have the $50 discount applied automatically at to tlv1.fm/happy8 Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Ro’ah – Evil – רוע Kama ro’ah – So much evil – כמה רוע “Kama ro’ah efshar livlo’a” – How much evil can you swallow – כמה רוע אפשר לבלוע Ro’ah lev – Wickedness – רוע לב Ra, ra-ah – Bad, mean – רע, רעה Yeled ra – Bad boy – ילד רע Ha-yeled ha-ra shel ha-sport ha-israeli – L’enfant terrible, the bad boy of the Isra

The Hebrew word טוב means good. How would we use טוב when speaking to a well-behaving female dog? How about a male dog? The difference, as it turns out, is more than just changing the feminine/masculine form. And how about the saying, ‘for your own good,’ in Hebrew? There’s a lot of goodness in this episode and Guy explains it all. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   As part of our podcast’s 8th birthday celebrations, we are giving all Streetwise Hebrew podcast listeners $50 USD towards Ruben Adery’s full Hebrew pronunciation course. The course consists of 4 modules, 31 high-definition videos, and a bonus vowel audio course with 400+ common daily practice words. Check out the course material and have the $50 discount applied automatically at to tlv1.fm/happy8   New Words and Expressions: Tov – Good – טוב Tov, ma yihye? – What’s the deal? – טוב, מה נהיה Tovvvvvv – Okaaaaay – טווווווב Ba li eize pizza tova, eize miklachat tova, eize bira tova – I feel like a pizza, shower, beer – בא לי איזה פיצה טובה,

The Hebrew word אישור can mean to “green light” a new project. So what does a friend request on social media have to do with it? Guy explains. As part of our podcast’s 8th birthday celebrations, we are giving all Streetwise Hebrew podcast listeners $50 USD towards Ruben Adery’s full Hebrew pronunciation course. The course consists of 4 modules, 31 high-definition videos, and a bonus vowel audio course with 400+ common daily practice words. Check out the course material and have the $50 discount applied automatically at to tlv1.fm/happy8 Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Ha-boss noten ishur le-proyekt – The boss gives the green light to start a new project – הבוס נותן אישור לפרוייקט Ishur – Certificate of approval, confirmation – אישור Ishur nihul heshbon – Account management certificate – אישור ניהול חשבון Ishur avoda – Work permit – אישור עבודה Ishur bniya – Construction permit – אישור בנייה Ishurei hagaah – RSVPs for events – אישורי הגעה Pi’el formula: Ledaber-dibbur,

Does it make sense to dedicate an entire podcast episode to… nothing? Yes, yes it does! The word כלום, which means “nothing,” often comes in the form of a double negative. Guy explains. As part of our podcast’s 8th birthday celebrations, we are giving all Streetwise Hebrew podcast listeners $50 USD towards Ruben Adery’s full Hebrew pronunciation course. The course consists of 4 modules, 31 high-definition videos, and a bonus vowel audio course with 400+ common daily practice words. Check out the course material and have the $50 discount applied automatically at to tlv1.fm/happy8 Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Kloom lo noge’a bi – Nothing touches me – כלום לא נוגע בי Kloom lo kore li – Nothing happens to me – כלום לא קורה לי Kloom lo over oti – Nothing goes through me – כלום לא עובר אותי Kloom lo ta’im me-az she-hu azav – Nothing tastes good since he left – כלום לא טעים מאז שהוא עזב Ein li chuts mimech kloom – I have nothing but you – אין לי חוץ ממך כלום Yesh ochel b

Every so often, Israeli tax authorities launch a public campaign targeting tax evaders. So how do we say in Hebrew evaders, evade, evasion, and other goodies from root עלמ in the hif’il verb format? Guy explains. As part of our podcast’s 8th birthday celebrations, we are giving all Streetwise Hebrew podcast listeners $50 USD towards Ruben Adery’s full Hebrew pronunciation course. The course consists of 4 modules, 31 high-definition videos, and a bonus vowel audio course with 400+ common daily practice words. Check out the course material and have the $50 discount applied automatically at to tlv1.fm/happy8 Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Ma’alim – Hiding something, evading – מעלים Ma’alimei mas – Tax evaders – מעלימי מס “Kshe-ata ma’alim mas, ata pog’ea ba-hinuch, ba-bri’ut, ve-ba-bitachon shelanu” – When you evade tax, you harm our education system, our health system and our national security – כשאתה מעלים מס, אתה פוגע בחינוך, בבריאות, ובביטחון שלנו Ma’alim – 1. Evadin

The word נעלם means ‘disappeared’ or ‘is missing.’ In hitpael, the meaning becomes ‘to ignore,’ useful when you need to ignore someone, some thing, or more specifically in our case, dogs. We’ll also cover what to do when you accidentally send someone a text message meant for someone else entirely. As part of our podcast’s 8th birthday celebrations, we are giving all Streetwise Hebrew podcast listeners $50 USD towards Ruben Adery’s full Hebrew pronunciation course. The course consists of 4 modules, 31 high-definition videos, and a bonus vowel audio course with 400+ common daily practice words. Check out the course material and have the $50 discount applied automatically at to tlv1.fm/happy8 Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: “Gidi ata mit’alem mimeni” – Gidi, you’re ignoring me – גידי, אתה מתעלם ממני Lehit’alem mi-mishehu o mi-mashehu – To ignore someone or something – להתעלם ממישהו או ממשהו Hit’almut mi-klavim – Ignoring dogs – התעלמות מכלבים Hitchadshoot – Regeneration –