Streetwise Hebrew

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.

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New Words and Expressions:

Rikuz - Concentration - ריכוז

Yesh yetsirot retsinioyt she-mevakshot rikuz male be-ozniyot - There are serious works (of music), that demand full concentration, with earphones - יש יצירות רציניות שמבקשות ריכוז מלא באוזניות

Ehad mi-kol asara yeladim sovel me-hafra’at keshev ve-rikuz - One in every 10 children suffers from ADD Attention deficit disorder - אחד מכל עשרה ילדים סובל מהפרעת קשב וריכוז

Mahane rikuz - A concentration camp - מחנה ריכוז

Lerakez - To gather, to assemble - לרכז

Merakez - He gathers / Coordinator - מרכז

Rakaz - Coordinator - רכז

Merkaz - Center - מרכז

Merukaz - Concentrated - מרוכז

Ani be-emtsa mashehu, ani lo merukaz - I am in the middle of something, I cannot focus right now - אני באמצע משהו, אני לא מרוכז

Amart she-ani tamid merukaz be-atsmi - You said that I am always concentrated on myself (self-centered) - אמרת שאני תמיד מרוכז בעצמי

Gel super merukaz - Super concentrated laundry gel - ג’ל סופר מרוכז

Lehitrakez be-mashehu - To concentrate on something - תתרכז במשהו

Titrakez “retsach” - Try hard to concentrate - תתרכז רצח

Titrakzi (f.), titrakzu (pl.) - Concentrate! - תתרכזי, תתרכזו

Ani rotse she-ha-shavu’a nitrakez be-ze - This week I’d like us to focus on this - אני רוצה שהשבוע נתרכז בזה

Lehitmaked - To focus - להתמקד

Moked sherut lakochot - Customer service center - מוקד שירות לקוחות

Merkazi - Central - מרכזי

Ha-tahana ha-merkazit - The central bus station - התחנה המרכזית

Playlist and Clips:

Mati Caspi - Shirim be-mitz agvaniyot (lyrics)

Hafra’at keshev ve-rikuz - ADD - TV1

Machane rikuz - Concentration Camp

Nadav Guedj - Ulai Nedaber (lyrics on YouTube)

Jel Merukaz - Concentrated gel commercial

Anahnu ba-mapa - Titrakez, concentrate, imperative, masculine

Zaguri Imperia - Titrakzi, concentrate, imperative, feminine

Nestea - Titrakzu, concentrate, imperative, plural

Ha-tahana ha-merkazit - The Central Bus Station (Kan TV)

Lahakat Ha-nachal - Sarit Ha-saparit (lyrics)

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