another way of saying “please” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-1.m4a” /]אֶשְׂמַח אִם…

You may know the basic Hebrew word for please (also thank you) – בבקשה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-2.m4a” /].

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-3.m4a” /]אפשר חשבון, בבקשה?

Can I get the check, please?

A more formal way of saying please is נא[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-4.m4a” /].

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-5.m4a” /]נא לכבות את המזגן לאחר השימוש בחדר.

Please turn off the air conditioning after using the room.

There’s also אנא[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-6.m4a” /], which is reserved for writing as well as very formal speech:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-7.m4a” /]אנא ציינו את בחירתכם על ידי לחיצה על הכפתור.

Please indicate your choice by clicking the button.

Another way of asking someone for a favor – something like would you – is to say I’d be happy if… – …אשמח אם[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-1.m4a” /]. A looser translation would be I’d appreciate it if…

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-8.m4a” /]אשמח אם תשלחו לי את העלון הביתה.

I’d appreciate if if you’d send me the magazine to my house.

אשמח[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-9.m4a” /] also indicates agreement. For example, Daphna might receive the invitation:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-10.m4a” /]את תבואי למסיבה אצלנו?

Will you come to the party at our place?

To which she might reply:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-11.m4a” /]אשמח לבוא!

I’ll be happy to come!

or simply:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-12.m4a” /]אשמח!

I’ll be glad to!