Kacha ze, ein ma la’asot, “This is the way it is, there’s nothing you can do about it”, is something you hear a lot in Israel. Today we learn how to use it, and other expressions using the verb la’asot, to do. Make sure you listen well! The episode is short and sweet. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Ma La’asot – What can you do? – מה לעשות Ein ma la’asot, kacha ze – This is the way it is, that’s life – אין מה לעשות, ככה זה Ein li ma la’asot im ze – I’ve got noth...
Dec 20, 2016•7 min•Ep. 152
So you just saw the coolest concert, and then your friend made you the best soup you've ever tasted. The next day you saw the most wonderful film. It's all so fantastic that you want to yell, this is f****** amazing! Sometimes you just need to tell the world. But how do you do it in Hebrew? For starters, use Guy's toolkit of 'intensifiers.' Hear the All-Hebrew Version on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Haverimot (Haverim+haverot) – Friends (m+f) – חברימות Ein dvarim ka-ele – Amazing (Lit: The...
Dec 13, 2016•7 min•Ep. 151
If someone pours milk into your tea or coffee in Hebrew, you need to know how to ask for a bit more, a tiny bit more, a pinch more, okay that’s it. Guy teaches us to use 'tipa,' a drop, and its diminutives for when you need just a tiny bit more milk, ask someone to have a little patience, or even when someone needs help parking the car. Exclusive content for Patrons Words and expressions discussed : Tipa, tipot – Drop, drops – טיפה, טיפות Tiponet – A tiny drop – טיפונת Ve-omeret ha-lvana la-anan...
Dec 06, 2016•9 min•Ep. 150
Irony, cynicism, and sarcasm are expressed in all languages, but can sometimes be difficult to learn. How do we say phrases like ‘yeah right’, ‘as if’ or ‘duh’ in Hebrew with friends? Listen to host Guy Sharett explain ways to express these linguistic styles, and even what hand expressions you need to sneer like a smart-alecky teenager. Words and expressions discussed : Kibalta matana la-chag? - Did you get a present for the holiday? - ?קיבלת מתנה לחג Mamash, bidyuk - Right, exactly - ממש, בדיוק...
Nov 29, 2016•8 min•Ep. 149
While shopping about in Israel, have you ever asked for a discount, הנחה in Hebrew? On this episode, Guy talks about navigating all kinds of shopping interactions, like bargaining your way through a sale and understanding special promotions. Don’t miss the hilarious parody of a quintessential Israeli commercial at the end of the episode. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Pirsomot – Commercials, ads – פרסומות Hanacha, hanachot – Discount, discounts – הנחה, הנחות 20...
Nov 22, 2016•7 min•Ep. 148
Today Guy talks about word eizé, “what a,” a word we frequently use in various contexts. How do we use it, and what happens when we add it to mashehu, “something,” or mishehu, “someone”? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Eizo mis’ada – What a restaurant – איזו מסעדה Eize mis’ada (coll.) / Ssssé mis’ada – What a restaurant – איזה מסעדה Eize basa – What a bummer – איזה באסה Eize ben adam – What a person – איזה בן אדם Eize fashla – What a mess-up – איזה פשלה Eize hag...
Nov 15, 2016•7 min•Ep. 147
How do you say words like download, upload, link and password? Although they may seem technical, Hebrew techie terms are crucial to know in this day and age. On this week's episode, Guy teaches the words you need to know when surfing the web. Any guesses of how to say "to google " in Hebrew? Exclusive content for Patrons Words and expressions discussed : Tikanes – Get in – תיכנס Tikanes le- – Go to – תיכנס ל Tikanes le “linkim”, ze sham – Click on “links”, it's there – תיכנס ל”לינקים”, זה שם Tak...
Nov 08, 2016•10 min•Ep. 146
Now that the holidays are behind us, you will likely get asked 'eich haya,' or 'how was it?' Whether your chagim were fabulous, same ol', or just plain rotten, host Guy Sharett gives you 10 expressions to respond with. He even describes how to use 'pach,' the literal word for trash can. Happy small talking! Exclusive content for Patrons New words & expressions: 1. Madhim – Amazing – מדהים 2. Al ha-panim – Really bad – על הפנים La-panim – Great – לפנים 3. Stam – "Nothing to write home about" ...
Oct 18, 2016•9 min•Ep. 145
Repeat the mantra: I will become a fluent Hebrew speaker. But how do we say 'become' in Hebrew? 'Nihya,' which is passive of Hebrew verb ' lihyot,' or 'to be.' TLV1's language Jedi Guy Sharett explains. Exclusive content for Patrons New words & expressions: Pitom nihya kayits – Suddenly it became summer – פתאום נהיה קיץ Nihya – It has become – נהיה Ma nihya (niya)? – What's going on? – ?מה נהיה Shu sar? (Arabic) – What's happened? – شو صار؟ Shu sar ma'ak? (Arabic) – What's happened with you?...
Oct 11, 2016•8 min•Ep. 144
'Fashla' and 'fadiha,' originally Arabic words, are used by Israelis to talk about embarrassing or awkward moments. Host Guy Sharett tells us not only how to avoid awful mess-ups, but also how to fry up the roots of these words in a sizzling Hebrew verb pan. They get juicy - want a bite? Exclusive content for Patrons New words & expressions: Efshar lishol ma ata ose kan? – May I ask what are you doing here? – ?אפשר לשאול מה אתה עושה כאן Mehake larakevet harishona – Waiting for the first trai...
Oct 04, 2016•8 min•Ep. 143
Israelis love WhatsApp groups. It's how journalists receive the latest news updates, it's how sports teams arrange lifts for upcoming matches, it's how school parents communicate about homework, and, of course, it's how friends plan their weekend get-together. So this week, host Guy Sharett explains how Israelis communicate in WhatsApp groups. We use a special brand of concise, efficient Hebrew that should be acknowledged and celebrated! Exclusive content for Patrons New words & expressions:...
Sep 14, 2016•7 min•Ep. 142
The letter "resh" (ר) is one of the most difficult ones to pronounce when you start learning Hebrew, and it can continue to plague you even when you become quite fluent. How did Israelis come to pronounce the letter "r" like this, how do we produce the sound, and is it the "resh" our forefathers had in mind? Today host Guy Sharett answers all these questions and more, with tips, tongue-twisters and a touch of socio-linguistics! Exclusive content for Patrons New words & expressions: Hamudim –...
Sep 06, 2016•9 min•Ep. 141
One of the first words Israeli children learn is "kacha" - "like this" - especially when they keep asking "lama?" - "why?" - and their parents don't have the strength to answer. You may even have been told "kacha" by your Hebrew teacher when you asked too many grammar questions. Today host Guy Sharett answers all your questions about "kacha," and gives some examples of how it pops up in Israeli slang. Exclusive Content for Patrons New words & expressions: Atsuv li she-ze kacha – I am sad it'...
Aug 30, 2016•8 min•Ep. 140
"Hu ta'an" means "he loaded" or "charged," like charging a phone. But it can also mean "he claimed" or "complained." If you want to avoid panic-inducing low battery when you're in Israel, you'd better learn how to talk about charging your phone in Hebrew. Host Guy Sharett takes us through the root - .ט.ע.נ - from which we also get baggage, loaded questions and much more. Exclusive content for Patrons New words & expressions: Rak te'anot ve-drishot – Only complaints and demands – רק טענות ודר...
Aug 23, 2016•8 min•Ep. 139
"Sha...losh, it's me, Guy, from Streetwise Hebrew." Yes, you read right. Three years ago we aired our first episode of StreetWise Hebrew on TLV1 Radio. So this week, Guy talks about "shalosh" - three - and all its related words and phrases. We cover everything from basketball, to math, beer and music, plus we even get to hear some iconic Israeli poetry. Exclusive content for Patrons New words & expressions: Shalosh arba ve… – Ready, steady, go – ...שלוש ארבע ו Shalosh arba la-avoda – Yalla, ...
Aug 16, 2016•9 min•Ep. 138
In Israel you'll come across plenty of people who get carried away, overreact to things, or go over the top. How do you deal with these people? What should you say to them in Hebrew? Host Guy Sharett explains what you should say when you're overcharged for something that should be really cheap, and what you should do with your hands when someone is saying something totally exaggerated. Exclusive Content for Patrons New words & expressions: Al tagzim/i/u! – Don't exaggerate! – !אל תגזימ/י/ו A...
Aug 09, 2016•8 min•Ep. 137
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 w...
Aug 02, 2016•8 min•Ep. 136
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 g...
Jul 26, 2016•7 min•Ep. 135
It's not always easy to be "different" - "shoné" - but host Guy Sharett 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." Exclusive Content for Patrons New words & expressions: Shoné – Different – שונה Ze shoné be-ze she…– It's different in that it…– ...זה שונה בזה ש Be-ma ata shoné mimenu? – How do you differ from him? – ?במה אתה שונה ממנו Hayit shona – You were different – היית שונה At ha...
Jul 19, 2016•9 min•Ep. 134
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...
Jul 12, 2016•8 min
In a country where everybody tells you what to do, how to do it, and when, it's only natural the word "adif" - "it's preferable" - would be a word you hear every day. Host Guy Sharett explores the "adif" family, and shows us the link between preference, priority, and pasta. Exclusive Content for Patrons New words & expressions: Adif – Preferable – עדיף Adif machar – It's better tomorrow – עדיף מחר Az adif lehisha'er – It's better to stay – אז עדיף להישאר Adif lalechet achshav – It's better t...
Jun 21, 2016•9 min•Ep. 133
"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...
Jun 14, 2016•9 min•Ep. 132
"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 ac...
Jun 07, 2016•8 min•Ep. 131
StreetWise Hebrew has just reached 700,000 downloads, and host Guy Sharett thinks this is a great reason to talk about the root of number seven in Hebrew - shin beit ayin - and get to learn its other meanings. Exclusive Content for Patrons New words & expressions: Sheva (f.), shiv'ah (m.) – Seven – שבע, שבעה Sheva banot, shiv'aa banim – Seven girls, seven boys – שבע בנות, שבעה בנים Shiv'ah – Seven days of mourning (Judaism) – שבעה Ani holech le-shiv'ah – I am going to a shiv'ah – אני הולך לש...
May 31, 2016•9 min•Ep. 130
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 taks...
May 17, 2016•7 min•Ep. 129
Today's 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? Host Guy Sharett has all the answers. Exclusive Content for Patrons New words & expressions: Mazal tov – Congratulations – מזל טוב She-yihie be-mazal (tov) – Congratulations – (שיהיה במזל (טוב Mazal tov la-yomuledet – Happy birthday – מזל טוב ליומולדת Mazal tov al ha-herayon – Congratulaions...
May 10, 2016•8 min•Ep. 128
One of the first things we learn to say in a foreign language is “how much does it cost?” But what if we’re the ones who are selling? We have to know how to “charge” as well. Guy helps us get our heads around all these money matters, including how to tell a shopkeeper that we were mistakenly charged for something. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon New Words and Expressions: Kama ze ole lanu? – How much does it cost us? – כמה זה עולה לנו Kama ze ole li ba-shura ha-tachtona? – How much does i...
May 03, 2016•7 min•Ep. 127
"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 host Guy Sharett focuses on the Hebrew word "domé" and its relatives. And what does this all have to do with virtual reality and imagination? Exclusive Content for Patrons New words & expressions: Hi lo doma le-af achat acheret - She does not resemble anyone else – היא לא דומה לאף ...
Apr 26, 2016•10 min•Ep. 126
Asking for the bill is one of the most important things to learn in any language. But "heshbon," in Hebrew, is about much more than just settling the account. On this episode, host Guy Sharett explains how Israelis do self-reflection, how they break even... and how they don't give a damn. Exclusive Content for Patrons New words & expressions: Heshbon, heshbonot (m.) – Account, bill, arithmetic – חשבון, חשבונות Heshbon bank – Bank account – חשבון בנק Heshbon hotsa'ot – Expense account – חשבון...
Apr 19, 2016•9 min•Ep. 125
Are you playing by the "klalim"? A "klal" is a rule or regulation, and it's a great Hebrew root to devour together. Host Guy Sharett takes us through all the rules, regulations, generalizations, and exceptions. Exclusive Content for Patrons New words & expressions: Klal, Klalim – Rule, regulation – כלל, כללים Klalim lechatsiyat kvish – Rules for crossing the road – כללים לחציית כביש Ve-ha-ikar, lo lefahed klal – And the main thing is not to be afraid at all – והעיקר, לא לפחד כלל Be-derkh kla...
Apr 12, 2016•10 min•Ep. 124
