how to say “don’t panic” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/לא-להיבהל-#.m4a” /]לֹא לְהִיבָּהֵל

Hebrew’s word for a state of panic is בהלה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/לא-להיבהל-#.m4a” /]. Likewise, to be startled or to panic is להיבהל, a נפעל verb of the root ב.ה.ל[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/לא-להיבהל-#.m4a” /].

So to tell someone don’t panic, you might say אל תיבהל[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/לא-להיבהל-#.m4a” /] if he’s a male or אל תיבהלי[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/לא-להיבהל-#.m4a” /] if she’s a female. But the more common expression is לא להיבהל[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/לא-להיבהל-#.m4a” /] – literally, not to panic.

So if someone shows up unannounced at their friend’s house in the middle of the night, the visitor might say:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/לא-להיבהל-#.m4a” /]לא להיבהל! זה רק אני!

Don’t panic! It’s just me!