[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/אח-#.m4a” /]אָח The Hebrew word for fireplace is אח[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/אח-#.m4a” /], as in: [audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/אח-#.m4a” /]יש לנו אח בבית, אבל הארובה סתומה. We have a fireplace at home, but the chimney is clogged. Despite it looking and sounding identical to אח meaning brother, the two words are most likely not related: while אח-brother is a proper…
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/צוהריים-#.m4a” /]צוֹהֳרַיִים The Hebrew word for noon is צוהריים[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/צוהריים-#.m4a” /] (according to the pre-2017 spelling, צהריים). While אחר הצוהריים[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/צוהריים-#.m4a” /] or אחרי הצוהריים[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/צוהריים-#.m4a” /] means afternoon (literally, after the noon), people often abbreviate and just use צוהריים to refer to the first few hours after 12pm. For example: [audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/צוהריים-#.m4a” /]הוא אמר שהוא יקפוץ לבקר…
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/אל-תתבייש-#.m4a” /]אַל תִּתְבַּיֵּישׁ בושה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/אל-תתבייש-#.m4a” /] is the Hebrew word for shame, of the root ב.ו.ש[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/אל-תתבייש-#.m4a” /]. So it makes sense that the התפעל verb להתבייש[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/אל-תתבייש-#.m4a” /] means to be embarrassed or to be shy. This word finds expression most commonly in the Israeli invitation of hospitality: אל תתבייש[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/אל-תתבייש-#.m4a” /] – don’t be…
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/עלי-אדמות-1-3.m4a” /]עֲלֵי אֲדָמוֹת While the Hebrew word ארץ[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/עלי-אדמות-2-3.m4a” /] – probably related to the English earth – means country, land and, well earth, the word אדמה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/עלי-אדמות-3-3.m4a” /] means ground. אדמה is the more humble, (ironically) down-to-earth word, of the same root as אדם[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/עלי-אדמות-4-3.m4a” /] – Adam or man, he who comes from the ground…
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/נפש-#.m4a” /]נֶפֶשׁ, רוּחַ, נְשָׁמָה Jewish mystical tradition has three words for that non-physical side of man: נפש[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/נפש-#.m4a” /] – soul, רוח[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/נפש-#.m4a” /] – literally, wind and נשמה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/נפש-#.m4a” /] – spirit (Kabbalah expands on these terms). Today, Israelis tend to use נשמה to refer to someone’s divine spirit: [audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/נפש-#.m4a” /]יש לו נשמה טובה. He has…