Streetwise Hebrew

A linguistic toolkit for well-wishers to use in almost any circumstance

Get the special course and at a special price by visiting https://tlv1.fm/happy6 The podcast recently celebrated its 6th birthday. And as part of our celebrations, Guy asked Ruben Adery to put together a special introductory online course for...

The Hebrew word פיצוץ (pitsuts) means explosion but is also used in the same fashion as the English phrase, “a blast,” meaning incredible or highly entertaining. And did you know that our neighborhood corner store is called a פיצוצייה...

"Inyan" - matter, business, thing - is a word that's had an amazing career in Hebrew. In this episode Guy explains some useful slang expressions using "inyan" and "inyanim," and then delves into the verbs derived from this four letter root.

Someone cut you in line - the chutzpah! What's the Israeli strategy to call them out?

"Keta" means "part," "section," "thing" or "gag," but it also appears in lots of really handy Hebrew slang expressions.

What does an Israeli judo champion mean when she says, האש כבתה לגמרי? In Hebrew, לכבות means to extinguish and to turn off. So please turn off all cell phones and listen as Guy explains all things כ.ב.ה.

How do you say “buzz off” or “beat it” in Hebrew? And how might it relate to paying off your mortgage? Guy explains.

Israelis need everything here and now, immediately. Preferably yesterday. That's why the Hebrew word זריז (zariz), quick or quickly, is constantly in use. This episode is a crash course (קורס מזורז) on the root ז.ר.ז.

In Hebrew, גנב (ganav) is a thief. Perhaps you already know its Yiddish pronunciation, ganef (גאַנעוו). But there are other, more exciting words that belong to the Hebrew root גנב, including several slang uses. Guy explains.