how to say “to quit” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/להתפטר-#.m4a” /]לְהִתְפַּטֵּר

The root פ.ט.ר[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/להתפטר-#.m4a” /] has to do with separation and setting free.

Thus the reflexive התפעל verb להתפטר[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/להתפטר-#.m4a” /] means to quit a job or to resign.

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/להתפטר-#.m4a” /]היא התפטרה והלכה לעבוד בחברה אחרת.

She quit and went to work at another company.

That’s quitting when it comes to business. To quit an action – to stop doing something – is the הפעיל verb להפסיק[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/להתפטר-#.m4a” /].

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/להתפטר-#.m4a” /]הוא הפסיק לעשן.

He quit smoking.

Don’t confuse להתפטר with להיפטר[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/להתפטר-#.m4a” /], which can mean to get rid of (a similar meaning), but also to pass away (certainly not what you mean if you talk about leaving a job).

To fire someone is the פיעל verb לפטר[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/להתפטר-#.m4a” /].