how to say “surprise” in Hebrew

ByAmi Steinberger

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/הפתעה-1.m4a” /]הַפְתָּעָה

The Hebrew word for to surprise is להפתיע[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/הפתעה-2.m4a” /], an active-causative verb deriving from the word פתע[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/הפתעה-3.m4a” /] meaning, roughly, suddenly.

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/הפתעה-4.m4a” /]הוא הפתיע אותה ביום ההולדת שלה.

He surprised her on her birthday.

Likewise, a surprise is הפתעה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/הפתעה-1.m4a” /].

For example, if you’re caught off guard at home you might say, ambiguously:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/הפתעה-5.m4a” /]לא ידעתי שאתם באים לבקר! איזו הפתעה!

I didn’t know you guys were coming to visit! What a surprise!

Similar Posts

Weekly Hebrew Review – guarding people, nature and practices

ByAmi Steinberger

חֹמֶר לְשִׁנּוּן[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/review-1.mp3″ /] Review Material Can’t read Hebrew yet? You spent time on your Hebrew this week. Use these review materials to make it yours to keep. Flashcards . Scatter . Space Race . Test [audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/review-2.mp3″ /]שַׁבָּת שָׁלוֹם, וְסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ נָעִים! Shabbat Shalom, and have a nice weekend!

how to say “uncertainty” in Hebrew

ByAmi Steinberger

  having trouble seeing the print? אִי-וַדָּאוּת Human beings have a need for clarity and organization – we seek certainty in order to relax and go about our day. While certainty, in Hebrew, is וַדָּאוּת (listen and repeat), uncertainty is אִי-וַדָּאוּת (listen and repeat).  For example: קָשֶׁה אָבָל הֶכְרֵחִי לִחְיוֹת עִם אִי-וַדָּאוּת. It’s difficult but necessary to live with uncertainty. listen…

How to say “produce” in Hebrew

ByAmi Steinberger

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/תבואה-#.m4a” /]תְּבוּאָה To produce something such as a movie is להפיק[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/תבואה-#.m4a” /]. But produce in the agricultural sense is תבואה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/תבואה-#.m4a” /]. For example: חוסר הניקוז הרס את כל התבואה בשדה.[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/תבואה-#.m4a” /] The lack of drainage destroyed all the produce in the field. תבואה comes from the root ב.ו.א[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/תבואה-#.m4a” /] meaning to come: produce is that which…

daily video – how to say “trainee” in Hebrew

ByAmi Steinberger
To slow down the audio or to turn on captions (CC), start playing the video and then click the settings icon ⚙️. LEARNING TIPS Hebrew beginners Watch with English captions a few times, then with Hebrew captions, then without captions, and see what you understand. Intermediate learners Watch without captions, pausing to write down what...

how to say “(electrical) plug” in Hebrew

ByAmi Steinberger

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/תקע-1.m4a” /]תֶּקַע We saw yesterday that a socket is a שקע[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/תקע-2.m4a” /]. That which goes into a שקע, a plug, is a תקע[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/תקע-1.m4a” /]. The word תקע forms the root ת.ק.ע[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/תקע-3.m4a” /] meaning stuck: a תקע gets stuck into a שקע. For example: [audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/תקע-4.m4a” /]יש תקע, אבל אין שקע. There’s a plug, but no…

Weekly YDDH Review

Weekly YDDH Review

ByAmi Steinberger

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…