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BE’ROSH TOV LESHANA TOVA...
Boost your every-day Hebrew with the sort of Lingo you hear Israelis use all the time!
10 USEFUL IDIOMS & SAYINGS BASED ON THE WORDS:
• ‫הכֹּל דְּבַשׁ‬
ַ HaKol Dvash
(Lit. it's all honey). Everything's great.
• ‫( לֹא ל ִיקֵּק דְּבַשׁ‬Fem: Likeka - ‫)לִי ְקּקָה‬
Lo Likek Dvash
(Lit. He didn’t lick honey). Having a hard time,
things aren’t as easy as people might think.
‘SheLo Tachshevi, Bichlal Lo Likaknu Dvash
K’She’Heghanu La’Aretz’ (‘Don’t think it was all
easy when we came to Israel’).
• ‫יוֹם עַסַל יוֹם בַּסַל‬
Yom Asal, Yom Bassal
(Lit. one day honey, one day onion). Arabic
expression meaning one day things are good,
one day not, i.e. that’s life: ups and downs
• ‫העֵץ‬
ָ ‫מ‬
ֵ ‫ח לֹא נָפַל רָחוֹק‬
ַ ‫התַּפּוּ‬
ַ ‘”Lo Ha’yiti Batu’ach Im Baget Echad Yaspik Az
HaTapu'ach Lo Nafal Rachok
MeHa'etz
The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
© Joel Yaron Publishing 2011. All rights reserved.
‘HONEY’, ‘APPLE’, ‘SWEET’, ‘GOOD’, & ‘YEAR’
• ‫ בָּא ל ִי טוֹב‬Ba Li Tov
(Lit. It came good for me). Something that
happened and fitted the mood you were in at the
time. ‘Ba Li Tov HaPerek HaZe Shel Chaverim
– Lo Haya Li Ko’ach LeKlum’ (That episode of
Friends came on just in time – I didn’t have the
energy for anything).
• ‫פּעֲמַי ִים כּ ִי טוֹב‬
ַ Facebook for four years now…)!
Pa'amayim Ki Tov
(Lit. twice as good). A widely used expression,
originally associated with Tuesdays, and deriving
from Genesis 1, where on each day of the creation
the texts states ‘Ki Tov’, but on Tuesday it is stated
twice (This is also why there’s a tradition of getting
married on Tuesdays - being twice as good…!).
You can use it for any situation that might apply.
Heveti Shnayim” - “Metzuyan, Pa’amayim Ki Tov”’.
(“I wasn’t sure if one baguette would be enough,
so I brought two” - “Excellent, it’s twice as good...”)
• ‫אל ִיּ ָהוּ‬
ֵ ‫בּוֹקֶר טוֹב‬ • ‫( )בְּ(רֹאשׁ טוֹב‬Be)Rosh Tov
Boker Tov Eliyahu 1. Expressing an appreciation of someone’s
Suppose somebody comes to you now and abilities (e.g. that they are capable, quick thinkers,
says: “I just discovered this amazing website, open, reasonable, and generally fun to be with).
you must check it out, it’s called Facebook…” - ‘Darush Student Ba’al Rosh Tov’ (A capable, fun
You can say back: ‘Boker Tov Eliyahu! Kvar Arba student is needed).
Shanim SheKol Ha’Olam BeFacebook…’ (Good - ‘Mechapes Chevre BeRosh Tov LeTiyul Sof-
morning Eliyahu! The whole world has been using Shavu’a’ (Looking for smart, fun people to join me
on a weekend hike).
2. Being in a great mood, feeling high (not
• ‫מעַז יָצָא מָתוֹק‬
ֵ necessarily from alcohol or drugs).
Me'Az Yatsa Matok - ‘Ani Lo Mastul, Ani BeRosh Tov’ (I’m not drunk or
(Lit. from something strong tasting, something high, I’m just feeling good).
sweet came out). A dire situation that turned out - ‘Tafasti Rosh Tov Al HaBar’ (I got a ‘Rosh Tov’
for the best, a blessing in disguise at the bar – from a famous song of Shalom
Chanoch).
• ‫תּרְפָּפּ"וּ‬
ָ ‫שּׁנ ַת‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ִ
MiShnat Tarpapu
(Lit. From the year Tarpapu, 5686/1926). Ancient,
outdated. ‘Hi Melamedet BeShitot MiShnat
Tarpapu’ (She teaches with methods from the 20’s).
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7 WAYS TO TELL SOMEONE HOW GREAT THEY ARE
(Using Hebrew slang)
‫שׁפִּיץ‬ ָ ‫ • יָצָא‬Yatsata Shpitz
ְ ‫ת‬
(Fem. Yatzat Shpitzit - ‫שׁפִּיצ ִית‬
ְ ‫)יָצ ָאת‬
Shpitz literally means the pointy bit at the
end of something (e.g. a pencil). In slang it
describes someone who knows their stuff.
!‫ • אֵיז ֶה תּוֹתָח‬Eize Totach!
(Fem. Eize Totachit - ‫תחִית‬
ָ ‫)אֵיז ֶה תּוֹ‬
‘Totach’ literally means a ‘cannon’, In slang
it describes someone who is excellent at
something, at the top of his profession, or
very important.
ַ • Patish Avir
‫פּטִישׁ אֲוו ִיר‬
Literally means ‘Air-Hammer’, but in slang
it’s a funny way to describe or complement
someone.
ַ • Ata Gadol!
!‫אתָּה גּ ָדוֹל‬
(Fem: At Gdola - ‫) ַא ְתּ גּ ְדוֹל ָה‬
You're great! Normally used after someone
did something really nice for you, overcame
something, or surprised you.
© Joel Yaron Publishing 2011. All rights reserved.
ֶ ‫ • אֵיז ֶה‬Eize Melech
!ְ‫מלֶך‬
(Fem. Eizo Malka - ‫)אֵיז ֶה ַמלְכּ ָה‬
'What a king!' – a great compliment. Funnily
enough, it is often used to thank someone
who did something nice for you - e.g. you
visit a friend and he brings out all kinds of
great snacks and drinks, so you say to him:
‘Eize Melech!’... when in fact he treated
YOU like a king...!
!ָ‫ • אֵין עָל ֶיך‬Ein Alecha!
(Fem. Ein Alayich - ְ‫)אֵין עָל ַיִך‬
(Lit. no one's on you). A popular way of
telling someone that they're the best,
that no else matches them.
‫תּ אוֹתָהּ‬ ַ ‫ • שִׂי‬Sichakta Ota
ָ ְ‫חק‬
(Fem. Sichakt Ota - ‫תּ אוֹתָהּ‬ ַ ‫)שִׂי‬
ְ ‫ח ְק‬
(Lit. you played it). Well done, good for you.
'Kol HaKavod, Sichakta Ota, Achi'
There should be a dagesh in the 'Pe' so it's Lachpor, but in slang people pronounce Lachfor *
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW!
Hot slang that you won't learn in
your Ulpan....
(‫חפְרָנ ִית‬
ֲ ) ‫פרָנ ִי‬
ְ ‫ח‬
ֲ ,‫חפִירָה‬
ֲ ,‫פרָן‬
ְ ‫ח‬
ֲ ,*‫לַחְפוֹר‬
LaChfor, Chafran, Chafira, Chafrani
[Lit. ‘to dig’, a ‘digger’, a ‘dig’, ‘digging’ (here: in the
brain)]. Possibly the most significant addition to
Hebrew slang in the last 2-3 years. A classic example
of how an existing shoresh can get a new meaning,
and originate new words that follow grammatical
rules, although it’s 100% street-made. So, we’ve got:
Lachfor (chafar, chofer, yachfor)
To ramble on / go into too many details / ask too
many questions / repeat the same stuff again and
again, basically – talking that ‘digs’ in people’s brains.
‘Nu, Tafsiku Lachfor, Nim’as Kvar Im HaVikuchim
Shelachem’ (Come’on stop ‘digging’ – enough already
with your arguments)
Chafran – a person who ‘digs’; a professional
digger. ‘Wai, Eize Chafran, Kama Pe’amim Ata Yachol
Lachzor Al Oto Davar? (OMG, what a ‘digger’, how
many times can you tell me (repeat) the same thing?)
Chafira – A dig. ‘Ha’artza’ah HaZot Haita Chafira
Retzinit, Bekoshi Hetzlachti LeHachzik Ta’Eynayim’
(That lecture was a serious ‘dig’ – I barely managed to
keep my eyes open)
Chafrani – the adjective – ‘HaHesber Po Chafrani
La’Alla – Hevanu Kvar’ (The explanation here is
totally ‘digging’ – we got the point already..)
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PAGE 2
ֶ ְ‫ חַי בּ‬Chai BeSeret (Fem. chaya - ‫)חַיּ ָה‬
‫סרֶט‬
(Lit. living in a movie). To live in a fantasy, in a world
of your own, being disconnected with reality. ‘Achi,
Ata Chai BeSeret Im Ata Choshev She’Hi Tetze Itcha’
(Man, you’re ‘living in a movie’ if you think she’s
gonna go out with you).
‫סּרֶט‬
ֶ ‫ה‬
ַ ‫מ‬
ֵ ‫( צֵא‬Fem. Tz’i - ‫)צְאִי‬
Tze MeHaseret
(Lit. come out of the movie). To face reality, to start
seeing things as they really are.
'Tz'i Kvar Me’HaSeret Shelach, ‘I-Efshar LeHamshich
Kacha Yoter’ (Come out of your movie, it’s impossible
to carry on like that).
‫ הָזוּי‬Hazui
(Lit. trippy, sureal). Something weird, not realistic,
unbelieveable. ‘Ani Lo Yode’a Im Ze Nachon, Ze
Nishma Li Hazui Legamrei’ (I don’t know if it’s true, it
sounds totally surreal to me).
ַ ְ‫ בַּק‬BaKtana
‫טנּ ָה‬
(Lit. in a small one). In a small dose; Without any
effort; Not a big deal. ‘Ani Esmach LeNashnesh
Mashe’u Kacha Baktana’ (I’d be happy to snack on
something, y’know – baktana – in a small dose…)
Or if you do a favour to somebody and they thank
you, you can say ‘Shtuyot, BaKtana’ (Nonsense, it
was nothing....)
‫פּנ ִים‬
ָ ‫ה‬
ַ ‫ עַל‬Vs. ‫פּנ ִים‬
ָ ַ‫ל‬
LaPanim / Al HaPanim
(Lit: to the face / on the face). The first: excellent,
'mind-blowing'; the second: terrible, something that
sucks. 'Ra'iti Etmol Seret Ekshen Lapanim' (I saw an
action film yesterday that blew my mind) or: 'Chaval
Lach Al HaKesef, HaSeret HaZe Al HaPanim' (Don't
waste your money, this film sucks!)
 PAGE 3

Pa’amayim ‫מִילּ ָה ז ֶה מִילּ ָה‬

Mila Ze Mila
(Lit. A word is a word). A promise that is binding
‫טוֹב טוֹב‬
Tov Tov
Emphasizing the need for something to be done

Ki Tov... and will be fulfilled. ‘Im Hu Amar SheHadira

10 insanely common Hebrew sayings that
you can learn with half the effort!
‫משֶּׁהוּ‬
ַ ‫משֶּׁהוּ‬
ַ ‫שׁוו ַי ֶה‬-‫ שְׁוו ַי ֶה‬,‫שׁל ַב‬
Mashe'u Mashe'u
(Lit: Something something). Excellent, extra-
ordinary. 'Ha'Ochel Po Hu Mashe'u Mashe'u' (The
food here is extra-ordinary).
‫ כָּכ ָה כָּכ ָה‬Kacha Kacha
(Lit: So So). 'Ha'Ochel Ta'im, Aval HaSherut
Kacha Kacha' (The food is tasty, but the service is
not great).
‫ לְאַט לְאַט‬Le'at Le'at
(Lit: Slowly slowly). 'Le'et Le'et, Lo Tzarich
Lemaher' (Slowly, slowly - no need to rush), or
disapprovingly: 'HaKol Etzla Le'et Le'et, Kehilu
Ein Po Esrim Ish BaTor' (She's doing everything
slowly-slowly as if there aren't twenty people in the
line here).
ְ ,‫ ָפּרָה‬-‫ ָפּרָה‬Gam VeGam
ְ ‫שׁל ַב‬
Para-Para, Shlav-Shlav,
Shwa'ye-Shwa'ye
(Lit: Cow-cow, stage-stage). Three different
ways to say 'one stage at the time'. The last one
'Shwa'ye Shwa'ye' derives from Arabic.
ְ‫)בְּ(הָפוּךְ עַל הָפוּך‬
(Be)Hafuch Al Hafuch
(Lit: Upside down over upside down). A tough
one to master - a confusing but very common
expression, meaning when something is achieved
or confirmed by an act or comment that actually
states the opposite (whether intentionally or not).
Confusing? Here is an example... 'BeHafuch Al
Hafuch, Israel Yechola Le’harviach MeHaMashber
Shel Dubai' (BeHafuch Al Hafuch, Israel might
benefit from the crisis in Dubai).
Shelachem, Az Hi Shelachem, Etzlo Mila Ze Mila’
(If he said that the apartment is yours than it’s
yours - he’s a man that does what he says).
‫גּ ַם וְג ַם‬
(Lit. Also and also). Effectively meaning 'both'.
'Rotza Kadur Shokolad O Vanil? – Efshar Gam
VeGam?’ (Do you want a scoop of chocolate or
vanilla? - Can I have both?)
ְ‫)בְּ(דֶרֶךְ לֹא דֶּרֶך‬
(Be)Derech Lo Derech
(Lit. A way that’s not a way). This can mean
either literally going through a road or a path
that is difficult to drive or walk on, and also
more metaphorically – i.e reaching a result in an
unconventional ways.
‘Lo Shidru Et HaMischak BaTelevisya, Az Ra’inu
Et Ze BaMachshev BeDerech Lo Derech’ (They
didn’t broadcast the game on TV, so we watched it
on the computer BeDerech Lo Derech).
extra well, with extra attention, 'Lo BeTzura
Chafifnikit' - not in a rushed manner.
'Aval Tivdok Et Ze Tov Tov, Bli Le’agel Pinot' (But
check it extra well, without cutting corners)
‫קָשֶׁה קָשֶׁה‬
Kashe Kashe
(Lit. It's tough tough). Ideally said with a fake
Russian accent, 'Kashe Kashe' is a catch phrase
that was introduced to the Hebrew language by
the character of Luba in the TV comedy show
'Eretz Nehederet'. Played by Tal Friedman, Luba
used to be the highlight of the show – a strict
supermarket cashier that came from Russia, and
struggled to keep her calm with indecisive Israeli
customers...

© Joel Yaron Publishing 2011. All rights reserved. Sign-up for our newsletter, and receive unparalleled topic-based phrase-sheets, as well as excellent
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 ”
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TYPICAL ISRAELI CHAT....

"?*‫"בָּא לְךָ לַעֲשׂוֹת סִיבוּב דַּאַוו ִין בַּקֶּנ ְיוֹן‬
(Fem - ְ‫)בָּא לָך‬
When Israelis don’t want to do something, they’ve got plenty of ways to tell you so…
(They also know how to argue back…!)

“Ba leCha La’Asot Sivuv Dahawin BaKenyon?”

(Fem: Ba Lach)
”
“Wanna do a 'Show-Off' cruise around
the mall?” (Self-mocking expression)

"...‫"לֹא בָּא ל ִי עַכְשָׁיו‬ “Lo Ba Li Achshav” “I don't feel like it now”

(Fem - ְ‫) לָך‬ "?ָ‫אכְפַּת לְך‬

ִ ‫ מַה‬,‫"נוּ‬ “Nu, Ma Ichpat Lecha?” (Fem: Lach) “Come'on, why not?” (What do you care?)

"...‫חשֶׁק‬
ֵ ‫"אֵין ל ִי‬ “Ein Li Cheshek” “I'm not in the mood” (I've got no desire)

...‫תּהְי ֶה כָּז ֶה כָּבֵד‬

ִ ‫ בְּחַיּ ֶיךָ אַל‬,‫"נוּ‬ “Nu, BeChayecha Al Tih’ye Kaze Kaved” “Come'on don't be so heavy”
(Fem - ‫ אַל תִּיְהִי כָּזֹאת כְּבֵדָה‬,ְ‫)בְּחַיּ ַיִך‬ (Fem: Tih’i Kazot Kveda)

(Fem - ‫)עִזְבִי‬ "‫תאִים ל ִי הַיּוֹם‬

ְ ‫מ‬
ַ ‫ לֹא‬,‫אחִי‬
ָ ‫"עֲזוֹב‬ “Azov Achi, Lo Mat'im Li HaYom” (Fem: Azvi) “Forget it man, it doesn't suit me today”

(Fem - ‫תּ‬
ְ ‫מנ ְחוּסִית ַא‬
ַ ) "...‫אתָּה‬
ַ ‫מנ ְחוּס‬
ַ ‫"ּבּוֹא'נ ָה אֵיז ֶה‬ “Boh'na Eize Manchus Ata” (Fem: Manchusit At) “Alright then, what a party-pooper…...”

Should be Kanyon, but commonly pronounced Kenyon *

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free tools, videos & quality lessons to radically enhance your Hebrew! www.engheb.com