having trouble seeing the print? עִקְבִי Perhaps you know the Hebrew word for heel, as in the back of your foot: עֵקֶב (EH-kev). It’s the root of the name Jacob – יַעֲקֹב (yah-ah-KOHV), who, according to the Biblical story, was born holding onto the עקב of his twin brother, Esau – עֵשָׂו (eh-SAHV). To…
having trouble seeing the print? מְתִיקוּת LAST DAY for the special discount on Ulpan La-Inyan Fall courses! As a way of wishing you a wonderful new year, here is a non-exhaustive list of words that come from the Hebrew root for sweet, מ.ת.ק (m.t.k). The nouns are all declined in the masculine singular. מָתוֹק (mah-TOHK) – sweet לְהַמְתִּיק (leh-hahm-TEEK) –…
having trouble seeing the print? לִפְתּוֹחַ דַּף חָדָשׁ Two days left for the special discount on Ulpan La-Inyan Fall courses רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה (rohsh hah-shah-NAH) is a time for reflection over the past and for looking forward to a hopefully bright future. It’s also an opportunity to commit ourselves to a new or revised way…
(your daily dose of Hebrew follows) Announcements: 1 – Discount on Fall courses 2 – Israeli music show today Announcement #1 Discount on Ulpan La-Inyan Fall 2011 courses Our friendly, state-of-the-art Fall 2011 courses are starting all over Israel on October 30. The registration deadline to save NIS 200 is October 11,…
having trouble seeing the print? בְּיָד רְחָבָה Watch a demo video of one of our Hebrew courses. Class starts October 30 around the country. Register by October 11 to save NIS 200. Languages in general often make use of concrete images to express abstract ideas – we call this figurative language. Here’s a…
having trouble seeing the print? נֶזֶם Watch a demo video of one of our Hebrew courses. Class starts October 30 around the country. Register by October 11 to save NIS 200. Last week I introduced the Hebrew word for anklet and bracelet – צָמִיד (tsah-MEED). I said that the word doesn’t appear as such in Biblical Hebrew,…
having trouble seeing the print? מִדַּבֵּק Watch a demo video of one of our Hebrew courses. Class starts October 30 around the country. Register by October 11 to save NIS 200. This one’s a tricky one, I’ve found. The way to translate contagious disease into Hebrew is מַחֲלָה מִדַּבֶּקֶת (mah-khah-LAH mee-dah-BEH-ket). The latter word refers to contagious. If…
having trouble seeing the print? צָמִיד Watch a demo video of one of our Hebrew courses. Class starts October 30 around the country. Register by October 11 to save NIS 200. The root Hebrew root צ.מ.ד (ts.m.d) is the concept of juxtaposition – of two things, or people, being next to each other. It appears…
having trouble seeing the print? גְּבִירוֹתָי וְרַבּוֹתָי Watch a demo video of one of our Hebrew courses. Class starts October 30 around the country. Register by October 11 to save NIS 200. The Hebrew way of saying ladies and gentlemen, in Hebrew, is גְּבִירוֹתָי וְרַבּוֹתָי (gheh-vee-roh-TAH-ee veh-rah-boh-TAH-ee). While a גְּבִירָה is a lady…
having trouble seeing the print? לְתַיֵּק Watch a demo video of one of our Hebrew courses. Class starts October 30 around the country. Register by October 11 to save NIS 200. A basic Hebrew word is that for a handbag or knapsack: תִּיק (teek). Going from the concrete to the abstract, a handbag becomes a case –…
having trouble seeing the print? חָכָם מֵעֵבֶר לִשְׁנוֹתָיו This one’s for Wayne, who asked me what he might call his female friend who is wise beyond her years. The Hebrew translation of that English observation and compliment, wise beyond her years, is literal: חֲכָמָה מֵעֵבֶר לִשְׁנוֹתֶיה (khah-khah-MAH meh-EH-vehr lee-shnoh-TEH-hah). Wise beyond his years is חָכָם מֵעֵבֶר לִשְׁנוֹתָיו…