Dropped your phone? Did the screen crack? The phone needs fixing! The Hebrew word you'll need to know is tikun, from the root תקנ. Use it when something needs to be fixed. Tikunim (plural of tikun) also means corrections, amendments, alterations. Not familiar with the תקנ root and its related words? We can fix that! Listen to the All-Hebrew Ver ...…

Gather = lerakez. Center = merkaz. Concentrated = merukaz. Coordinator = merakez. All these words share a common Hebrew root: רכז. Put aside all possible distractions because today's episode is laser-focused on the root RKZ. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode Check out TLV1's WhyWhyWhy! True Stories from Israel podcast New Words a ...…

Making your Hebrew sound truly conversational is an important but tricky skill. How do you start a new topic, for instance? How do you urge someone to get to the point? What sounds do you make when you nod attentively? And how do you show shock, excitement, or enthusiasm? Today we work on all those little things you do naturally in your own lan ...…

We often hear the same errors made over and over again by those learning to speak Hebrew. Some sound worse than others. But once pointed out, they'll be easy to fix. On this episode, Guy explains some of these common mistakes — why they happen and how to correct them. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: T ...…

Did you know that “I loved her” in Hebrew can be expressed using only a single word? On this episode, Guy talks love. “Loving”, “in love”, “falling in love”, “love me, love me not”... he covers all the bases. We're pretty sure you're going to love this episode. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Ani ohev ...…

In Hebrew, צד is side. And what about its plural צדדים, sides? It's a bit of a mouthful. Today Guy explains the different sides of צד, as well as useful expressions like, “fine by me” and “there are two sides to every story.” Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Tsad, tsdadim - Side, sides - צד, צדדים Le-s ...…

In Hebrew, mefunak is spoiled (as in a spoiled kid) while lefanek is to spoil. On this episode, Guy explains how to spoil someone rotten and how to deal with spoiled brats. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Mefunaki, pinuki - Spoiled person/kid - מפונקי, פינוקי Dai, tafsik leyalel, mefunaki - Stop waili ...…

The word mag’il in Hebrew means disgusting. And even though we're keeping it clean on the podcast, the topic of disgust might not be for everyone. That said, knowing how to say eeew gross in Hebrew is critical! We think you'll be fine as long as you're not eating lunch. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: ...…

What do we say to a friend who's in bed with high fever? And to someone who got a minor scratch? And to that one person who keeps on complaining but has no right to complain? Oy misken! Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Misken Juanito - Poor Juanito - מסכן חואניטו Misken Jerry, shamat ma kara lo? - Poor ...…

In Hebrew, “Nim’as li kvar” means I just can’t take it anymore, I am so fed up. The root, mem-alef-samech, is an interesting one and can be used in all sorts of ways, like in the translated sentence, “Are you fed up with ’butterflies’?” What does that even mean?! Guy explains. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expre ...…

We talk a lot about lahats (stress, pressure) in Israel. You'll often hear, “ma ata lahuts?”, why are you stressed, and “ein lahats”, there’s no pressure, just as your stress level is hitting its all-time high. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Lahats - Pressure, stress - לחץ Ani ma-ze be-lahats ha-shav ...…

How do you say rehearsal in Hebrew? And what do the Hebrew words for tax-refund and rabbi-preacher have in common? A root, of course! Guy returns for another Streetwise Hebrew lesson. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Rehearsal - Hazara - חזרה Choir rehearsal - Hazarat mak’hela - חזרת מקהלה Hazara gener ...…

Full service or self service? Diesel or regular? When pulling up to the pump, what Hebrew words and phrases do you need in order to successfully navigate an Israeli gas station? On this episode, Guy tops off the linguistic tank. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Tahanat delek - Gas station - תחנת דלק Ot ...…

The Hamsa symbol, a hand with five fingers, is believed to bring good luck and keep away the evil eye. In Arabic, hamsa is the number five, which just happens to be the number of years we've been making our Streetwise Hebrew podcast! We celebrate this grand occasion with a special episode on all things hamesh (חמש). Pssstttt... have a listen to ...…

What do we mean when we say hu af al atsmo (הוא עף על עצמו), he flies on himself? How about oof li me-ha-einayim (עוף לי מהעיניים), fly off my eyes? On this episode, Guy explains all things la’oof, to fly. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Ani af elayich - I am flying to you - אני עף אלייך Oof, oof bete ...…

Eich (איך), Hebrew for “how”, is a tiny word used very often in spoken Hebrew and in many different contexts. On this episode, Guy explains these uses through several examples from everyday life in Israel. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Eich - How - איך Eich shir nolad - How is a song born? - איך שיר ...…

You're busy. I'm busy. We're all extremely busy these days. The Hebrew word for busy is עסוק. What would you say to your friend if you might not be able to make it to their party? Guy sets aside time from his busy schedule to explain. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Ein li zman linshom - I don’t have ...…

Why do Israelis say, “hu taka li berez” (הוא תקע לי ברז), which roughly translates to, “he jammed a faucet on me”? And how do we say in Hebrew, “I'm stuck in the middle seat again”? On this episode, Guy explains the word litko’a (לתקוע), to stick into, and delves into the nooks and crannies of hardcore Israeli slang. Language warning: things ar ...…

Simha (שמחה) in Hebrew is happiness or joy, but it can also mean a happy event. How would you say “to make someone happy” in Hebrew? Guy explains all things שמח on this extra joyful episode. Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Simha - Happiness - שמחה Eize yom sameach li hayom - What a happy day I am havi ...…

In addition to calling and texting, your smartphone is also a fancy nagan-em-pi-shalosh (נגן אם-פי-3). What's that? Well, without this capability you wouldn't be able to listen to this podcast on the move! Today's episode is all about the root נ.ג.נ, out of which Hebrew words like ניגון, מנגינה, and נגינה are constructed. Listen to the all-Hebr ...…

There are several ways to ask an Israeli taxi driver to lower the volume on the radio that won't result in nasty looks. Today, Guy discusses these sayings and other words related to radio, like the Hebrew word for podcast. Listen to the all-Hebrew version of this episode New Words and Expressions: Havita - Omlette - חביתה Aruhat boker israelit ...…

The Hebrew word for partner or flatmate is שותף, and its root ש.ת.פ is especially relevant when trying to get your social media posts to go viral. On this episode, Guy shares his linguistic expertise on all things shareable. Click Here for the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Shutaf, shutafim - Partner/s, flatmate - ...…

Most furniture from Ikea comes with assembly instructions. On this episode, Guy provides us with an instructions manual for the root רכב, which can be found in the word להרכיב, to assemble. No assembly required on this podcast! Click Here for the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Rachav - He rode - רכב Rochev - He’s ...…

Many things in life are complicated, including some people's relationship status on Facebook. How do we say “it’s complicated” in Hebrew? And what saying do we use as something gets more and more complicated? Bonus: we've included a short clip from the Hebrew version of this episode. Click Here for the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Wor ...…

How do we say “I want to improve my Hebrew” in Hebrew? How about “improvements”? And what's the connection to the popular supermarket chain Shufersal? Guy explains. Click Here for the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Leshaper mashehu - To improve something - לשפר משהו Ani rotse leshaper et ha-ivrit sheli - I want to ...…

Israel has just won the Eurovision Song Contest thanks to Netta Barzilai and her incredible song Toy. Guy walks you through parts of the song's Hebrew lyrics and reviews some of Israel's past Eurovision winners. Click Here for the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Ero-viz-yon - Eurovision - אירוויזיון Taharut zemer, ...…

What's the Hebrew language connection between the following: a book chapter, devouring an entire pizza, and the Soviet Union's breakup? Guy explains it all on today's episode. Click Here for the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode New Words and Expressions: Perek, prakim - Episode, chapter - פרק Liftoah perek hadash - To start a new chapter - לפ ...…

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. Click here for the all-Hebrew version of this episode. Words and expressions discussed: Ahi / ah sheli – My brother, dude – אחי / אח שלי Gever – Man – גבר Bendam – Human bei ...…

Imagine this… you’re riding on a bus in Tel Aviv. Next to you is someone talking on their cellphone much too loud. How should you ask them to “keep it down”? Today we’ll talk about those who talk too much and discuss the possible ways to ask them to stop, politely and impolitely. Click here for the all-Hebrew version of this episode New Words a ...…

This episode is about the root .ח.ט.פ, which is used in the Hebrew words חטף (snatch), החטיף (beat up), and חטיף (snack). Why is this root used in the word for snacks? Because they're something you can grab and eat on the go. Now grab a seat and enjoy another deliciously appetising episode of Streetwise Hebrew. Listen to the all-Hebrew version ...…

The root חב"ר is rich. It's used in the Hebrew words for “composing”, “connecting”, “joining”, “adding”, and many more. In this episode, Guy explains this root and teaches us how to say the ever-important phrase, “I can't connect to the internet.” We also learn the difference between מחברת and חוברת. Looking for the full Hebrew version of this ...…

Meser is defined as message or theme, as in the meser of a story, or the main idea behind the text. But it also relates to text messages and to tradition. Guy explains this and more on today's episode. Looking for the full Hebrew version of this episode? You'll find it on Patreon at patreon.com/streetwisehebrew New Words and Expressions: Ha-haz ...…

The words daluk, nidlak, and lehadlik are all related to turning on electric devices. However, they could also mean ‘turn on’ in the sensual sense. To complicate things further, the word letadlek, from the same root, is to ‘refuel’ as well as slang for ‘to drink alcohol.’ Perhaps this week’s show is not the most kid-friendly of episodes. Patron ...…

"Lahshov" means to think, a crucial word and root. From "One could think" to "without thinking twice" and "think about it", this episode teaches all the thought-related expressions you can, well, think of. Pro tip: "Let me think about it" is a perfect phrase to use with pushy marketing people. Looking for the full Hebrew version of this episode ...…

"Lo ichpat li" -- I don’t care -- is a very useful expression. It is used for all things caring, like: "Do you even care?" and "You don’t care about me?" It is especially useful with drama queens of all sorts. Looking for the full Hebrew version of this episode? You'll find it on Patreon at patreon.com/streetwisehebrew New words and expressions ...…

"Linhog" means to drive, but when its root nun-hey-gimmel is taken to other verb formats, it takes on new meanings that tell us how to behave, how to lead, and more. This episode is dedicated to our dear listener Naomi Wrubel who passed away last week in NY. Looking for the full Hebrew version of this episode? You'll find it on Patreon at patre ...…

Today we are covering the root shavar, which gives Hebrew its words for break, broke, broken. There are plenty of unexpected phrases to learn with this root, one of which is not for kids, so please listen to the episode without them first. Looking for the full Hebrew version of this episode? You'll find it on Patreon at patreon.com/streetwisehe ...…

How do you say Thai food in Hebrew? How about “I don’t eat coriander?” This episode is a feast of tasty eating-related words and phrases. Looking for the full Hebrew version of this episode? You'll find it on Patreon at patreon.com/streetwisehebrew New words and expressions: Ochel - Food - אוכל Ochel, kadima, ochel - Food, let’s go for it, food ...…

We suddenly felt we don’t speak enough about food on our podcast. We learned ‘ta’im’ -- tasty -- but its root, tet-ayin-mem, makes up a whole family of culinary terms aching to be used. Looking for the full Hebrew version of this episode? You'll find it on Patreon. New words and expressions: Ta'im lecha, ta'im lach, ta'im lachem – Is it tasty ( ...…

To mark the 200th episode of Streetwise Hebrew, learn to say matayim, two hundred in Hebrew, and to talk about this special suffix for pairs, ‘ayim’. Looking for the full Hebrew version of this episode? You'll find it on Patreon. New words and expressions: Perek matayim - Episode number 200 - פרק 200 Me’a, meot - Hundred, century/centuries - מא ...…

Halom is a dream in Hebrew, plural, Halomot. There’s lots of songs about halomot. But how is it related to Guy’s grandpa? Looking for the full Hebrew version of this episode? You'll find it on Patreon. New words and expressions: Halom, halomot - Dream - חלום Halomot be-aspamya - Unrealistic dreams - חלומות באספמיה He-hayit o halamti halom - Did ...…

The Tel Aviv municipality launched a new campaign to encourage people to pick up after their dogs. ‘Tarimu’ means ‘pick up’, imperative, plural. But it has another meaning in the Tel Avivi gay lingo. What does it mean? Looking for the full Hebrew version of this episode? You'll find it on Patreon. New words and expressions: Merimim et ha-yadayi ...…

The root חל”ק has so many meanings. It has to do with separation, borders and partitions, so you can imagine how popular it is here in the Middle East. But it has more meanings, for example at the hair stylist, in a stadium or even on a banana peel. Looking for the full Hebrew version of this episode? You'll find it on Patreon. New words and ex ...…

Almost everybody knows the word chutzpah, audacity, brash behaviour. When is it positive and when is it negative? And what’s hutzpah israelit? Looking for the full Hebrew version of this episode? You'll find it on Patreon. New words and expressions: Hatichat hatsuf - You cheeky bastard - חתיכת חצוף Limhok - to erase - למחוק Titbayesh lecha - Sh ...…

English has ‘like’ and ‘kinda’. What do Hebrew speakers use as fillers? And what did we borrow from Arabic? Guy explains. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Em - Umm - אֶם Achshav ani margish - Now I feel - עכשיו אני מרגיש Ke’ilu lo yode’a klum - As if I know nothing - כאילו לא יודע כלום Ke’ilu ( ...…

Today, um, Guy talks, um, about fillers like ‘Eh’ in Hebrew and about other things we say when we try to think and talk at the same time. Learn why this is important, especially for people who want to improve their Hebrew. New words and expressions: Eh - Um - אֶה Ve… - And - ו… Ve-tagidi - And tell me (f.)… - ותגידי Ve-tagid li - And tell me (m ...…

We were all kids once, and at least in Israel, during the summer holiday, we used to tell our parents, mesha’amem li, I am bored. Answers varied, as you can imagine, but let’s talk for a sec about boredom-bored-boring in Hebrew. Words and expressions discussed: Mesha'amem - Boring - משעמם Mesha'mem li - I am bored - משעמם לי Mesha’amem la’allah ...…

How do you say ‘about 30 people’ in Hebrew? How about ‘around the 7th or the 8th’? He’s about 50-60 year old? Today Guy talks about "around", "about", "8-ish" and more. Words and expressions discussed: Haya od or, hamesh be’erech – It was still light, it was about five – היה עוד אור, חמש בערך Erech, arachim – Value, values – ערך Be’erech assara ...…

Gay marriage is new to the world, and Hebrew, a gender-based language, has to face the music and find new ways to talk about it. On this episode, Guy talks about an email from a married gay listener. Looking for the Hebrew versions of our episodes or other Patron-only content? Head over to Patreon, become a patron, and receive access to many mo ...…