how to say “it suits you” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/מחמיא-#.m4a” /]מַחְמִיא לְךָ

We’ve seen that the word for compliment in Hebrew is מחמאה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/מחמיא-#.m4a” /].

To pay a compliment is either לתת מחמאה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/מחמיא-#.m4a” /] – literally, to give a compliment, or the הפעיל verb להחמיא[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/מחמיא-#.m4a” /], for example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/מחמיא-#.m4a” /]תחמיא לי, דוד.

Give me a compliment, David.

But להחמיא is not just to pay a compliment. People also use it to mean that an item compliments a person – it suits them, looks good on them..

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/מחמיא-#.m4a” /]החולצה הזאת ממש מחמיאה לך, שרה.

This shirt really suits you, Sarah.