Streetwise Hebrew

The level of service in Israel can change from day to day, hour to hour. It depends on many factors, like the mood of the serving staff, life in the city, and other seemingly random factors. Guy explains. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: "Lo yodea ma ba li, al ma at mamlitza?" – I don't know what I feel like, what do you recommend? – ?לא יודע מה בא לי, על מה את ממליצה "Az ma ba lanu le-kinu'ach?" – So what do we feel like for dessert? – ?אז מה בא לנו לקינוח "Ha-salat ktsat ayef" – The salad looks a bit tired – הסלט קצת עייף Al ma ata mamlits? – What do you recommend – ?על מה אתה ממליץ "Et hishtachrarti ha-rof'im himlitsu li bikur hodshi bi-nmal ha-te'ufa" – When I was released (from hospital) the doctors recommended a monthly visit at the airport – עת השתחררתי הרופאים המליצו לי ביקור חודשי בנמל התעופה Mamlits – Recommending – ממליץ Hamlatsa – Recommendation – המלצה "Im at rotsa, zo rak hamlatsa, le-seret kolno'a shmeimi" – If you want, it's only a recommendation for a divine movie – אם את רוצה זו רק המלצה, לסרט קולנוע שמיימי Yesh lecha hamlatsot al mis'ada be-london? – Do you have recommendations for restaurants in London? – ?יש לך המלצות על מסעדה בלונדון Al ma ata mamlits? – What do you recommend? – ?על מה אתה ממליץ Ma ata mamlits? – What do you recommend? – ?מה אתה ממליץ Mumlats – Recommended – מומלץ Bet kafe mumlats – Recommended café – בית קפה מומלץ Mis'ada mumletzet – Recommended restaurant – מסעדה מומלצת Playlist and Clips: Time Out Tel Aviv – Az ma ba lanu le-kinu'ach? Meir Ariel – Terminal Luminalette (lyrics) Shalom Hanoch – Hamlatsa Le-yomit (lyrics) Politeness in Hebrew, Ep. no. 10 "You want a juice?" "No": Translating Israeli Brevity, Ep. no. 157

Yes, you can learn Hebrew from pop culture. This time we decided to check out reality show Hebrew: We took one episode of The X Factor Israel and wrote down all the adjectives used there. Which ones made it to the top? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon Watch the entire X Factor episode Ze tov, ze tov, by Shokolad, Menta, Mastik New Words and Expressions: Tov – Good – טוב Metoraf – Crazy – מטורף "Yesh la yecholot metorafot" – She has crazy abilities – יש לה יכולות מטורפות "Ze she-higati ad kan ze metoraf bishvilii" – The fact I made it up to here is crazy for me – זה שהגעתי עד כאן זה מטורף בשבילי "Asiti po tahalich metoraf" – I went through a crazy process here – עשיתי פה תהליך מטורף "Ani meusheret be-ramot metorafot" – I am happy at crazy levels – אני מאושרת ברמות מטורפות Teruf – Craziness – טירוף "Ze teruf latstet me-ha-bayit be-kor kaze – It's insane to leave home in this cold – זה טירוף לצאת מהבית בקור כזה Gadol – Big, awesome – גדול Kashe – Hard, difficult – קשה Madhim – Amazing – מדהים Me'ule – Excellent – מעולה Lahats – Stress, pressure – לחץ Lahuts, lehutsa – Stressed – לחוץ, לחוצה "Hayiti kol kach lechutsa etmol" – I was so stressed yesterday – הייתי כל כך לחוצה אתמול "Ani lechutsa esh" – I am so stressed – אני לחוצה אש Ta'im esh – It's tasty as hell – טעים אש Playlist and Clips: Shokolad, menta, mastic – Ze Tov, Ze Tov (lyrics) The X Factor Israel ep. 14 Ep. no. 102 about different synonyms for crazy Ep. no. 228 about lachats, stress HEB Ep. no. 349 about good HEB

In Hebrew, זזים (we're making a move), זזנו (we made a move), and נזוז (we'll make a move) are all used in the same way to say, "yalla, let's go." Guy explains. Check Out the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: "Yalla, ani ole la'otobus" – I am getting on the bus – יאללה, אני עולה לאוטובוס "Ata taale laotobus, ata od lo ole" – You will get on the bus, you're not getting on it yet – אתה תעלה לאוטובוס, אתה עוד לא עולה Zazim – Let's go – זזים Nazuz? – Shall we make a move? – נזוז Kvar ba'im – We're coming in a sec. – כבר באים Zaznu? – We're out of here – ?זזנו Hayinu po? – "We were here" (let's go) – ?היינו פה Halachnu? Holchim? – Let's go – ?הלכנו? הולכים Ahavti – I liked, I like – אהבתי "20 shniyot hayitem sham" – "20 seconds and you were there" – עשרים שניות הייתם שם "Az ani potech et hadelet vema ani ro'e?" – So I open the door and what do I see? – אז אני פותח את הדלת ומה אני רואה Ani rats – I run / I am running / I am making a move – אני רץ Playlist and Clips: Kaveret – Shir Ha-makolet (lyrics) Dudu Tassa – Ani Rats (lyrics) Ep. 5

The Hebrew word for husband is בעל, which also means owner. It's no wonder, then, that so many Israeli women dislike its use. So what can we say instead? Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Ba'al – Husband – בעל Ba'ali – My husband – בעלי Ben ha-zug – Male partner – בן הזוג Bat ha-zug – Female partner – בת הזוג "Ha-ben zug" (coll.) – The male partner – הבן זוג "Ha-bat zug" (coll.) – The female partner – הבת זוג "Ba'ali hu bediyuk bishvili" – My husband is just right for me – בעלי הוא בדיוק בשבילי Ba'al – Husband – בעל Be'alim – Owner/owners – בעלים Efshar ledaber im ha-be'alim – Could I speak to the owner/s? – אפשר לדבר עם הבעלים? Ishti – My wife – אשתי Bat ha-zug sheli – My female partner – בת הזוג שלי Ishtekha – Your (m.) wife – אשתך Ishtekh – Your (f.) wife – אשתך Ishto – his wife – אשתו Ishta – Her wife – אשתה Nashim – Women – נשים Ishi – My man (my male partner) – אישי "Ba'ali be-milu'im" – My husband is away on reserves duty – בעלי במילואים Playlist and Clips: Maya Farhan – Baali (lyrics) Shlomo Artzi – Rov Ha-zman At Ishti (lyrics)

Cursing* drivers is a national sport in Israel. Here are a few words and phrases you can use the next time someone cuts you off. * Streetwise Hebrew will not be responsible or liable for any misuse of idioms, words, verbs or adjectives mentioned in this show. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Hel'at ha-min ha-enoshi – Scum of the human race – חלאת המין האנושי Evil mashrish – Stupid person – אוויל משריש Ben zona – Son of a bitch – בן זונה Bat zona – Daughter of a bitch – בת זונה Mashu ben zona – A helluva thing – משו בנזונה Maniak – Bastard – מניאק "Haiyti manyak ve-lo yadati she-ani manyak" – I was really a bastard, and I didn't know that I was a bastard – הייתי מניאק ולא ידעתי שאני מניאק Ya Tamer – Hey Tamer – יא תאמר Ya maniak – You bastard – יא מניאק Ya ben zona – You son of a bitch – יא בן זונה Chatichat, chatchat – A piece of… – חתיכת, חת'כת Chat'chat efes (chatichat efes) – You piece of nobody – חת'כת אפס, חתיכת אפס Ima'shcha (Ima shelcha) – Your mother – אמאש'ך, אמא שלך ​ Playlist and Clips: Natan Zehavi Ha-tayarim – Imash'cha (lyrics) Oum Kalthoum – Alf Leila Shotei Ha-Nevu'a – Hayiti Manyak (lyrics) Episode no. 49 Episode no. 242

The word שואה, holocaust, used to be a sacred word. Not anymore. Like many loaded words, we used and reused it. Now you can hear people using Sho'a in totally different contexts. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Shoah – Holocaust – שואה Amud ha-esh – Pillar of fire – עמוד האש Yom Hazikaron La-shoah ve-la-gvura (Yom Ha-shoah) – The Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day – יום הזיכרון לשואה ולגבורה, יום השואה Germania ha-natsit – Nazi Germany – גרמניה הנאצית "Ani ba-tor ba-bank, shoah po" – "I am waiting in line in the bank, it's shoah here" – אני בתור בבנק, שואה פה Shoati – Holocaust-esque, shoah-like – שואתי "Al tihye shoa'ti" – Don't be sho'ati – אל תהיה שואתי Playlist and Clips: Amud ha-esh soundtrack by Shem Tov Levy Amud Ha-esh – narration: Yossi banai TV2 interview with animal activist Gary Yourofsky Ep. 97 about the word Amud

The Hebrew language lay dormant for a very long while. When it reemerged from its slumber, we Israelis found ourselves without the right words for all things relating to sex. Just how serious is this problem? Quite serious. Guy explains. Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon Words and Expressions: Zayin – Dick – זין Pot, nartik, Vagina – Vagina – פות Kus – Pussy – כוס Le'onen – To masturbate – לאונן Lezayen – To fuck – לזיין Kusit – Chick, babe – כוסית Mizdayenet – She is fucking – מזדיינת Dfika – Fuck (noun) – דפיקה Lidfok – To knock, fuck – לדפוק Dafuk – Fucked up – דפוק Gomeret – Coming (f., sex.) – גומרת Ligmor – To finish, to come (sex.) – לגמור Meonenet – Masturbating (f.) – מאוננת Playlist & Clips: Ha-dag Nachash & Mazi Cohen – Af Ehad (lyrics) Riki Gal – Na'arat Ha-rok (lyrics) Onan (Wikipedia) Want to see more Hebrew gems? Like Streetwise Hebrew on Facebook and Instagram. Want Guy to talk about a pressing Hebrew issue? Find him at StreetWiseHebrew.com or follow him on Twitter.

Kombina is one of the most salient features of Israeli society. In order to survive in this country, one needs to fend for oneself, using all possible means: Contacts, resourcefulness and creative ideas. Some Israelis say we are even 'Medinat Kombina', a 'kombina' state. So how do you use this word, and how can you even turn it into a verb? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Kombina, kombinot – Connections, shady business – קומבינה Kombinator – A person with a shady business; Someone who knows how to 'get by' – קומבינטור Tizaharu she-lo tekablu shi'ur be-kombina – Make sure you don't get a lesson in kombina – תיזהרו שלא תקבלו שיעור בקומבינה Ta'ase kombina – Use your contacts; Be resourceful – תעשה קומבינה Kimbanti alcohol – I got the alcohol 'somehow' – קימבנתי אלכוהול Lekamben – To get something using tricks and connections – לקמבן Lehitkamben – To sort yourself out; to sit pretty – להתקמבן "Eich hitkambanta al ha-mechonit ha-zot" – What did you have to do in order to get this car? – איך התקמבנת על המכונית הזאת Playlist and Clips: Axum – Kombina (lyrics) Tamir Kimchi & Eyal Mazig – Medinat Kombina (lyrics)

In Hebrew, צוהריים means noon, and אחר הצוהריים means afternoon. But the actual afternoon hours, the ones we Israelis think of as afternoon, may be completely different than your own. So what do we mean when we say, "call me in the afternoon"? Guy explains. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Tsohorayim – Noon – צוהריים Hu hits-hir – He declared – הוא הצהיר "Be-tsohoray ha-yom" – At noon – בצוהרי היום Aruchat tsohorayim – Lunch – ארוחת צוהריים Lifney ha-tsohorayim – Before noon – לפני הצוהריים Achar/achrei ha-tsohorayim – Afternoon – אחר/אחרי הצוהריים Chamesh achar ha-tsohorayim – Five in the afternoon – חמש אחה"צ Daber iti achar ha-tsohorayim – Talk to me in the afternoon – דבר איתי אחר הצוהריים "Arba Achar Hatsohrayim" – Four in the afternoon, Galey Tsahal Radio show – ארבע אחר הצוהריים Aẓ-ẓuhr ٱلظُّهْر – Noon prayer (Islam) – א-ט'הר Playlist and Clips: Teapacks – Od Shabbat (lyrics) Berry Sakharof & Rami Fortis – Ein Kets La-yaldoot (lyrics) Yael Levy – Tmuna Zuhr prayer in Islam (Wikipedia) Listen to the Arba Ahar Ha-tsohorayim radio show

What happens when we add the suffix -oosh to a word? And how do young people call Instagram in Hebrew? Hint: Not insta. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Hi-oosh – Hey there (slang) – היוש Guyoosh, Galitoosh, Eyaloosh – Guy, Galit, Eyal (diminutive) – גיוש, גליתוש, איילוש Havitoosh – חביתוש Havit – Barrel – חבית Bat mitsvoosh – Bat mitzvah (diminutive) – בת מצווש Keshetoosh – Keshet (girl's first name) + oosh – קשתוש Im atem mitgarshim, ani holechet im aboosh – If you guys get divorced, I am going with Daddy – אם אתה מתגרשים אני הולכת עם אבוש Aboosh – Daddy – אבא + וש, אבוש Maxim, maximoosh – Wonderful – מקסים, מקסימוש Madhim, madhimoosh – Amazing – מדהים, מדהימוש Instagram, Instoosh – אינסטוש Forever, foreveroosh; Evita, evitoosh Araboosh – Arab (derogatory term) – ערבוש Playlist and Clips: Mishpachat Ein Gvul – Hebrew gay lingo Yehudit Ravits – Ha-yalda Hachi Yafa Ba-gan (lyrics)