מִשְׁקְפֵי שֶׁמֶשׁ listen and repeat Can’t read Hebrew yet? The Hebrew word for glasses is מִשְׁקָפַיִם listen and repeat, of the root שׁ.ק.פ (sh.k.p) having to do with visibility. Sunglasses, likewise, are ׁמִשְׁקְפֵי שֶׁמֶש listen and repeat – literally, glasses of the sun. For example: מֻמְלָץ לְהָבִיא מִשְׁקְפֵי שֶׁמֶשׁ לְבִקּוּרְכֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּחָדְשֵׁי הַקַּיִץ. It’s recommended…
עִירוֹנִי listen and repeat Can’t read Hebrew yet? The Hebrew word for city, going back to the earliest books in Bible, is עִיר listen and repeat. Already in Mishnaic times, Hebrew began employing עיר to describe the then-novel concepts of urban and municipal – as well as an urbanite (city dweller), rendering the word עִירוֹנִי listen and…
אָכֵן listen and repeat Can’t read Hebrew yet? Indeed once was a common word in English. Today it’s used more often than not sarcastically or smugly (though sometimes it’s used sincerely as well). Its Hebrew equivalent, אָכֵן listen and repeat, is used in a similar vein. For example: סִיַּמְתָּ אֶת כָּל הָעֲבוֹדָה…
חֹמֶר לְשִׁנּוּן Review Material listen and repeat Can’t read Hebrew yet? Review, practice and test yourself on this week’s doses of Hebrew! Flashcards Game Test שַׁבָּת שָׁלוֹם, וְסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ נָעִים! Shabbat Shalom, and have a nice weekend! listen and repeat
אֳפָקִים חֲדָשִׁים listen and repeat Can’t read Hebrew yet? The Hebrew word for horizon is אֹפֶק listen and repeat. For example: אֲנִי רוֹאֶה סְפִינָה בָּאֹפֶק. I (a male) see a ship on the horizon. listen אופק refers to the physical horizon, the meeting place of the sky and the earth, as…
מְקוֹמוֹת יָפִים listen and repeat Can’t read Hebrew yet? If you’ve got a bit of Hebrew under your belt, you likely know the word for place – מָקוֹם listen and repeat – whose root is ק.ו.מ (k.w.m) meaning getting up (a place is situated somewhere, as if it were made to stand in that location). מקום…
לָקוּם listen and repeat Can’t read Hebrew yet? As in all Semitic languages, Hebrew roots have three letters. When used to form certain words, however, one or more letters from a root disappear. The letter ו (w) is one of those that often disappears. Take the simple verb לָקוּם listen and repeat – to get up or…
מִשְׁמַעַת listen and repeat Can’t read Hebrew yet? Today, Israelis and Jews around the world pay tribute to those who fell defending the Jewish homeland, as well as those who were killed in acts of terror against it. A key trait for good soldiering is discipline – in Hebrew, מִשְׁמַעַת listen and repeat. This…
בְּרֵכַת שְׂחִיָּה listen and repeat Can’t read Hebrew yet? I’m loving the warm weather here in Israel. It’s perfect for swimming, my favorite sport. The Hebrew term for swimming is שְׂחִיָּה listen and repeat, derived from the simple verb לִשְׂחוֹת listen and repeat – to swim – of the root שׂ.ח.ה (s.kh.h). And a pool…
חֹמֶר לְשִׁנּוּן Review Material listen and repeat Can’t read Hebrew yet? Review, practice and test yourself on this week’s doses of Hebrew! Flashcards Game Test שַׁבָּת שָׁלוֹם, וְסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ נָעִים! Shabbat Shalom, and have a nice weekend! listen and repeat
קָרְבָּן listen and repeat Can’t read Hebrew yet? Today, not much animal sacrifice is going on in Israel or elsewhere in the world. So the term that once referred to sacrificing an animal – קָרְבָּן listen and repeat – has been revived to refer to a person being “sacrificed” by circumstances – a victim….