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 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. Looking for the Hebrew version? Find it on www.patreon.com/streetwisehebrew Words and Expressions: Zayin – D ...…

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 ...…

Guy's recent Skype chat with Patrons covered, among other things, California's wildfires and Hebrew podcasts produced by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation. Want to join our Skype chat next month? Visit tlv1.fm/swh and become a patron.

The word ‘shavé’ means ‘equal,’ but in slang it also means ‘worth it’, and sometimes ‘cool,’ ‘amazing,’ or ‘good looking.’ How do we ask, ‘Is it worth it?’ in Hebrew, and why is there a bleep censor in this episode? Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Shavé, shava, shavim, shavot – Equal – שוֶוה, ...…

You’ll hear it all the time — when you’re handed a music show ticket, getting the menu, or receiving your shopping bag from the cashier: ‘tehenu’ means ‘enjoy.’ Today Guy explains how to use this word and teaches us more words from the same root. Bonus: this root exists also in Arabic, so we can learn some greetings to use with Arabic speakers ...…

Aharei ha-hagim, “after the holidays” is almost here. That’s a good enough reason to talk about the root alef-het-resh, which means after, late, and tardiness. Plus a tip: how do you make sure your Israeli friends will make it on time to your event? Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Acharei ha-h ...…

‘Ashkara’ could mean ‘totally’ or ‘literally’ in American slang. Let’s work on examples that will teach you how to use this word in modern Hebrew slang, plus a bonus: a clip from an Afghani talk show! Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Ze ashkara lehikanes halak im mafteach – It’s literally getti ...…

המילה "אשכרה" היא מילה חשובה בסלנג הישראלי העכשווי. איך משתמשים בה? ואיך כל זה קשור לתכנית בידור בטלוויזיה האפגנית? Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Ze ashkara lehikanes halak im mafteach – It’s literally getting in smoothly with a key – זה אשכרה להיכנס חלק עם מפתח Ani ashkara matsati et atsmi ...…

עכשיו החגים, אז כולם בנסיעות, או שממש חזרו מנסיעה, או שהם לקראת נסיעה. בואו נדבר על השורש הזה, נ.ס.ע, נלמד כמה ביטויים חדשים, ונשמע כמה הודעות ממטוסים ורכבות בעברית. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Shneynu nos’im ba-mchonit – We’re both driving in the car – שנינו נוסעים במכונית Le’an nos’im? – ...…

Everybody is going somewhere for the high holidays here in Israel! This is a good opportunity to talk about trips, passengers, driving, and other key Hebrew words. Bonus: How do you help someone park in a tight parking spot? Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Shneynu nos’im ba-mchonit – We’re bot ...…

לפעמים אנחנו נתקלים באנשים או בדברים שהם טיפה מוזרים, לא נורמליים. מה אנחנו אומרים עליהם? ברוב המילים אפשר להשתמש גם ברצינות, אבל גם בצחוק, עם חברים, אז שימו לב. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Muzar, meshune – Strange, weird – מוזר, משונה Olam muzar – Strange world – עולם מוזר Meitar karua – ...…

Life in Israel is always exciting! Often we meet weird people and encounter strange situations. How do we talk about these things? What do we tell our best friends after stepping out from the wierdest meeting ever? Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Muzar, meshune – Strange, weird – מוזר, משונה O ...…

הפועל 'לבוא' הוא פועל חשוב בעברית. כולנו הולכים ובאים לאנשהו כל הזמן. מה קורה כשמוסיפים לו פועל, כמו "בוא נגיד", ומה קורה כשמישהו פשוט אומר לכם "בואי!"? בונוס: איך אפשר לענות למישהו שעושה לכם הסגברה (mansplaining)? Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Lavo – To come – לבוא Bo, bo’i, bo’u – Come (im ...…

The verb ‘lavo,’ meaning ‘to come,’ is an important verb in Hebrew. This week, Guy teaches a few handy expressions with it. How do we say, “let’s say…” or, “you’re getting carried away”? Bonus: What do you say to someone who is mansplaining to you? Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Lavo – To com ...…

מה אנשים אומרים כשהם צריכים ללכת לשנייה לשירותים? ולמה אנשים כותבים "פיפי" כתגובה למשהו נורא מצחיק שהם רואים באינטרנט? בואו נלמד. הפרק לא מתאים למאזינים שיש להם בעיה עם הנושא. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Pipi – pee – פיפי Sheten – Urine – שתן Bdikat sheten – Urine test – בדיקת שתן Shniya, ...…

Fair warning: this episode is not for everybody. We’re talking about body fluids, especially ‘number 1’ in the bathroom. Hey, it’s important to know how to ask for a urine test, how to say ‘to hold it,’ and to say politely that you have an urgent need. If you’re uncomfortable hearing about bodily fluids and their organs, then feel free to skip ...…

ישראלים, כמו כולם, אוהבים להתלונן. "סיוט" הוא חלום רע, אבל אפשר גם להשתמש בו כדי לתאר תור נוראי בסניף הדואר המקומי. באילו עוד מילים אפשר להשתמש? בואו להתלונן איתנו. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Lehitlonen – To complain – להתלונן Hu mitlonen al mashehu/mishehu – He complains about something/ ...…

Sometimes one needs to whine ('lekater') and to go over the top. Israelis love to complain and use words like inferno, hell, nightmare, torture, and other flowery terms to describe another horrible queue at the bank. Let’s add some phrases to our Streetwise Hebrew complaint toolkit with today's episode. Looking to support the show? Learn how on ...…

‘Haver,’ the Hebrew word for ‘friend,’ has had quite an amazing comeback to modern Israeli lingo. How do we use it in this day and age and how do we differentiate between a platonic friend and a serious partner? Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Shalom haver – Goodbye friend – שלום חבר Heye li h ...…

בישראל הסוציאליסטית של שנות ה-50 "חבר" הייתה מילה חשובה. כשהפכנו לקפיטליסטים היא נשארה מאחור. בשנים האחרונות היא חזרה אלינו, והמלצר בבית קפה תל אביבי יקרא לכם "חברים, השולחן שלכם מוכן". קאמבק. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Shalom haver – Goodbye friend – שלום חבר Heye li haver – Be a friend ...…

Do you know how to say ‘a good catch’ in Hebrew? How about ‘virtual reality’? And ‘sense of direction’? This episode is all about the nuances of an interesting word for all these contexts. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Ani holech lesham ve-lo motse – I am going there, and I don’t find – אני ...…

StreetWise Hebrew gets scientific: host Guy Sharett is conducting an experiment with brand new podcasts. Meant for listeners who want to develop their advanced language skills, these episodes are entirely in Hebrew. Have a listen and let us know what you think. Should we keep it going? Let us know. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patr ...…

Four years ago, we aired our first show, and this month, in August 2017, we are celebrating more than 1.4 million downloads. So for our fourth birthday, let’s learn the word ‘arba,’ which means ‘four’ in Hebrew, and its root. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Arba lifnot boker lo nirdemet – 4 am ...…

So you went to buy clothes in a Tel Avivi shop. The next thing you know, the customer next to you, while trying on a dress, says that you shouldn’t wear red. Ever. Let’s talk about what just happened here and learn some phrases in clothes shopping lingo. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Lakacht ...…

It's so hot in Tel Aviv, you cannot believe it. Ham! But if you want to say, "I am hot", don't translate directly from English to Hebrew. Listen to this episode first. Without your kids. You'll understand in a minute. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Ham – Hot, angry, horny – חם Haya ham – It w ...…

A teenager in central Tel Aviv said something to his friend on the phone that made Guy think: How do we say 'whiner' and 'to whine' in Hebrew? Today's episode is about the word 'bachyan' and its variations. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Hu bacha – He cried – הוא בכה Livkot – To cry – לבכות B ...…

How do you tell someone not to do something in Hebrew? Use ‘al’ (that’s A-L), which means ‘don’t.’ On this episode, Guy explains how to use this little word, and how to say ‘just don’t.’ Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words and expressions discussed: Al tid’agu li – Don’t worry about me – אל תדאגו לי Rak al tagid li – Just d ...…

'Nehmad' means 'nice' or 'lovely', but often 'nice' is just not enough for what we want to say. How do we give it a boost to emphasize what we really mean? We can also say 'nehmad,' but in fact mean the opposite! And what do we say about a waiter who is 'too nice'? Guy gives us the nuances of 'nehmad' in this week's episode. Looking to support ...…

‘Hamud,’ which means ‘cute’ or ‘sweet,’ could be used in several ways, depending on the context and intonation. But just like in English, calling someone ‘sweetie’ in Hebrew isn’t always a good thing! Listen to Guy explain how ‘hamud’ can be either endearing or angry on today’s episode. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Words a ...…

The word 'lidfok' in Hebrew is to knock or hit. As you might imagine, it means some more explicit things too. In this episode, Guy explains why words like 'dafuk' and 'dfika' are difficult to use but important to understand. And how some words just shouldn't be used at all. Warning: This episode is not child friendly! Looking to support the sho ...…