Streetwise Hebrew

This week Guy does something a little bit different. He's joined in the studio by Grego Villalobos, an interpreter for the European Institutions in Brussels, originally from Peru. He also happens to be learning Hebrew, so he's an avid Streetwise Hebrew listener. This was a great opportunity for Guy to engage with a listener; to find out how Grego uses the podcast, what he finds most difficult about Hebrew, and to allow Grego to ask him questions. Grego also gives us a demonstration of simultaneous interpretation: Guy speaks in English while Grego translates into Spanish. Impressive! Music: Marina Maximilian Blumin - Ani Holechet

The word זַיִן, which is also how we say the 7th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, is defined as the male reproductive organ. It is a word we hear a lot in Hebrew because it is in many slang terms – many of which are not necessarily related to sex. Today we learn a few of these sayings and find out the connection between the term 'friends with benefits' and Austrian composer Franz Schubert. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Zayin – Penis – זין Koos –Vagina – כוס "Ha-aretz mitpatachat kmo ha-zayin sheli" – "The country is developing like my dick" – הארץ מתפתחת כמו הזין שלי Yedidoot – Friendship – ידידות Yezizoot – "friendship with benefits" – יזיזות Yadid – Platonic friend – ידיד Yaziz – Friend with benefit – יזיז Eize zayin – What a bummer – איזה זין Eize zayin hu – He is such a prick – איזה זין הוא Ani sam zayin – I don't give a damn – אני שם זין Lasim zayin – Not to give a damn – לשים זין Ani lo sam alav zayin – I don't give a damn about him – אני לא שם עליו זין Al hazayin sheli – I don't care – על הזין שלי Playlist and Clips: Alef-bet – Naomi Shemer, lyrics Franz Schubert – Gretchen am Spinnrade Rami Kleinstein – Chutz mimech klum, lyrics Johnny Blaze – Yedidim o yezizim Yafti – Dvarim Muzari, lyrics Ha-yehudim – Im kvar, lyrics Hagar Dadon – Al ha-zayin sheli (lyrics under youtube clip)

Everyone's talking about הפסקת אש, ceasefire. Let's get to know the word הפסקה (break) and other words in its family which come from the root פסק. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Hafsakat-esh – Ceasefire – הפסקת אש Hafsaka – Break, stop, halting – הפסקה "Maga'im intensiviyim lehafsakat esh, ach ha-esh lo poseket" – There are intensive talks for a ceasefire, but the fire won't stop – מגעים אינטנסיביים להפסקת אש, אך האש לא פוסקת Hafsakat esh humanitarit – Humanitarian ceasefire – הפסקת אש הומניטרית Ha-hafsaka ha-gdola – "The big break" – ההפסקה הגדולה Hifsakti lenasot – I stopped trying – הפסקתי לנסות Hifsakti le'ashen lifeni shavua – I stopped smoking a week ago – הפסקתי לעשן לפני שבוע "Choshev lehafsik le'ashen? Eize yofi" – Do you think of stopping smoking? That's great – חושב להפסיק לעשן? איזה יופי "Kshe'at noga'at bi, ani mafsik lachshov" – When you touch me I stop thinking – כשאת נוגעת בי, אני מפסיק לחשוב Lo tafsiki lekavot – You will not stop hoping – לא תפסיקי לקוות Hufsak – Halted, stopped – הופסק Ha-sherut hufsak – The service was discontinued – השירות הופסק Piska – Paragraph – פסקה Psik – Comma – פסיק Pisuk – Punctuation – פיסוק Pisuk raglayim – Spreading the legs – פיסוק רגליים Pasuk – Biblical verse – פסוק Pesek zman – Time off / Name of a chocolate snack – פסק זמן Kach pesek zman – Take some time off – קח פסק זמן Playlist and Clips: Roy Tal – Hifsakti Lenasot Boaz Sharabi -Kshe-at Nogaat Bi (lyrics) Gali Atari – Ha-shir she-yavi lach Ahava (lyrics) Arik Einstein – Pesek Zman (lyrics)

Shalom means 'peace,' 'hello' and 'goodbye' – it's one of the most popular words in Hebrew, and the first one everybody learns. But there are other words, all derived from the root sh.l.m, that are very active in our language. Let's meet the family! Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Shalom – Peace, hello, goodbye – שלום Shalom rav lachem ve-erev tov – Hello and good evening to you – שלום רב וערב טוב Shalem – Whole – שלם Ma shlom Tomer? – How is Tomer? – מה שלום תומר Shlomi, shlomcha, shlomech, shlomo, shloma, shlomenu, shlomchem, shlomam Ma shlomenu ha-yom? – How are we doing today? – מה שלומנו היום Shalom aleichem – Peace be upon you – שלום עליכם Shalom aleichem malachei ha-shalom – Peace be upon you, ministering angels – שלום עליכם, מלאכי השלום Salam alaykum – Peace be upon you (Arabic) – ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ – סלאם עליכום Shulem aleichem – Shalom aleichem in Yiddish – שלום עליכם "Sholem shloem le'olam, b-rogez b-rogez af pa'am" – A Pinky Swear in Hebrew (literal translation: Peace, peace forever, quarrel quarrel never) – שולם שולם לעולם, ברוגז ברוגז אף פעם Drishat shalom – Regards – דרישת שלום, ד"ש Timsor dash ba-bayit – Say hi at home – תמסור ד"ש בבית "Tni li lehashlim et ha-chaser" – Let me complete the loss – תני לי להשלים את החסר Lehashlim et ha-proyeket – To complete the project – להשלים את הפרוייקט "Lehashlim im ha-shaon" – To make peace with the clock – להשלים עם השעון Lehashlim mashehu – To complete something – להשלים משהו Lehashlim im mishehu – To make peace with someone – להשלים עם מישהו Le'af echad ein or mushlam – No one has perfect skin – לאף אחד אין עור מושלם Mushlam – Perfect – מושלם Yom mushlam – A perfect day – יום מושלם Playlist and Clips: Ha-dag Nachash – Shalom, Salam, Peace (lyrics) TV12 Yonit Levy – News Idan Yaniv & The Kinderlach – Shalom aleychem (lyrics) Sholem Aleichem (writer) Wikipedia about Sholem Aleichem Rinat & Guy – Sholem, b'rogez (lyrics) Lahakat Ha-nahal & Yardena Arazi – Drishat Shalom (lyrics) Eyal Golan – Neshika Ahat Mimech (lyrics) Kobi Aflalo – Yam Ha-rachamim (lyrics) Ashley Waxman – Or mushlam (perfect skin) Ep. no. 61 about acronyms HEB

Mamad is a protected room we Israelis got intimately familiar with during the operation in Gaza. What does it stand for? What do they call it in the safety instructions in Amharic and Russian? And last but not least, let's analyze the Hamas Hebrew propaganda song. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of the Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Az'aka – Alarm, siren – אזעקה "Yesh azaka kan be tel aviv" – There's a siren here in Tel Aviv – יש אזעקה כאן בתל אביב Liz'ok – To shout – לזעוק "Ata tsarich lehagi'a la mamad" – You need to get to the mamad – אתה צריך להגיע לממ"ד Mamad, Merchav Mugan Dirati – Protected apartmental space (Residential Secure Space) – ממ"ד, מרחב מוגן דירתי Uga, ugati – Cake, cakey – עוגה, עוגתי Dira, dirati – Apartment (N.), of the apartment (adj.) – דירה, דירתי Mamak – Merhav mugan Komati – Secure space of the floor – ממ"ק, מרחב מוגן קומתי Koma, komati – Floor (N.), of the floor (adj.) – קומה, קומתי Miklat – Shelter – מקלט Miklat tsiburi – Public shelter – מקלט ציבורי "Za'aze et bitchona shel Israel" – Destabilize Israel's security – זעזע את ביטחונה של ישראל "Medinat chulsha ve-ta'atuim" – A country of weakness and delusions – מדינת חולשה ותעתועים Playlist and Clips: Mi ba le-kishkashta Amharic – Mamad Russian instructions English instructions Tkof, taase pigu'im Shalom Hanoch – Ki Ha-adam Etz Ha-sade (lyrics)

"Let's stay in touch," "Something has to change," "It's not you, it's me" – all languages have these disingenuous, non-committal and empty phrases. So how do we say them in Hebrew? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Ata achshav kvar lo muchan lehitchayev – You're no longer ready to commit – אתה עכשיו כבר לא מוכן להתחייב Mechuyavoot – Commitment – מחוייבות Chayav – Must – חייב Mashehu chayav lehishtanot – Something got to change – משהו חייב להשתנות Ani chayav lalechet – I must go – אני חייב ללכת Kama ani chayav / chayevet lecha? – How much do I owe you? – כמה אני חייב/חייבת לך Nir'eh – We'll see – נראה Nedaber me-halev – We'll talk from the heart – נדבר מהלב Az nedaber – We'll talk – אז נדבר Daber iti – Talk to me – דבר איתי Nihye bekesher – We'll be in touch – נהיה בקשר Spontani? – Are you spontaneous? (=Are you free right now?) – ספונטני Ani rotsa lifgosh otcha spontani – I want to meet you spontaneously – אני רוצה לפגוש אותך ספונטני Ani spontani – I am spontaneous – אני ספונטני Anachnu od nir'ee et ha-yamim ha-'acherim – We'll see different days – אנחנו עוד נראה את הימים האחרים "Tsochakim et ha-aviv, ha-ahavot, ha-neurim ve'et ha-dvarim asher shachachnu kvar eich hem nir'im" – Laughing the spring, the love, the youth, and the things we've already forgotten how they look. – צוחקים את האביב, האהבות, הנעורים ואת הדברים אשר שכחנו כבר איך הם נראים Playlist and Clips: Sarit Hadad – Ha-ke'ev ha-ze (lyrics) Shanti Mantra – Ravi Shankar & George Harrison Yirmi Kaplan – Mashehu chayav lehishtanot (lyrics) Shlomo Artzi – Nedaber me-halev (lyrics) Sarit Hadad – Chosevet Alecha (lyrics) Lahakat Pikud Merkaz – Ha-yamim ha-acherim (lyrics)

All languages love the word 'to go' and Hebrew is no different. If you type the verb's root הלכ into Google you get two million results! And we'll take you through them all… Just kidding! How do we use this verb holech? Let's learn some of the most current expressions. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Holech, holechet – Going – הולך, הולכת Lalechet – To go – ללכת Ani holech ledaber ito – I am going to talk to him – אני הולך לדבר איתו Ani holecht – I am going/leaving – אני הולכת Ani holechet le-yerushalayim – I am walking to Jerusalem – אני הולכת לירושלים Ani nosaat le-yerushalayim – I am going to Jerusalem (by car/bus/train) – אני נוסעת לירושלים Anachnu holchim – We're leaving – אנחנו הולכים Eich holech? – How is it going? – איך הולך Ma holech gever? – How is it going dude? – מה הולך גבר? Eich holech? Ma holech? – How are things? – איך הולך, מה הולך Eich holech ba-avoda, eich holech ba-bayit – How is it going at work, at home? – איך הולך בעבודה, איך הולך בבית Ma holech po – What's going on here? – מה הולך פה? Lech al ze – Go for it! (m.) – לך על זה Lechi al ze – Go for it! (f.) – לכי על זה Al tomri ze lo yelech – Don't say (f), it won't work out – אל תאמרי זה לא יילך Halach alay batuach – I am doomed – הלך עליי בטוח Playlist and Clips: Marina Maximilian Bloomin – Ani Holechet (lyrics) MOG – Ma Holech Gever Arik Einstein – Po Etslenu (lyrics) Dedi Gal – Lech Al Ze Dudu Aharon – Al Tivrechi Li (lyrics) Hemi Rudner – Hush'art Oti Im Ru'ach (lyrics)

Lizrok means 'to throw' in Hebrew, but how is it used in relationship lingo? Oh, and who is the most famous 'Varda' in Israel? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: "Ve-chamesh shanim itach zarakti la-pach" – And five years with you, I threw in the garbage – וחמש שנים איתך זרקתי לפח "Ulai tafsik lizrok aleyha kesef?" – Maybe you'll stop throwing money on her? – אולי תפסיק לזרוק עליה כסף Lizrok la-zevel – To throw something in the garbage – לזרוק לזבל Lizrok mishehu la-klavim – To throw someone to the dogs – לזרוק מישהו לכלבים Tizreki oto – Dump him – תזרקי אותו Ulai tizrok et ha-nayad – Why won't you throw away the cellphone? – אולי תזרוק את הנייד Tizrok, zrok – Throw (imp.) – תזרוק, זרוק "Rak zrok mila" – Just throw a word – רק זרוק מילה Zrok lo eize mila – Throw in a word when you talk to him – זרוק לו איזה מילה Zaruk – Thrown, dumped – זרוק Dafuk ve-zaruk be-paris u-ve-london – Down and out in Paris and London – דפוק וזרוק בפריס ובלונדון Nizrak – It was thrown, he was dumped – נזרק Kacha nizrakti ba'olam – This is how I got thrown out in the world – ככה נזרקתי בעולם Lehizarek al sapa – To lie on the sofa – להיזרק על הספה Zrika – Throwing, injection – זריקה Zrikat adrenaline – Adrenaline shot – זריקת אדרנלין Mizraka – Fountain – מזרקה Zark'or – Projector – זרקור Playlist and Clips: Oren Adam – Mami Ze Nigmar (lyrics) Avihu Shabbat & Michal Amdursky – Yalla (lyrics) Ivri Lider – Kartisei Ashrai (lyrics) Climax – Zrok Mila (lyrics) Ep. 172 about dafuk

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!' Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon 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 Playlist and Clips: 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. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Lo otser be-adom – He doesn't stop in red light – לא עוצר באדום "Tagid li eich la'atsor et ha-dma'ot – Tell me how to stop the tears – תגיד לי איך לעצור את הדמעות La'atsor, la'avod, la'azor – לעצור, לעבוד, לעזור – To stop, to work, to help Ata yachol la'atsor po be-vakasha? – Could you stop here please? – אתה יכול לעצור פה בבקשה Ta'atsor li po vaksha – Stop here for me, please – תעצור לי פה (ב)בקשה "Hizaher, yesh atsor ba-knisa" – Attention, there is a stop sign at the entrance – היזהר, יש עצור בכניסה Atsira ba-derech – A stop on the way – עצירה בדרך Atsirat gshamim – Drought – עצירת גשמים Atsiroot kasha – Severe constipation – עצירוּת קשה Otser – Curfew – עוצר Otser – He is stopping – עוצר Ma'atsar – Detention – מעצר Ma'atsor – Obstacle, mental block – מעצור Ani menase lehamshich ve-nitkal be-ma'atsor – I try to continue and bump into an obstacle – אני מנסה להמשיך ונתקל במעצור Playlist and Clips: Shalom Hanoch – Lo Otser Be-adom (lyrics) Ofra Haza – Le-orech Ha-yam (lyrics) Oshik Levy – Zichron Ya'akov (lyrics) Atsirat Gshamim Atsiroot kasha Bar Tsabari – Shuv (lyrics) Ep. 10 about bevakasha and politeness in Hebrew Ep. 183 about hafsakat pipi Ep. 351 about Pull over