Streetwise Hebrew

Lizrok means ‘to throw’ in Hebrew, but how is it used in relationship lingo? Oh, and who is the most famous 'Varda' in Israel? Words and expressions discussed: Ve-chamesh shanim itach zarakti la-pach – וְחָמֵש שָנִים אִיתָךְ זָרַקְתִי לַפַּח Ulay tafsik lizrok aleyha kesef – אוּלַי תַּפְסִיק לִזְרוֹק עָלֵיהָ כֶּסֶף Lizrok la-zevel – לִזְרוֹק לַזֶבֶל Lizrok mishehu la-klavim – לִזְרוֹק מִישֶהוּ לַכְּלָבִים Tizreki oto – תִּזְרְקִי אוֹתוֹ Tizrok, zrok – תִּזְרוֹק, זְרוֹק Rak zrok mila – רַק זְרוֹק מִילָה Zrok lo eize mila – זְרוֹק לוֹ אֵיזֶה מִילָה Zaruk – זָרוּק Nizrak – נִזְרַק Lehizarek al sapa – לְהִיזָרֵק עַל סַפָּה Zrika – זְרִיקָה Zrika shel hakadur – זְרִיקָה שֶל הַכָּדוּר Zrikat adrenaline – זְרִיקַת-אַדרֵנָלִין Mizraka – מִזְרָקָה Zarkor, zrakor – זַרְקוֹר Music: Mami Ze Nigmar – Omer Adam (Lyrics) Yalla – Avihu Shabat & Michal Amdursky (Lyrics) Rak Zrok Mila – Climax (Lyrics) Kacha Nizrakti Ba’olam (poem) – Da’el Rodriguez Garcia

One of the most used words in Israeli slang is actually from Arabic. Yalla is used to encourage someone to do something, but with the right intonation you can deliver an array of different notions. Yalla, press ‘play!’ Words and expressions discussed: Yalla – יָאללָה Ya Allah – יָא אַללָה Yalla zazim – יָאללָה זָזִים Yalla lech ha-bayita Motti – יָאללָה לֵךְ הבַּיתָה מוֹטִי Az yalla – אָז יָאללָה Yalla beitar – יָאללָה בֵּיתָ"ר Yalla-yalla – יָאללָה-יָאללָה Tov, yalla bye – טוֹב, יָאללָה בַּיי Tov, yalla mmmmmmbye – טוֹב, יָאללָה מְמְמְמְמְ-בַּיי Music: Nancy Ajram – Yalla “Yalla Now” Pepsi ad, Arabic Sarit hadad – Yalla Lech Ha-bayita Moti (Lyrics here) Lior Narkis – Az Yalla (Lyrics here) Ariel Horowitz – Yalla Bye (Lyrics here)

Sometimes you need to ask a driver, or anyone really, “Could you stop here, please?”. Today we’ll learn how to say it in Hebrew, and we’ll also find out what it has to do with bowel movements. Words and expressions discussed: Lo otser be-adom – לֹא עוֹצֵר בְּאָדוֹם Laatsor et hadmaot – לַעֲצוֹר אֶת הַדְּמָעוֹת Laavod, laakov, laatsor – לַעֲבוֹד, לַעֲקוֹב, לַעֲצוֹר Ata yachol laatsor po be-vakasha? – ?אַתָּה יָכוֹל לַעֲצוֹר פֹּה בְּבַקָּשָׁה Taatsor li po be-vaksha – תַּעֲצוֹר לִי פֹּה בְּבַקָּשָׁה Hizaher, yesh atsor ba-knisa – הִיזָהֵר, יֵשׁ "עֲצוֹר" בַּכְּנִיסָה Atsira - עֲצִירָה Atsira ba-derech - עֲצִירָה בַּדֶּרֶךְ Atsirat gshamim – עֲצִירַת גְּשָׁמִים Atsiroot kasha – עֲצִירוּת קָשָׁה Otser - עוֹצֵר Maatsar - מַעֲצָר Ani menase lehamshich ve-nitkal be-maatsor – אֲנִי מְנַסֶּה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ וְנִתְקָל בְּמַעֲצוֹר Music: Shalom Chanoch - Lo otser be-adoml (Lyrics here) Ofra Haza - Le-orech ha-yam (Lyrics here) Oshik Levy – Zichron Ya’akov (Lyrics here) Bar Tzabari - Shuv (Lyrics here)

Gadol, 'big,' and its root, g.d.l, have made a huge career in written and spoken Hebrew. Let’s meet the family today; from mustaches and fast food chains, to towers and plastic surgery. Words and expressions discussed: Gadol – גָּדוֹל Haya gadol – הָיָה גָּדוֹל Ani yodaat elohim, ata Gadol me-hachayim – אֲנִי יוֹדַעַת אֱלוֹהִים, אַתָּה גָּדוֹל מֵהַחַיִים Rosh gadol – רֹאשׁ גָּדוֹל Gdolim – גְּדוֹלִים Ha-tsara itcha she-yesh lecha einayim gdolot – הַצָּרָה אִיתְךָ שְׁיֵשׁ לְךָ עֵינַיִים גְּדוֹלוֹת Yesh anashim she-bonim migdalim – יֵשׁ אֲנָשִׁים שֶׁבּוֹנִים מִגְדָּלִים Ligdol – לִגְדּוֹל Gadalti be-shana – גָּדַלְתִּי בְּשָׁנָה Legadel yeladim – לְגַדֵּל יְלָדִים Legadel safam, zakan – לְגַדֵּל שָׂפָם, זָקָן Lehagdil, lehaktin – לְהַגְדִּיל, לְהַקְטִין Ata rotse lehagdil? – אַתָּה רוֹצֶה לְהַגְדִּיל? Hagdala – הַגְדָּלָה Hagdalat shadayim – הַגְדַלַת שָׁדַיִים Music: Ha-keves ha-shisha-asar – Kshe-eheye gadol (Lyrics here) Sarit Chadad – Rak she-teda et ha-emet (Lyrics here) Rita – Hayinu gdolim (Lyrics here)

For the Israeli Independence Day we talk today about ksharim, connections. To have ksharim means to have people in different places who can help you to get stuff done quickly and efficiently. But it’s never one word. This root, k.sh.r, has a huge family we should definitely get to know. Words and expressions used: Kesher - ksharim Le-kesher amiti Ata be-kesher ka-rega Ma ha-kesher Be-kesher le-Tihye bekesher! Likshor ksharim Kashur beseret Kashur elayich ba-neshama Ze lo kashur Ma kashur lekasher bein x and y Tihye mekushar Lehitkasher Tikshoret Be’eize heksher Playlist: Yonatan Shapira – Aya Korem Ha-shir she-hu shar li ba-geshem – Nurit Galron Ha-isha she-iti – David Broza Kashur elayich – Yishai Levy Merotz ha-chayim - Sarit Chadad 

Israelis are obsessed with their head, rosh, in Hebrew. There are so many words and expressions with rosh, and today we talk about a few of them. Have a listen and find out what ‘rosh gadol’ and ‘rosh katan’ mean. Words and expressions discussed: Al tefached lihyot rosh gadol – אַל תְּפַחֵד לִהְיוֹת רֹאש גָּדוֹל Rosh gadol ze davar she matzil chayim – רֹאש גָּדוֹל זֶה דָּבָר שֶׁמַצִּיל חַיִים Rosh katan ze davar she-mesaken chaim – רֹאש קטן זֶה דָּבָר שֶׁמְסַכֵּן חַיִים Rosh hashana – רֹאשׁ הַשָנָה Rashi – רָאשִי Reshit, Be-reshit – רֵאשִׁית, בְּרֵאשִׁית Be-reshit bara elohim et ha-shamayim ve-et ha-aretz - בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ Rishon – רִאשׁוֹן Rishoni – רִאשוֹנִי Rosh ha-memshala – רֹאש הַמֶּמְשָלָה Roshat ha-memshala – רֹאשַת הַמֶּמְשָלָה Lo barosh sheli – לֹא בָּרֹאש שֶלִי Barosh’kha lirot seret? – בָּרֹאשְ'ךָ לִרְאוֹת סֶרֶט? Ein li rosh leze achshav – אֵין לִי רֹאש לְזֶה עַכְשָיו Ras – Arabic for rosh, راس Yesh lo rosh – יֵש לוֹ רֹאש Indo Ras – עִנְדוֹ רָאס, عندو راس

Coffee culture is everywhere in Israel. How do you ask for a cappuccino to go, the Tel-Avivi way? And what’s hafuch dal? A short Hebrew manual for all you coffeeholics. Words and expressions discussed: Ani shoté kafé shachor – אֲנִי שוֹתֶה קָפֶה שָחוֹר Kafé turki – קָפֶה טוּרקִי Hi biksha kafé hafuch - הִיא בִּיקשָה קָפֶה הָפוּךְ Kafé botz - קָפֶה בּוֹץ Kafé namés - קָפֶה נָמֵס Ta’ase li kafé, ta’asi li kafé – תַּעֲשֶה לִי קָפֶה, תַּעֲשִי לִי קָפֶה Kafé im chalav, kafe bli chalav – קָפֶה עִם חָלָב, קָפֶה בְּלִי חָלָב Kafé im chalav dal shuman – קָפֶה עִם חָלָב דָּל שוּמָן Hafuch im ketsef, bli ketsef – הָפוּךְ עִם קֶצֶף, בְּלִי קֶצֶף Kafé im hel - קָפֶה עִם הֵל Efshar hafuch? - אֶפְשָר הָפוּךְ? Lashevet o lakachat – לָשֶבֶת אוֹ לָקַחַת? Kafé turki, bediyuk ma she’ata tsarich – קָפֶה טוּרְקִי, בְּדִיוּק מָה שֶאָתָה צָרִיךְ Music: Kafé etsel Berta - Ha-neshamot ha-tehorotAhava be-sof ha-kayits – Zvika PickKafé turki, Arik Einstein Hebrew coffee commercial Want to see more Hebrew gems? Like Streetwise Hebrew on

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