Streetwise Hebrew

People say that Israelis can sometimes be rude when speaking. Or are we simply too direct? Contrary to popular belief, we do have ways to be courteous in modern Hebrew. Want to know how? Bevakasha! Check Out the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Bevakasha – Please, here you are – בבקשה Ani rotse cappuccino – I want (I'd like) cappuccino – אני רוצה קפוצ'ינו "Hayiti rotsa cappuccino" – I would like / I would have liked cappuccino – הייתי רוצה קפוצ'ינו "Aval tov, ah?" – "But good, eh?" – ?אבל טוב, אה Be-sheket – Quietly – בשקט Bimhirut – Quickly – במהירות "Vakasha, shalom" – Thank you, goodbye – בבקשה, שלום "Nu vaksha" – Come on, pleaaaaase! – נו, בקשה Sheket bevakasha – Quiet, please – שקט בבקשה Lehikanes (be)vakasha – Come inside please – להיכנס בבקשה Ani mevakesh/mevakeshet – Could I have X – אני מבקש/מבקשת Ani mevakesh lo laamod kan – Please, don't stand here – אני מבקש לא לעמוד כאן Efshar levakesh mapit? – Could I please have a napkin? – ?אפשר לבקש מפית Playlist and Clips: Hana Laszlo & Eyal Geffen – Bevakasha Zo Lo Mila Kasha (lyrics) Lahakat Pikud Ha-tsafon – Sheket Bevakasha

What Hebrew language teachings can we pick up from the documentary TV series "Mishpachot," by the Heymann Brothers? The series is composed of five Israeli families who utilize many different layers of the language. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Mishpacha, mishpachot – Family, families – משפחה, משפחות "Ani ha-gever shelach" – I am your man – אני הגבר שלך "Ata ha-gever sheli, aval ata gam ha-yeled sheli" – You are my man, but you're also my son – אתה הגבר שלי, אבל אתה גם הילד שלי Playlist and Clips: Mishpachot ep. 6 trailer

Today, I'll give you a few tips: how to improve your accent and pronunciation in Hebrew. There are many things you can do on your own, at home. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: "Ma ata omer?" – What do you say? – מה אתה אומר "Ata omer li dvarim" – You are telling me things – אתה אומר לי דברים Playlist and Clips: My Fair Lady My Fair Lady – Hebrew version Kol Israel – Yehudit Ben Yaakov 88FM (Kan) – Kan, Sham uv-khol makom Israeli Radio in foreign languages Daniela Spektor – Ha-kochav Ha-ze Met (lyrics) Songs in StreetwiseHebrew.com

The word סחבק comes from Arabic and means "your friend." So what's its meaning when used in Hebrew? And what's סחבקייה? Oh, and there's even a verb, להסתחבק. Guy explains. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: "Sahbak qal li" – Your friend told me (Ar.) – صاحبك قالي – סחבק קאל לי "Ve'az sahbak ro'eh she-hamatsav lo tov" – And then yours truly sees that things are not going well". – ואז סחבק רואה שהמצב לא טוב Ha-sahbakiyoot ha-israelit – The notion of the lack of protocol, and genuine friendliness in Israel – הסחבקיות הישראלית Fraier – Sucker – פראייר "Sahbak lo fraier" – I am not a fraier – סחבק לא פראייר Hibook sahbaki – A hearty hug – חיבוק סחבקי Sahbakiya – Army slang for lack of distance – סחבקייה "Patachnu po sahbakiya?" – We're not friends hanging out together – פתחנו פה סחבקייה I am not your sahbak – I am not your mate – אני לא סחבק שלך Lehistahbek – To be chummy with someone – להסתחבק "Nisiti lehistahbek im ha-shoter, aval ze lo halach li" – I tried to be chummy with the policeman, but it didn't work out – ניסיתי להסתחבק עם השוטר אבל זה לא הלך לי "Ehud Barak lo sahbak, manhig" – Ehud Barak is not a dude, he's a leader – אהוד ברק לא סחבק, מנהיג Lashevet, lakoom – To sit, to stand up – לשבת, לקום "Dai im ha-nimnoom, sahbak lo rotse lihyot radoom" – Enough with the numbness, sahbak does not want to be numb – די עם הנמנום, סחבק לא רוצה להיות רדום Playlist and Clips: Hassan El Asmar – Sahbak Qal Li Tachles – Shuvo shel ha-sahbak (lyrics) Sahbak lo fraier Shabak Samech – Lashevet: Lakoom! (lyrics) Ep. no. 67 about Fraier, sucker HEB

In Hebrew, the default form is the masculine form. But what happens when a navigation application speaks to women as if they were guys? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Maslul – Route – מסלול Ya'ad – Destination – יעד Pni – Turn (Imp., fem.) – פני Pneh – Turn (Imp., m.) – פנה Hayim, hayot – Live (present tense, pl. m, pl. f.) – חיים וחיות Anachnu hayavot ve-hayavim – We must (f.) and must (m.) – אנחנו חייבות וחייבים Anachnu lo yecholot ve-yecholim – We cannot (f.) and cannot (m.) – אנחנו לא יכולות ויכולים Hakesh – Dial (Imp., m.) – הקש Na lehakish – Please dial (Inf.) – נא להקיש Playlist and Clips: MK Merav Michaeli inauguration speech Rita – Ani chaya li mi-yom le-yom (lyrics)

The word כבר, meaning "already," has so many functions in modern Hebrew that we decided to dedicate an entire episode to it. Check Out the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Kvar acharey chatzot – It's already past midnight – כבר אחרי חצות Nu, dai kvar – Come on, enough already – נו, די כבר Achalta kvar – Have you already eaten? – אכלת כבר Ani kvar ba – I will come soon – אני כבר בא Wow, chatzot kvar – Wow, it's already midnight – וואו, חצות כבר Ne'emar kvar ha-kol – Everything has already been said – נאמר כבר הכל Ha-kol kvar ne'emer – Everything has already been said – הכל כבר נאמר Achaltem kvar / kvar achaltem? – Have you already eaten? – אכלתם כבר / כבר אכלתם "Geshem, red kvar geshem" – Rain, come down already – גשם, רד כבר גשם Dai kvar – Enough already! – די כבר Yalla, Bo kvar! – Come already! – יאללה, בוא כבר Ata ba? Kvar, kvar. – Are you coming? In a sec. – אתה בא? כבר, כבר Kvar ba'im – We're coming in a sec. – כבר באים Ani kvar hozer elecha – I'll get back to you shortly – אני כבר חוזר אליך Anachnu kvar ochlim – We'll start eating soon – אנחנו כבר אוכלים Anachnu kvar ochlim – We're already eating (why are you late?) – אנחנו כבר אוכלים Ani Kvar Ba – I am coming in a minute – אני כבר בא "Adon Kimat and Gveret Kvar" – Mr. almost and Mrs. Already – אדון כמעט וגברת כבר Playlist and Clips: Ilanit – Kvar Aharei Hatsot (lyrics) Ha-haverim shel Natasha – Ne'emar Kvar Ha-kol (lyrics) Meir Banai – Geshem (lyrics) Kaveret – Shir Ha-makolet (lyrics) Yehudit Ravits – Balada al Adon Kim'at Ve-gveret Kvar (lyrics)

Polish mother or Jewish mother? What does Ima Polanyia mean in contemporary Hebrew? Listen to the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Ima Polanyia - Polish Mother - אמא פולנייה Polania ze kan - Poland is here - פולניה זה כאן Lo, al takum, be'emet shelo tsarich – No, don't get up, there's really no need - לא, אל תקום, באמת שלא צריך Polaniyut - "Polishness" - פולניות Tafsik lihyot polani - Stop being polish - תפסיק להיות פולני Playlist and Clips: Facebook page of Gveret Dubrovski Facebook page of Polania Ze Kan Dudu Fisher - A Yiddishe Mame (lyrics)

Tihye bari means "be well". When do we use it, and what are the other ways to sign off a message in Hebrew? Click here for the all-Hebrew version of this episode New Words and Expressions: Tihye bari (m.)/Tihyi bri'a (f.)/Tihyu bri'im (pl.) - All the best, be well ("Be healthy") - תהיה בריא Ve-she-tamid tihye bari - May you always be healthy - ושתמיד תהיה בריא Tihye li bari - I oppose to what you're doing, but good luck nevertheless - תהיה לי בריא Bai - Bye - ביי Yalla bai - Ok, bye now - יאללה ביי Lehitra'ot - See you, goodbye - להתראות Nihye be-kesher - Let's be in touch - נהיה בקשר Nedaber - We'll talk - נדבר Az nitra'e - So we'll see each other - אז נתראה Bai beintayim - Bye for the time being - ביי בינתיים Chao - Ciao - צ'או Neshikot - Kisses - נשיקות Tov (Tooooov) - Good - טוב Az yalla - Good, ok then - אז יאללה Playlist and Clips: Shalom Hanoch - Ba-Gilgul Haze (lyrics) Lilit Nagar & Robert Hellens - Tihye Bari

How do you say 'dude' in Hebrew? You'll hear 'achi' ('brother') on the street all the time, but in which contexts should you use it? Can women say it? Guy Sharett explains. Words and expressions discussed: Ahi / ah sheli – My brother, dude – אחי / אח שלי Gever – Man – גבר Bendam – Human being – בנאדם Haver – friend – חבר Ahi, ma kore? – What's happening, dude? – אחי, מה קורה? Ma nishma, benadam? – How are you, man? – מה נשמע, בנאדם? Haverim, ha-shulchan shelachem muchan – Friends, your table is ready – חברים, השולחן שלכם מוכן Haver, ata haser – Friend, you are missed – חבר, אתה חסר Hevré – Guys – חבר'ה Ani im ha-hevré sheli ha-erev – I am with my guys tonight – אני עם החבר'ה שלי הערב Hashvu az ha-hevré – The guys thought – חשבו אז החבר'ה Ahoti – My sister – אחותי "Sister" – Sister – סיסטר Tagid, tagidi – Tell, say (imp.) – תגיד, תגידי Playlist and Clips: Yitzhak Rabin's funeral Nov. 1995 (TV1) Ha-dag Nachash – Shirat Hasticker (lyrics) Arik Einstein – Dudu (lyrics) Miri Masika – Hey, Achoti (lyrics)