how to say “honestly” in Hebrew
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/בכנות-#.m4a” /]בְּכֵנוּת, בְּכֵּנוּת
The Hebrew word for honesty is כנות[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/בכנות-#.m4a” /], so honestly – or with honesty – is בכנות[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/בכנות-#.m4a” /]. While according to the rules of Hebrew grammar the כ[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/בכנות-#.m4a” /] in the word should be pronounced as a coarse kh sound, the vast majority of Israelis pronounce it with a hard k sound.
Here it is in context – pronounced colloquially:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/בכנות-#.m4a” /]לא, אני לא ממציא, אני מדבר בכנות!
No, I’m (a male) not making it up, I’m speaking honestly!
The word כנות is of the same root as the words נכון[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/בכנות-#.m4a” /] – correct, להתכונן[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/בכנות-#.m4a” /] – to get ready, and כן[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/בכנות-#.m4a” /] – yes.