a special expression for “he couldn’t” in Hebrew

ByAmi Steinberger June 12, 2022May 5, 2025

The simple way of saying he couldn’t or he wasn’t able to is הוא לא היה יכול
.

But Hebrew has a more eloquent expression for he couldn’t in the sense of he was prevented from being able to: נבצר ממנו
.

For example:

בגלל אפליקציית עיצוב ישנה, נבצר ממנה לייצר תמונה באמת טובה.

Because of an old design app she wasn’t able to produce a truly good image.

Note that in this example the word is ממנה
– literally, from her – and not ממנו
– from him.

נבצר
is a נפעל verb meaning fortified – נבצר ממנו creates the mental picture of one unable to gain access to something because it’s locked up, behind fortification.

Weekly YDDH Review

ByAmi Steinberger November 22, 2019November 17, 2019

חֹמֶר לְשִׁנּוּן[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/review-1.mp3″ /] Review Material You spent time on your Hebrew this week. Use these review materials to make it yours to keep. To take full advantage of the review material, click on “Choose a study mode” in the bottom right corner of the box above. [audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/review-2.mp3″ /]שבת שלום, וסוף…

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ByAmi Steinberger July 7, 2021July 1, 2021

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ByAmi Steinberger March 8, 2015October 23, 2018

הַקְּהִלִּיָּה הַבֵּינְלְאֻמִּית listen and repeat Can’t read Hebrew yet? The common Modern Hebrew word for community is קְהִלָּה listen and repeat. This word appears in Biblical Hebrew, but there the more common word is קָהָל listen and repeat or עֵדָה listen and repeat. Now קהילה refers to a community of people, linked by common interests…

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having trouble seeing the print? גּוֹרָל, יִעוּד this week’s video dose of Hebrew by Ami Steinberger Founder and Director, Ulpan La-Inyan Enjoying Your Daily Dose of Hebrew? Consider making a donation!

how to say “runway” in Hebrew

ByAmi Steinberger June 10, 2014October 27, 2025

מַסְלוּל הַמְרָאָה listen and repeat Can’t read Hebrew yet? There’s talking and movement in the cabin. Soon passengers are instructed to fasten their seat belts and watch a safety video, and then the crew is told to take their seats for takeoff. Soon there’s a loud, sustained whooshing sound as the engines go into high gear, and the…

נִבְצַר מִמֶּנּוּ

The simple way of saying he couldn’t or he wasn’t able to is הוא לא היה יכול.

But Hebrew has a more eloquent expression for he couldn’t in the sense of he was prevented from being able to: נבצר ממנו.