how to say “impossible” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/בתלי-אפשרי-#.m4a” /]בִּלְתִּי אֶפְשָׁרִי

The Hebrew word אפשר[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/בתלי-אפשרי-#.m4a” /] means perhaps, maybe, possibly, and it’s possible.

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/בתלי-אפשרי-#.m4a” /]אפשר להגיע ברגל, אבל עדיף לנסוע ברכב.

It’s possible to get there by foot, but it’s better to go by car.

To say it’s not possible or one cannot, preface אפשר with the negating word אי[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/בתלי-אפשרי-#.m4a” /], so that you have אי אפשר[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/בתלי-אפשרי-#.m4a” /].

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/בתלי-אפשרי-#.m4a” /]אי אפשר לדעת על מה הוא חושב.

One can’t know what he’s thinking about.

The word for possible when it stands alone, however, is אפשרי[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/בתלי-אפשרי-#.m4a” /], as in:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/בתלי-אפשרי-#.m4a” /]זה לא רק אפשרי – זה וודאי!

It isn’t just possible – it’s certain!

To say impossible, we preface אפשרי with the negating word בלתי[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/בתלי-אפשרי-#.m4a” /], as in:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/בתלי-אפשרי-#.m4a” /]מה שהיא מבקשת זה בלתי אפשרי!

What she’s asking for is impossible!

How do we know when to use אפשר or אי אפשר, as opposed to אפשרי or בלתי אפשרי? If there’s a verb afterwards, use אפשר/אי אפשר. If not, use אפשרי/בלתי אפשרי – as you can see in the examples above.