Streetwise Hebrew

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#136 StreetWise Hebrew gets double negative Aug 02, 2016

Show notes

Today we're getting negative. Double negative, in fact. After some Hebrew words like "klum" ("nothing") or "af pa'am" ("never") we also have to use "lo" ("no"). So, unlike in English, we use two negation words. Host Guy Sharett takes us through the rules, mentioning English, French and Portuguese as he goes. Oh, and while we're learning, we also get to listen to some beautiful French and Brazilian songs.

Exclusive Content for Patrons

New words & expressions:

Je n'ai jamais pu t'oublier – I was never able to forget you

Me-olam lo shachati otcha - I (have) never forgot(ten) you – מעולם לא שכחתי אותך

Af pa'am lo ted'i – Never will you know (f.) – אף פעם לא תדעי

Af pa'am lo hayiti be- – I have never been to – -אף פעם לא הייתי ב

Af pa'am lo ahavti kach af achat – I have never loved anyone like this – אף פעם לא אהבתי כך אף אחת

Af echad lo yodea, af echad lo mevin – Nobody knows, nobody understands – אף אחד לא יודע, אף אחד לא מבין

Achshav lo mitgorer bo af echad – Now nobody lives there – עכשיו לא מתגורר בו אף אחד

Lo yacholti la'asot im ze klum – I couldn't do anything with it – לא יכולתי לעשות עם זה כלום

Im einech le-tsidi az ani lo chlum – If you're not by my side, I am nothing – Sem você, meu amor, eu não sou ninguém – אם אינך לצידי אז אני לא כלום

Shum davar lo yadu'a – Nothing is known – שום דבר לא ידוע

Looking for the monologue text? It's available to our patrons at patreon.com/streetwisehebrew.

Playlist and clips: Dalida – Je N'ai Jamais Pu T'oublier Shlomo Artzi – Af Paam Lo Ted'i (lyrics) Dani Robas – Ze Lo Ani (lyrics) Meir Ariel – Af Echad Lo Yode'a (lyrics) Yehudit Ravitz – Balada Al Adon Kim'at Ve-Gveret Kvar (lyrics) Ilan Wirtzberg – Lo Yacholti La'asot Im Ze Klum (lyrics) Mati Caspi & Yehudit Ravitz – Samba Bi-Shnayim (lyrics) Vinicius de Moraes, Maria Creuza & Toquinho – Samba Em Preludio Arik Lavie – Ze Kore (lyrics) Carolina – Af Echad Lo Ba Li (lyrics)

#135 Let's Get Idiomatic With "Latset" Jul 26, 2016

Show notes

Whether it's telling someone they did well, asking the cost, or lashing out at someone, "yatsata" (from "latset" – to "go out"/"come out") plays an important role in everyday Hebrew slang. Host Guy Sharett teaches us a few of these useful idioms, which you won't find in your dictionary.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

"Britanya rotsa latset me-ha ichud ha-eropi" – The UK wants to exit from the EU – בריטניה רוצה לצאת מהאיחוד האירופי

Yatsata gadol – You came out great – יצאת גדול

"Asher, lo rak tsadik yatsata, yatsata anak" – You didn't just come out great, you came out huge – אשר, לא רק צדיק יצאת, יצאת ענק

Anak – Huge, gigantic – ענק

Yatsata tsadik – You came out a saint – יצאת צדיק

Yatsata be-zol – You got off easy – יצאת בזול

"Boyna, yatsata be-zol" – Dude, you came off easy – בוא'נה, יצאת בזול

Lo yatsa li – I didn't get a chance – לא יצא לי

Slicha, od lo yatsa li – Sorry, I didn't get a chance to do it yet – סליחה, עוד לא יצא לי

Im yotse lecha – If you get a chance – אם יוצא לך

Rak im yotse lecha – Only if you get a chance – רק אם יוצא לך

Ma yatsa lecha mi-ze? – What did you gain from it? – מה יצא לך מזה

Nu, ve-ma yatsa lecha ba-sof mi-ze? – So, what did you gain from it at the end? – נו, ומה יצא לך בסוף מזה

Ma yatsa ba-sof im X – What happened to X at the end? – מה יצא בסוף עם מישהו

Kama yatsa ba-sof? / Kama yatsa? – How much did it come out at the end? – כמה יצא / כמה יצא בסוף

Kama kama? – What's the score? – כמה כמה

Ma Yatsata alay? – Why are you attacking me? – מה יצאת עליי

Playlist and Clips:

Yatsata Tsadik TV Show

Noam Yakobson – Yatsata be-zol (lyrics)

Yoav Yitshak – Ma Yatsa Lecha Mi-ze (lyrics)

Ha-dorbanim – Yatsanu Lirkod (lyrics)

Ep. no. 26 about 'can you?'

#134 Dare to Be Different Jul 19, 2016

Show notes

It's not always easy to be "different" – שונה – but Guy tackles this word and its offshoots head-on. He explains how we get "change" and "strange" from the same root, and how to say "it's all the same to me."

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Shoneh – Different – שונה

Ze shoneh be-ze she… – It's different in that… – זה שונה בזה ש

Be-ma ata shone mimenu – How do you differ from him? – במה אתה שונה ממנו

"Etmol hayit shona" – Yesterday you were different – אתמול היית שונה

"At ha-yom shona" – Today you're different (f.) – את היום שונה

Shinooy, shinooyim – Change, changes – שינוי, שינויים

Shinooyey mezeg ha-avir – The weather changes – שינויי מזג האוויר

Ata yachol lehagid li she-ze lo meshaneh – You can tell me that it doesn't make a difference – אתה יכול להגיד לי שזה לא משנה

Leshanot – To change – לשנות

Lo meshaneh – It doesn't make a difference – לא משנה

Lo mshane li ('lo m'shaneh') – It's ok for me either way – לא משנה לי

Hu kol ha-zman meshaneh et da'ato – He keeps changing his mind – הוא כל הזמן משנה את דעתו

Hi kol ha-zman meshana et ha-taarich shel ha-tisa shela – She keeps changing the date of her flight – היא כל הזמן משנה את תאריך הטיסה שלה

Leshanot (to change) conjugated in the past: Shiniti, shinita, shinit, shina, shinta, shininu, shinitem, shinu – שיניתי, שינית, שינית, שינה, שינתה, שינינו, שיניתם, שינו

Tagid, yeshaneh lecha im zeh yihye etsli? – Say, would it make a difference if we met at my place? – תגיד, ישנה לך אם זה יהיה אצלי

Meshuneh, Meshuna, meshunim, meshunot – Strange, weird – משונה, משונה, משונים, משונות

Yesh lo drachim meshunot – He's got funny ways – יש לו דרכים משונות

Yesh od zman lehishtanot – There's still time to change oneself – יש עוד זמן להשתנות

Min ha-katseh el ha-katseh – From one extreme to the other – מן הקצה אל הקצה

Lehishtanot – To be changed, to go through a change – להשתנות

Hu mamash hishtana – He has really changed – הוא ממש השתנה

Ha-ir hishtanta – The city has changed – העיר השתנתה

Ha-chayim hishtanu – Life has changed – החיים השתנו

Playlist and Clips:

Shimi Tavori – Etmol Hayit Shona (lyrics)

Gabi Shushan – Yalda Ktana (lyrics)

Shlomo Artzi – Shinuyey Mezeg Ha-avir (lyrics)

Dana International – Ani Lo Yechola Bil'adecha (lyrics)

Shlomo Artzi – Af Pa'am Lo Ted'i (lyrics)

Shlomo Artzi – Gever Holech Le-ibud (lyrics)

Gidi Gov – Inyan shel Zman (lyrics)

Meet the Patrons Part 3: Is Hebrew the hardest language? Jul 12, 2016

Show notes

We're airing pieces of the Skype chat host Guy Sharett had with some of our Patrons in March. In this, "Part 3" of the chat, we hear different ways to say how tired we are in Hebrew, and our Patrons tell us how difficult they think Hebrew is to learn compared to other languages.

If you missed the first two parts, go back and have a listen before continuing with today's show: Part 1; Part 2.

Exclusive Content for Patrons

#133 "A Glorious Failure is Better Than Dreams in the Drawer" Jun 21, 2016

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

#132 Keep the gags coming! Jun 14, 2016

Show notes

"Keta" means "part," "section," "thing" or "gag," but it also appears in lots of really handy Hebrew slang expressions. Host Guy Sharett explains how we use "keta" to say that we're not into something, or to tell our friend how (un)funny they're being.

Exclusive Content for Patrons

New words & expressions:

Keta, kta'im – Part; section; leg of a trip; thing; gag – קטע/קטעים

Yeled shome'a kta'im ba-sicha – A kid hears parts of the conversation – ילד שומע קטעים בשיחה

He-keta ba-seret – The part/scene in the movie – הקטע בסרט

Ze keta mesukan – It's a dangerous thing – זה קטע מסוכן

Lo ahavti et ha-keta – I didn't like this – לא אהבתי את הקטע

Lo mevina ta-keta – I don't get it – לא מבינה ת'קטע

Makirim et ha-kete she…? – Do you know that thing when…? – ?...מכירים את הקטע ש

Haya beynehem keta – There was a thing between them – היה ביניהם קטע

At lo mamash ba-kate – You're not really into that – את לא ממש בקטע

Hu be-keta shel banim (Hu ba-keta)– He's into guys – הוא בקטע של בנים

Ani lo hoshev she-hu ba-keta – I don't think he's into it – אני לא חושב שהוא בקטע

Keta tov – Something good that happened – קטע טוב

Ani omer et ze be-keta tov – I am saying this in a good way – אני אומר את זה בקטע טוב

Hu amar et ze be-keta ra – He said it in a mean way – הוא אמר את זה בקטע רע

Eize keta/kta'im – How funny/What a surprise – איזה קטע/קטעים

Eize keta she-gam ata po – How funny that you're also here – איזה קטע שגם אתה פה

Kta'im itcha! – You're hilarious! – !קטעים איתך

Chma (shma)/Chme'i/Chme'u keta – Listen to this – צ'מע/צ'מעי/צ'מעו קטע

Klot/kleti/kletu ta-keta – Do you get this?/ Get this/Look at this – קלוט/קלטי/קלטו ת'קטע

Ma ha-keta shla? – What's her deal? – ?מה הקטע שלה

Ma ha-keta sh'cha? – What's your deal? – ?מה הקטע ש'ךָ

Yesh la keta – There's something about her – יש לה קטע

Ze keta keta – It's quite a thing – זה קטע קטע

Asa li keta masri'ach – He played a dirty trick on me – עשה לי קטע מסריח

Looking for the monologue text? It's available to our patrons at patreon.com/streetwisehebrew.

Playlist and clips: Dan Toren – Imperiot Noflot Leat (lyrics) Dani Robas – Keta Mesukan (lyrics) Gani Tamir – Kshe-ata Omer Shalom (lyrics) Ella Fitzgerald – Every Time We Say Goodbye Eric Berman – Ha-sigaria Ha-achrona (lyrics) Noam Partom – Poetube

#131 No jealousy and no grudge, just "firgun" and love Jun 07, 2016

Show notes

"Lefargen" is a rather special word with no simple translation into English. It means to express happiness for someone, to encourage and praise them with full empathy. As host Guy Sharett explains, in some cases it can mean to give something out of the goodness of your heart. Get ready for a feel-good episode!

Exclusive Content for Patrons

New words & expressions:

Lefargen – To express happiness for someone, to encourage and praise them with full empathy – לפרגן

Firgun (verbal noun) – The act of "lefargen" – פרגון

Farginen (Yiddish) – "Lefargen" – פֿאַרגינען

Farginen sich (Yiddish) –זיך פֿאַרגינען – Lefargen le-atsmo – לפרגן לעצמו – To allow oneself to do something

VergÖnnen (German) – To grant someone something

Hu firgen le mishehu – He "firgened" (to) someone – הוא פרגן למישהו

Fargen lo (imperative) – "Fargen" (to) him! – פרגן לו

Az ten kavod, fargen le'atsmecha - So give respect, "fargen" (to) yourself – אז תן כבוד, פרגן לעצמך

Zo she-tsricha lilmod lefargen le-atsma – The one (fem.) who needs to learn to "lefargen" (to) herself – זו שצריכה ללמוד לפרגן לעצמה

Lefargen le'atsmecha, le'atsmech, le'atsmechem – "Lefargen" to yourself/yourselves – לפרגן לעצמך/לעצמכם

Ein kin'a ve-ein tina, rak firgun ve-ahava - No jealousy and no grudge, just firgun, and love – אין קנאה ואין טינה, רק פרגון ואהבה

Sihot mefargenot – Positive conversations – שיחות מפרגנות

Ben zug mefargen/Bat zug mefargenet – A supportive partner – בן/בת זוג מפרגן/מפרגנת

Hu firgen li be-zer prahim madhim – He "firgened" me with an amazing bouquet of flowers – הוא פרגן לי בזר פרחים מדהים

Fargen li eize espresso (imperative) – Make me an espresso! – פרגן לי איזה אספרסו

Lefargen lecha eize ugat shokolad? – Can I "lefargen" you a chocolate cake? – ?לפרגן לך איזה עוגת שוקולד

Toda al ha-firgun – Thanks for the "firgun" – תודה על הפרגון

Rak ratziti lefargen – I just wanted to compliment you – רק רציתי לפרגן

Looking for the monologue text? It's available to our patrons at patreon.com/streetwisehebrew.

Playlist and clips: Networking Iski – Firgun Nati Levy – Dai Lisno (lyrics) Tachles – Shuvo Shel Ha-Sachbak (lyrics) Sharon Haziz – Mar'ah, Mar'ah (lyrics) Eti Levy & Zehava Ben – Dam Ehad (lyrics) Etnix – Ha-Tov Kore (lyrics)

#130 Streetwise Hebrew in Seventh Heaven May 31, 2016

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

#129 Stop, Collaborate and Listen! May 17, 2016

Show notes

Listen up! Today's episode teaches you how to do something very useful on the Israeli streets – to stop someone who's talking at you and tell them "listen!" Pay attention as Guy explores this gem of a root.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Takshiv, takshivi, takshivu – Listen! (imperative) – תקשיב, תקשיבי, תקשיבו

"Im takshiv heytav" – If you listen well – אם תקשיב היטב

Takshiv li ve-takshiv li tov! – Listen to me and listen well – תקשיב לי ותקשיב לי טוב

Aval takshiv/takshivi rega – But listen for a sec – אבל תקשיב/תקשיבי רגע

Takshiv/takshivi/takshivu shniya – Listen for a sec. – תקשיב/תקשיבי/תקשיבו רגע

Hakshev, hakshivi, hakshivu – Listen! (Archaic imperative, not in use in colloquial language) – הקשב, הקשיבי, הקשיבו

Takshiv ma ta'ase, takshivi ma ta'asi, takshivu ma ta'asu – Listen to what you need to do – תקשיב מה תעשה, תקשיבי מה תעשי, תקשיבו מה תעשו

"Lo hikshavtem li' – You didn't listen to me (I told you so) – לא הקשבתם לי

Hakshava – Listening carefully – הקשבה

Lehakshiv le-sipur – To listen to a story – להקשיב לסיפור

Ata chayav lehakshiv leze – You must listen to this – אתה חייב להקשיב לזה

Takshiv le-ze rega – Listen to this for a sec. – תקשיב לזה רגע

Kashuv – Attentive – קשוב

Keshev – Attentiveness – קשב

Hafra'at Keshev Ve-rikuz – Attention deficit disorder (ADD) – הפרעת קשב וריכוז

Kashav – Radio monitor – קשב

"Kashavenu Miki Gurdus" – Our monitor, Miki Gurdus – קשבנו מיקי גורדוס

Playlist and Clips:

Mati Caspi – Kolot Ha-sade (lyrics)

Maya Buskila – Takshivi Li (lyrics)

Gidi Gov & Rita – Haya'ich ve-hayai (lyrics)

Arik Einstein – Atur Mitschech (lyrics)

Yoni Rechter – Hakshava (lyrics)

Hafra'at Keshev Ve-rikuz (ADD)

Kashavenu Miki Gurdus – Yom Kippur War

Sarit Hadad – Kim'at Holechet (lyrics)

Michael Gurdus

Ep. 236 EN HEB

#128 Congratulations! 'Mazal Tov' and More May 10, 2016

Show notes

This episode is all about "mazal tov." How do we congratulate friends who have a newborn baby? And what do you say when you're not sure if it's a boy or a girl, in a gender-based language like Hebrew? Guy has all the answers.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

New Words and Expressions:

Mazal tov – Congratulations – מזל טוב

She-yihie be-mazal tov – Congratulations – שיהיה במזל טוב

Mazal tov al ha-herayon – Congrats for the pregnancy – מזל טוב על ההריון

Mazal tov al ha-dira – Congrats for the apartment – מזל טוב על הדירה

Magi'a lecha/lach mazal tov, lo? – You deserve a mazal tov, right? – מגיע לך מזל טוב, לא

Brachot – Blessings, greetings – ברכות

Ani me'achelet lecha/lach she- – I wish you that – אני מאחלת לך ש

Eize kef lishmo'ah – So happy to hear this – איזה כיף לשמוע

Eize yoffie – How great- איזה יופי

Be-sha'ah tova – Congratulations – בשעה טובה