מִשְׁקוֹלוֹת Can’t read Hebrew yet? Modern Israel’s currency is the New Shekel – הַשֶּׂקֶל הֶחָדָשׁ , but the word שֶׁקֶל goes way back to Biblical times, when it referred to the value of a gold or silver coin based on its weight. The root שׁ.ק.ל (sh.k.l) means weight. It is the source of several words…
בְּרֹאשׁ מוּרָם[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/בראש-מורם-1.mp3″ /] To lift something, in Hebrew, is להרים[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/בראש-מורם-2.mp3″ /], an active-causative verb of the root ר.ו.מ (r.w.m) meaning height. Likewise, מורם[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/בראש-מורם-3.mp3″ /] – an adjective derived from the passive-causative verb form – means lifted up So that when someone walks with their head held high – with a lifted head – they do so בראש…
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/חליפה-1.m4a” /]חֲלִיפָה The Hebrew word for suit or suit jacket is חליפה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/חליפה-1.m4a” /]. The word in action: [audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/חליפה-2.m4a” /]בפירנצה, אפשר לקנות חליפות איכותיות, ובזול. In Florence, you could buy quality suits, and for cheap. The root of חליפה is ח.ל.פ[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/חליפה-3.m4a” /], the same as that of the causative verb להחליף[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/חליפה-4.m4a” /] – to switch or to change: think of…
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/מעיל-חורף-#.m4a” /]מְעִיל חוֹרֶף The Hebrew word for winter – חורף[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/מעיל-חורף-#.m4a” /] – comes from the root ח.ר.פ[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/מעיל-חורף-#.m4a” /] meaning sharp (think חריף[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/מעיל-חורף-#.m4a” /] – spicy). In Biblical times חורף referred to the entire rainy season, including today’s fall and winter. מעיל[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/מעיל-חורף-#.m4a” /] – coat – also referred to an outer garment worn by high clergy in…