Streetwise Hebrew

Latest Episodes:

#453 All Together Now Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

The Hebrew word יחד means together. This root has many useful words you should know: singular, unique, individual and more.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Yachad, be-yachad – Together – יחד

Be-yachad? – Are you paying together? – ביחד

Ha-yachid – The only one – היחיד

Ha-yachid lelo shemen dkalim – The only one without palm oil – היחיד ללא שמן דקלים

Yachid / Rabim – Singular / Plural – יחיד / רבים

Ben yachid / Bat yechida – An only child – בן יחיד / בת יחידה

"Hu yachid u-meyoochad me'od" – He's unique and very special – הוא יחיד ומיוחד מאוד

Yechida – Unit – יחידה

Yechida meyoochedet – Special unit – יחידה מיוחדת

Yechidat diyoor – Housing unit – יחידת דיור

Ani gar be-yechidat diyoor etsel ha-horim sheli – I live in a housing unit at my parents' house – אני גר ביחידת דיור אצל ההורים שלי

Yechidim – Individuals – יחידים

Ein mechira le-yechidim – No individual sales – אין מכירה ליחידים

Ha-mechira be-sitona'oot bilvad – Wholesale only – המכירה בסיטונאות בלבד

Heder le-yachid – Single room – חדר ליחיד

Em yechidanit – Single mother – אם יחידנית

Leyached – To designate, to individualize – לייחד

Anachnu meyachdim et ha-heder ha-zeh le-sport – We designate this room for sports – אנחנו מייחדים את החדר הזה לספורט

Yichood – Uniqueness – ייחוד

Yichoodi – Unique – ייחודי

Proyekt yichoodi – A unique housing project – פרוייקט ייחודי

Meyoochad – Special – מיוחד

Ha-Kafe ha-zeh meyoochad la-allah. Rotzeh litom? – This coffee is really special. Wanna taste it? – הקפה הזה מיוחד לאללה, רוצה לטעום

Playlist and Clips:

Halav u-dvash – Yahad (lyrics)

Meir Banai – Shiro shel Shafshaf (lyrics)

Ha-yachid – The only one

Lahakat ha-nachal – Le-ahad ha-chayalim (lyrics)

Ep. no. 122 HEB about stuff servers say

#133 "A Glorious Failure is Better Than Dreams in the Drawer" Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

In a country where everybody tells you what to do, how to do it and when, it's only natural that the word עדיף – "it's preferable" – is one you'd hear every day. Guy explores the עדיף family of words, and shows us the link between preference, priority, and pasta.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Adif – Preferable – עדיף

Adif machar – Better (to do it) tomorrow – עדיף מחר

"Az adif lehisha'er" – So, it's better to stay – אז עדיף להישאר

"Adif lalechet achshav" – It's better to go now – עדיף ללכת עכשיו

Adif la'asot et ze kacha – It's better to do it this way – עדיף לעשות את זה ככה

Adif she- -We'd better, you'd better, it's better – עדיף ש

Adif she-telech achshav – You'd better leave now – עדיף שתלך עכשיו

Ma adif, ze o ze? – What's better, this one or that one? – מה עדיף, זה או זה

Eizo gvina adifa? – Which cheese is better? – איזו גבינה עדיפה

"Kulam adifim al korbanot ha-milchama" – They are all better over korbanot ha-milchama- כולם עדיפים על קורבנות המלחמה

"Halcha elav, azva oti, hayiti adifut shniya" – She went to his place, she left me, I was the second priority – הלכה אליו, עזבה אותי, הייתי עדיפות שנייה

Adifut gvoha yoter – Higher priority – עדיפות גבוהה יותר

Latet adifut le-mashehu – To give priority to something – לתת עדיפות למישהו

Seder adifuyot – Priorities – סדר עדיפויות

Odef – Change (Money) – עודף

Odef mishkal – Overweight – עודף משקל

Odafim – Surplus, outlet stock, extra – עודפים

Ma at ma'adifa – What do you prefer? – מה את מעדיפה

Leha'adif – To prefer – להעדיף

Ani maadifa lishtok – I prefer to keep quiet- להעדיף

Ma hayita ma'adif, ma hayit maadifa – What would you prefer? – מה היית מעדיף/מעדיפה

Ani ma'adif pasta al humus – I prefer pasta over hummus – אני מעדיף פסטה על חומוס

Eizo hultsa ata ma'adif? – Which shirt do you prefer? – איזו חולצה אתה מעדיף

Mu'adaf – Preferred, favored – מועדף

Ha'adafa – Preference – העדיפה

Yesh lecha ha'adafa? – Do you have any preference? – יש לך העדפה

Haadafa metakenet – Affirmative action – העדפה מתקנת

Playlist and Clips:

Daniel Solomon – Adif (lyrics)

Teapacks – Adif Lalechet Achshav (lyrics)

Menachmem Begin – speech

Michael Hen – Tamim Hayiti (lyrics)

Tipim la-meltsar, tips for the waiter

Ninet Tayeb – Medabrim (lyrics)

MK Akram Hasson

Ep. no. 125 about heshbon

#130 Streetwise Hebrew in Seventh Heaven Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Streetwise Hebrew surpassed 700,000 downloads, and Guy thinks this is a great reason to talk about the root of number seven in Hebrew – שבע – and get to learn its other meanings.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Sheva – Seven – שבע

Sheva banot – Seven girls – שבע בנות

Shiv'ah banim – Seven boys – שבעה בנים

Shiv'ah – The traditional seven days of mourning in Judaism – שבעה

Ani holech le-shiv'ah – I'm going to a shiv'ah – אני הולך לשבעה

Yesh li shiv'ah shel aba shel haver – I have a shiv'ah for a friend's father – יש לי שבעה של אבא של חבר

Efo ha-shiva'ah? – Where is the shiv'ah? – איפה השבעה

Efo hem yoshvim shiv'ah? – Where are they siting shiv'ah? – איפה הם יושבים שבעה

Shavu'a, shavu'ot (m.) – Week, weeks – שבוע, שבועות

Shavu'ah tov – Have a good week – שבוע טוב

She-yihye lecha / lach shavu'ah tov – May you have a good week – שיהיה לך שבוע טוב

Shvu'ayim -Two weeks – שבועיים

Shvu'ah ha-sefer – Book week (book fair) – שבוע הספר

Sof Shavu'ah – Weekend – סופשבוע

Shvu'ah ha-avoda – Work week – שבוע העבודה

"Shavu'ah-Shavu'ah" – One week at the army base, one week at home – שבוע שבוע

Ani nishba lach – I swear to you – אני נשבע לך

Shvu'ah – Oath – שבועה

Lehishava – Swear – להישבע

lehashbi'ah – To swear someone in – להשביע

Hashba'ah – Swearing in ceremony – השבעה

Save'ah – Full (Had enough food) – שבע

Lisbo'ah – To become full after eating – לשבוע

Playlist and Clips:

Oshik Levy – Ze Mi-kvar (lyrics)

Efraiym Di Zahav – Shavu'ah tov (lyrics)

Ariel Zilber – Shvu'ayim be-ir zara (lyrics)

Moshe Peretz – Nishba Lach (lyrics)

Ep. no. 96 about may you have HEB

Ep. no. 302 about condolences HEB

#126 Use Your Imagination Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

"You guys look so alike, it's crazy!" The Israeli street is all about exclamations, including strangers telling you how much you resemble someone… or not. It's important to understand what's being said, so today Guy focuses on the Hebrew word דומה and its relatives. And what does this all have to do with virtual reality and imagination?

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Domeh – Resembles, looks like – דומה

"Hi lo doma le-af achat acheret" – She does not resemble anyone else – היא לא דומה לאף אחת אחרת

Hu domeh le-mishehu – He looks like someone – הוא דומה למישהו

Hu domeh la-ima – He resembles his mom – הוא דומה לאימא

Ata ma-ze domeh lo – You really look like him – אתה מה-זה דומה לו

At ma-ze doma la – You really look like her – את מה-זה דומה לה

Atem ma ze domim, mamash copy – You really look alike – אתם מה-זה דומים, ממש קופי

Atem domim echad la-sheni – You resemble each other – אתם דומים אחד לשני

Atem davka lo domim – You actually don't look alike – אתם דווקא לא דומים

Hu nir'aa kmo – He looked like (past tense) – הוא נראה כמו

Hu haya domeh le-mishehu – He looked like someone – הוא היה דומה למישהו

Dmooy Or – Leather-like – דמוי עור

Dmooy schnitzel – Faux schnitzel – דמוי שניצל

"Ve-ulai ze rak nidmeh li" – And maybe it's just my imagination – ואולי זה רק נדמה לי

Nidmeh li she… – It seems to me that – נדמה לי ש

Nidmeh lecha! – It only seems that way to you – נדמה לך

Haya nidmeh li – It seemed to me – היה נדמה לי

Ledamot – To visualize, to imagine – לדמות

Dimooy – Metaphor – דימוי

Dimooy atsmi – Self image – דימוי עצמי

Metsi'oot meduma – Virtual reality – מציאות מדומה

Ha-choleh ha-medumeh – Le Malade Imaginaire – The Imaginary Invalid – החולה המדומה

"At lo yoda'at im zo stam metsi'oot o dimyon" – You don't know if it's just reality or imagination – את לא יודעת אם זו סתם מציאות או דמיון

"Ba-leilot rak otcha medamyenet" – At night I imagine only you – בלילות רק אותך מדמיינת

Medoomyan – Imagined – מדומיין

"El hiboor dimyoni" – To an imaginary connection – אל חיבור דמיוני

Dmoot – Image, figure, personality – דמות

"Ani kol kach harbeh dmooyot" – I am so many figures, I have so many personalities – אני כל כך הרבה דמויות

Hadmaya – Simulation – הדמייה

Playlist and Clips:

Arkadi Duchin – Hi Lo Doma (lyrics)

Hava Alberstein – Shir Tishrei (lyrics)

Dana Berger – Hamimoot Holefet (lyrics)

Molière – Ha-holeh ha-medoomeh

Ariel Zilber – Rootsi Shmulik (lyrics)

Sarit Haddad – Aba (lyrics)

Yehuda Poliker – Ha-tsel ve-ani (lyrics)

Natan Goshen – Od (lyrics)

Ep. no. 62 about davka HEB

Ep. no. 180 about metsi'oot, reality

#452 Once and for All Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

The Hebrew word אחד means one, a word we Israelis use all the time. From its root we also get the words for homogeneous and unity. Oh, and you should definitely know what אחד פלוס אחד means.

Check Out the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Echad - One (m.) - אחד

"Am echad im shir echad" - One nation with one song - עם אחד עם שיר אחד

Achat - One (f.) - אחת

Shi'oor echad al echad - One on one private lesson - שיעור אחד על אחד

"yesh matsav le-kafe echad al echad?" - Is there any chance of getting a coffee one-on-one? - יש מצב לקפה אחד על אחד

Echad she-yode'a - Someone in the know - אחד שיודע

How do I know he's the one? - Eich ani eda she-ze ha-echad? She-zo ha-achat? - איך אני אדע שזה האחד, שזו האחת

Echad plus echad - Buy one get one free - אחד פלוס אחד

Mispar achat - Number one - מספר אחת

Ani ha-maaritz mispar achat shelo - I am his number one fan - אני המעריץ מספר אחת שלו

Kav hamesh - Bus number five - קו חמש

Yamim achadim - A few days (formal) - ימים אחדים

Achid - Uniform, unified, homogeneous - אחיד

Lechem achid - Subsidized bread - לחם אחיד

Tahat piku'ach - Under government price control - תחת פיקוח

Tilboshet achida - School uniform - תלבושת אחידה

Swecher - Sweatshirt - סווצ'ר

Achdoot - Unity - אחדות

Achat u-letamid - Once and for all - אחת ולתמיד

Echad ba-peh ve-echad ba-lev - Two-faced - אחד בפה ואחד בלב

Echad ha- - One of the most… - אחד ה

Zeh echad ha-falfelim hachi te'imim ba'ir - This is one of the tastiest falafel spots in town - זה אחד הפלאפלים הכי טעימים בעיר

Playlist and Clips:

Am Echad Shir Echad (lyrics)

Amir Dadon - Ha-ma'aritz mispar achat (lyrics)

Kan Hadashot - Lechem Achid

TV2 - Tilboshet achida - school uniform

Margalit Tsan'ani - Od Yihiye Li (lyrics)

Ep. no. 387 about the gym HEB

Shir Echad podcast

#451 We're United Aug 04, 2026

Show notes

The Hebrew word איחוד means a union. Guy explains other words from the root אחד, which mean "association", "reunion", and "getting back together."

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Ichood – Union – איחוד

Ha-ichood ha-eropi – The European Union – האיחוד האירופי

Le'ached – To unite – לאחד

Gorem me'ached – A unifying factor – גורם מאחד

Me'oochad – United – מאוחד

Kupat holim Meoochedet – The United Health Fund – קופת חולים מאוחדת

Lehit'ached – To unite, to reunite – להתאחד

Hem mit'achdim – They are getting back together – הם מתאחדים

Ein yom shelo sho'alim oti 'atem holchim lehitached?' – There isn't a single day where people don't ask me, 'Are you going to get back together?' – אין יום שלא שואלים אותי אתם הולכים להתאחד

Ha-lahaka hitparka – The band split up – הלהקה התפרקה

Ha-lahaka mit'achedet – The band is getting back together – הלהקה מתאחדת

Hit'achdoot – Association – התאחדות

Ha-hit'achdoot le-kadooregel be-israel – The Israel Football Association – ההתאחדות לכדורגל בישראל

Playlist and Clips:

Ha-ichood h a -eropi – The European Union

Kupat holim me'oochedet

Kaveret mit'achedet

Ha-hit'achdoot le-kadooregel be-israel

Kaveret – Hi Kol Kach Yafa (lyrics)

Ep. no. 212 HEB about lehitparek, to split up

Ep. no. 430 HEB about asefa, assembly

#450 Trust Me Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

So how many times have you heard the sentence, "סמוך עליי, trust me, everything will be okay"? Guy explains the סמוך culture.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Lismoch al mishehu – To trust someone, to count on someone – לסמוך על מישהו

Tismoch alai, smoch alai – Trust me (m.) – תסמוך עליי, סמוך עליי

Tismechi alai, smechi alai – Trust me (f.) – תסמכי עליי, סמכי עליי

Tismechoo alai, smechoo alai – Trust me (pl.) – תסמכו עליי, סמכו עליי

"Yalkoot ha-kzavim" – Tall tales collection – ילקוט הכזבים

Al tid'ag, smoch – Don't worry, count on me – אל תדאג, סמוך

Tarboot ha-smoch – The 'smoch' culture – תרבות הסמוך

Shkivot smicha – Push-ups – שכיבות סמיכה

Samchoot – Authority – סמכות

Samchoot horit – Parental authority – סמכות הורית

Mismach – Document – מסמך

Simoochin – Evidence, reference – סימוכין

Lehasmich mishehu – To authorize someone to do something – להסמיך מישהו

Hasmacha – Authorization, certification – הסמכה

Moosmach – Authorized, licensed – מוסמך

Achot moosmechet – Registered nurse – אחות מוסמכת

Playlist and Clips:

Jane Bordeaux – Tismoch Alai (lyrics)

Static & Eden Ben-Zaken – Ha-peshah ha-mooshlam (lyrics)

Shemtov Levy – Yachol Lihyot She-zeh Nigmar (lyrics)

Lahakat Ha-Gadna – Smoch al ha-doda

Shkivot Smicha

Michal Daliot – Samchoot – Authority

Achot moosmechet – Registered nurse

Makor Rishon newspaper about the book yalkoot ha-kzavim

Ep. no. 23 HEB about the imperative

Ep. no. 24 HEB about yihiye beseder, it will be just fine

Ep. no. 30 HEB about hafif

#449 Air It Out Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

The Hebrew word for air is אוויר, while אווירה is atmosphere/ambience. There are other interesting words taken from אוויר, like fluffy or ceiling fan.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Mezeg avir – Weather – מזג אוויר

Le'avrer et ha-heder – To air out the room – לאוורר את החדר

Hu me'avrer et ha-bayit – He airs out the house – הוא מאוורר את הבית

Le'avrer et ha-rosh – To clear one's head – לאוורר את הראש

Me'avrer – Fan, ventilator – מאוורר

Me'avrer tikra – Ceiling fan – מאוורר תקרה

Mazgan – Air conditioning – מזגן

Ivroor – Airing, ventilation – אוורור

"Ein po avir, ani potachat halon" – There's no air in here, I am opening the window – אין פה אוויר, אני פותחת חלון

"Hayavim le'avrer, eich ata yashen kacha?" – We've got to air out the room, how do you sleep like this? – חייבים לאוורר, איך אתה ישן ככה

Ma'arechet ha-ivroor – The ventilation system – מערכת האוורור

Ha-heder lo me'oovrar – The room is not ventilated – החדר לא מאוורר

Ha-dira me'oovreret – The apartment is airy – הדירה מאווררת

Lehitavrer – To air oneself out – להתאוורר

Ani hayav hofesh, lehitavrer ktsat – I need a vacation to get some fresh air – אני חייב חופש, להתאוורר קצת

Hoofshat hit'avreroot – A vacation to clear your mind – חופשת התאווררות

Hel ha-avir – Air Force – חיל האוויר

Avira – Atmosphere, ambience – אווירה

Yesh sham avira kefit – There's a fun atmosphere there – יש שם אווירה כיפית

Kav aviri – Direct distance / As the crow flies – קו אווירי

Be-kav aviri ha-batim shelanoo lo rechokim, aval ba-oto ze yikach lecha sha'ah – Our houses aren't far apart as the crow flies, but by car, it will take you an hour. – בקו אווירי הבתים שלנו לא רחוקים, אבל באוטו זה ייקח לך שעה

Shayara avirit – Air convoy – שיירה אווירית

Ha-taasiya ha-avirit Le-Israel – Israeli Aerospace Industries – התעשייה האווירית לישראל

Ugah avririt – Fluffy cake – עוגה אוורירית

Aviron – Plane – אווירון

Playlist and Clips:

Gidi Gov – Ne'echaz Ba-avir (lyrics)

Me'avrer tikra – Ceiling fan

Kan TV – Hel Avir (Air Force)

Omer Adam – Avira shel Sof (lyrics)

Ha-taasiya Ha-avirit – The aerospace industry

13TV – Ugah avririt

Ilanit – Red Elenu Aviron (lyrics)

Zemereshet – Aviron

Ep. no. 75 about weather HEB

Ep. no. 337 about mazgan, aircon HEB

Ep. no. 392 about kivoon, direction HEB

#448 You the Landlord or the Tenant? Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Oftentimes, Israelis mix up the Hebrew words משכיר and שוכר. It's the difference between "renting" an apartment and "renting out" an apartment. It's a common mistake that you don't have to make! Guy explains.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Liskor dira – To rent an apartment – לשכור

Baal/ba'alat ha-bayit – Landlord, landlady – בעל / בעלת הבית

Ani socher / socheret dira – I rent an apartment – אני שוכר / שוכרת דירה

Ha-socher / ha-socheret – The tenant, the renter – השוכר / השוכרת

S'char dira – The rent – שכר דירה, שכ"ד

Schar dira gavoha / schar dira namooch – High rent, low rent – שכר דירה גבוה, שכר דירה נמוך

Hi gara be-dira schoora – She lives in a rental apartment – היא גרה בדירה שכורה

Rechev sachoor – Rented car – רכב שכור

Hi gara be-schiroot / hu gar be-schiroot – They live in a rented place – היא גרה בשכירות /הוא גר בשכירות

Lehaskir – To rent out – להשכיר

Hu maskir dira – He rents out an apartment – הוא משכיר דירה

Hi maskira dira – She rents out an apartment – היא משכירה דירה

Dira Lehaskir – An apartment to let – דירה להשכיר

Dirot le-haskara – Apartments for rent – דירות להשכרה

Zeh le-haskara? – Is it for rent? – זה להשכרה

Haskarat dirot – Leasing of apartments – השכרת דירות

Haskarat rechev – Car rental – השכרת רכב

Hevra le-haskarat rechev – Car rental company – חברה להשכרת רכב

Ha-maskir – The lessor – המשכיר

Playlist and Clips:

Peer Tasi – Derech Ha-shalom (lyrics)

Leah Goldberg – Dira Lehaskir

Yad-2 commercial – Dirot le-haskara

Yad-2 commercial

Ep. no. 425 HEB about real estate agents

#447 They're Exploiting the Situation Feb 10, 2026

Show notes

The Hebrew word נצלן is an exploiter – someone who'll use you and then dump you without giving it a second thought. In this episode, Guy breaks down the word and its root נצל.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Lenatsel – To make use of, to utilize – לנצל

Nitsool – Exploitation – ניצול

Nitsool kalkali – Economic exploitation – ניצול כלכלי

"Kol ehad menaseh lenatsel" – Everyone tries to exploit the other – כל אחד מנסה לנצל

Hu menatsel et ha-matsav – He takes advantage of the situation – הוא מנצל את המצב

"Hu menatsel bachurot ve-zorek" – He uses women and then dumps them – הוא מנצל בחורות וזורק

"Eich lenatsel yemei machala" – How to make use of sick days – איך לנצל ימי מחלה

"Menatslim et sh'ot ha-shemesh ha-rabot, mechabim orot, ve-hoschim hashmal" – We are making use of the many sunlight hours, turning off lights and saving electricity – מנצלים את שעות השמש הרבות, מכבים אורות וחוסכים חשמל

"Tsarich lenatsel et ha-hatava ad sof ha-shana" – You need to use this benefit by the end of the year – צריך לנצל את ההטבה עד סוף השנה

Be-tokef ad – Valid until – בתוקף עד

Ani margish menootsal – I feel exploited – אני מרגיש מנוצל

Ani margisha menootselet – I feel exploited – אני מרגישה מנוצלת

"Yesh lecha kama yemei hofesh lo menootsalim" – You have a few unused vacation days – יש לך כמה ימי חופש לא מנוצלים

Lo nitsalta / nitsalt et kol yemei ha-hofesh shelcha / shelach – You didn't use all your vacation days – לא ניצלת את כל ימי החופש שלך

Natslan / natslanit – Exploiter – נצלן / נצלנית

"Tizaher mimenu, hu ma-zeh natslan'" – Be careful of him, he's a real bloodsucker – תיזהר ממנו, הוא מה-זה נצלן

Natslani – Exploitative – נצלני

"Yesh mi she-bocharim be-derech natslanit" – There are those who choose an exploitative path – יש מי שבוחרים בדרך נצלנית

Netsolet – Reusable waste – נצולת

Playlist and Clips:

Israeli Government Advertising Agency – Nitsool kalkali, economic exploitation

Tofaat Dopler – Kol Ehad (lyrics)

Israeli Electric Corporation – Menatslim et sh'ot ha-shemesh ha-rabot

KAN TV – Derech natslanit, exploitative way

Ep. no. 127 about hatavot, bonuses and money HEB

Ep. no. 245 about kuponim, coupons HEB

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