What other ways are there to say ‘goodbye’ in Hebrew, apart from the ubiquitous, yalla bye? If you want to sound like an Israeli you can’t just say the right words, you also have to sing them in the right tune. Guy explains. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Lehitraot – See you, until we see each other – להתראות Shalom ve-lo lehitraot – Adieu and not goodbye – שלום ולא להתראות “Al tagid li bye” – Don’t tell me goodbye – אל תגיד לי ביי Az nedaber – We’ll talk – אז נדבר Nishtame’a/Lehitshtame’ah – We’ll hear each other (goodbye ..read more

What should we say in Hebrew when we see someone we haven’t seen for a very long time? How about someone who just got back from an extended stay abroad? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Baruch shuvcha – Welcome back (m.) – ָברוך שובך Baruch shuvech – Welcome back (f.) – ברוך שובךְ Baruch shuvcha, chaver – Welcome back, my friend – ברוך שובך, חבר “Shalom rav shuvech tsipora nechmedet” – Welcome back, cute bird – שלום רב שובך ציפורה נחמדת Baruch ha-shav, brucha ha-shava, bruchim ha-shavim, bruchot ha-shavot – Welcome back ..read more

The Hebrew word טעים, means tasty, and its root, טעמ, makes up a whole family of culinary terms that are important to know. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Ta’im lecha, ta’im lach, ta’im lachem – Is it tasty (for you)? – טעים לךָ? טעים לךְ? טעים לכם? Ta’im she-ein dvarim ka-ele – So delicious that there are no things like it – טעים שאין דברים כאלה Ta’am, pl. Te’amim – Taste, flavor, sense, reason – טעם, טעמים Al ta’am ve-al re-ach ein lehitvake’ach – There’s no right or wrong when it comes to taste – על טעם ועל ריח אין להתווכח Ani yoda’at she-yesh be-ze ..read more

The Hebrew word חיים, life, is so widely used that we just had to give it its own episode. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Chayim (pl.) – Life – חיים Ha-chayim shelcha nifl’aim – You’re life is beautiful – החיים שלך נפלאים “Tni li lageshet el chayaich” – Let me approach your life – תני לי לגשת אל חייך Be-chaye-cha – Come on, please – בחייך Be-chayecha ta’avir arutz / Bechaya’ich, ta’aviri arutz – In the name of god please change the channel – בחייך, תעביר/תעבירי ערוץ Ba-chayim – Never – בחיים Shatita? Ba-chayim al tinhag – Did you drink? Never drive ..read more

To aim, to tune, to intend, to really mean something. The Hebrew equivalent of these verbs all come from the root כ.ו.נ, a root which has many interesting uses in our spoken language. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Mi mechaven et ha-tnu’ah – Who is directing the traffic – מי מכוון את התנועה Lechaven ekdah le-ever mishehu – To aim a gun at someone – לכוון אקדח לעבר מישהו Az ani akhaven le-shmone kazé – I’ll aim to get there at eightish – אז אני אכוון לשמונה כזה Eich Lechaven gitara – How to tune a guitar – איך לכוון גיטרה Lama ata mekhaven namuch? – Why ..read more

The word כיוון means direction but it’s got many different uses in day-to-day Hebrew. In this episode, Guy talks about wind direction, career trajectory, prayer orientation and so much more. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Kivoon – Direction, bearing, orientation – כיוון “Kol kivoon she-bo halachnu” – Every direction in which we went – כל כיוון שבו הלכנו Kivoon ba-kariera – Career trajectory – כיוון בקריירה Kivoon ha-ktiva be-ivrit hu mi-yamin li-smol – The direction of writing in Hebrew is from right to left – כיוון הכתיבה בעברית הוא מימין לשמאל Kivoon ..read more

What do we say to someone really tall who is sitting in front of us in the movie theater? And how do spies communicate with each other? Guy explains the Hebrew root ח.ב.א Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Machbo’im – Hide and seek – מחבואים Mesachkim be-machbo’im – We’re playing hide and seek – משחקים במחבואים Machbo – Hideout, hiding place – מחבוא Mistor – Hiding place – מסתור Lehachbi – To hide – להחביא Lehastir – To hide – להסתיר “Tipim eich lehachbi mamtakim me-aba gargeran” – Tips on how to hide candy from a gourmand father ..read more

In Hebrew, הפגנה is a demonstration, a protest. Israelis are very diligent protesters and demonstrators. Guy explains how to use the root פגנ to its fullest. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Hafgana - Demonstration, protest - הפגנה Hafganat neged - A counter demonstration - הפגנת נגד Hafganat ha-smol - The demonstration of the left - הפגנת השמאל Hafganat ha-yamin - The demonstration of the right - הפגנת הימין Hafganat ha-haredim - The ultra orthodox demonstration - הפגנת החרדים Hafganat ha-druzim - The druze demonstration - הפגנת הדרוזים Hafganat yots’ei ..read more

What’s happened to Hebrew-speaking romantics in these days of Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter? How do they convey their feelings in 140 characters? Guy Sharett analyzes a unique song called ‘Smiley,’ whose lyrics are a collection of one-liners, sometimes just one word long, taken from real online chats between Israeli couples. And, most importantly, which Hebrew word is used by Israelis to text their ex-partners at 3am? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Er/Era – Are you up (awake)? – ער/ערה Daber/dabri iti – Talk to me – דבר/דברי איתי Hit’orart? – Did you ..read more

What Hebrew words and phrases do you need to know when looking for a new gym? How do we say fitness trainer, and what time is the best time to go to a gym? Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Hadar kosher/Machon kosher – Fitness center, gym – חדר כושר, מכון כושר Ani holech la-machon – I am going to the gym – אני הולך למכון Minui (manuy) – Subscription, membership – מנוי, מינוי Minui “1 plus 1” – 1+1 subscription – מינוי אחד פלוס אחד Kama ole minui etslechem? – How much is a membership at your gym? – כמה עולה מינוי אצלכם Minui hadar kosher – Gym membership ..read more