how to say “to get better” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/להחלים-#.m4a” /]לְהַחְלִים

You may know a Hebrew wish for someone to get better from an illness: רפואה שלמה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/להחלים-#.m4a” /] – literally, a complete healing.

There’s another expression more commonly used in Israel today: החלמה מהירה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/להחלים-#.m4a” /] – literally, a speedy recovery.

החלמה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/להחלים-#.m4a” /] comes from the הפעיל verb להחלים[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/להחלים-#.m4a” /], which itself comes from the root ח.ל.מ[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/להחלים-#.m4a” /] that has two meanings: dreaming and being healthy and strong.

I’m not sure whether there is a connection between the two meanings, but in any case, let’s hope that the following is more than a dream:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/להחלים-#.m4a” /]אנחנו מקווים שכל חולי הקורונה יחלימו – ומהר.

We hope that all the corona patients will recover – and quickly.