how to say “I’d love to!” in Hebrew
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-ב-1.m4a” /]אֶשְׂמַח!
In English, most feelings are adjectives (with a notable exception of to love): I am happy, she is afraid, they are angry, etc.
In Hebrew, they’re verbs:
לשמוח[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-ב-2.m4a” /] – to (be) happy
לפחד[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-ב-3.m4a” /] – to (be) afraid (also in English to fear)
לכעוס[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-ב-4.m4a” /] – to be angry
So if your friend invites you over for a party, you might say I’d love to come. In Hebrew, this would be אשמח לבוא[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-ב-5.m4a” /] – literally, I’ll be happy to come.
This gets abbreviated to:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-ב-1.m4a” /]אשמח!
I’d love to!
אשמח plus the word for if – אם[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-ב-6.m4a” /] – creates a form of polite request, like the English I’d appreciate it if:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/אשמח-ב-7.m4a” /]אשמח אם תביא לי כוס מים.
I’d be happy (please) if you (a male) bring me a glass of water.
אשמח is a simple verb of the efal variety.
