how to say “change” (in your pocket) in Hebrew
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This Biblical Hebrew word means excess or surplus – in Modern Hebrew, its main meaning is change in the form of coins or that which one receives after paying too much in a transaction.
For example… הַקּוֹלָה עוֹלָה שְׁמוֹנָה שְׁקָלִים, וְאַתָּה נָתַתָּ לִי עֲשָׂרָה. אֲנִי חַיָּב לְךָ עֹדֶף (hah-KOH-lah oh-LAH sheh-moh-NAH sheh-kah-LEEM, veh-ah-TAH nah-TAH-tah lee ah-sah-RAH. ah-NEE khah-YAHV leh-KHAH OH-def) – The cola costs eight shekels, and you (a male) gave me ten. I (also a male) owe you change.
Likewise, עודף מִשְׁקָל (OH-def meesh-KAHL) is excess weight.
The way a Hebrew root tends to spawn many different words, you might expect the verb to give change to be לַעֲדוֹף (lah-ah-DOHF) – a fictitious simple פעל verb, or perhaps לְעַדֵּף (leh-ah-DEF) – a fictitious active-intensive פיעל verb. But the truth is that the word for to give change comes another root altogether.
What’s the word? You’ll have to sit tight until tomorrow…
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