how to say “no way” or “you don’t say!” in Hebrew
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מַה אַתָּה אוֹמֵר?
בְּחַיֶּיךָ!
אֲנִי לֹא מַאֲמִין!
בְּחַיֶּיךָ!
אֲנִי לֹא מַאֲמִין!
In English, we have several ways of expressing disbelief and surprise: you don’t say!, no way!, I don’t believe it!, etc.
Here are some in Hebrew.
1. מה אתה אומר
The most common Hebrew expression for this is ?מַה אַתָּה אוֹמֵר , when speaking to a male, and ?מַה אַתְּ אוֹמֶרֶת when speaking to a female. Both mean, literally, what are you saying?
, when speaking to a male, and ?מַה אַתְּ אוֹמֶרֶת when speaking to a female. Both mean, literally, what are you saying?These same phrases can also be used to make an offer, with what do you say? Whether the speaker wishes to make an offer or to express disbelief depends on the context and the tone of voice.
For example:
אֵין לְךָ גְּבִינָה בַּחֲנוּת? מַה אַתָּה אוֹמֵר!
You (a male) don’t have cheese in the shop? I don’t believe it!
and
אֲנַחְנוּ נוֹסְעִים לַצָּפוֹן, וְיֵשׁ מָקוֹם בָּרֶכֶב. רוֹצָה לָבֹא? מַה אַתְּ אוֹמֶרֶת?
We’re going to the north, and we have room in the car. Want to come (to a female)? What do you say?
2. בחייך
Another way of expressing surprise and disbelief is saying בְּחַיֶּיךָ to a male and בְּחַיַּיִךְ to a female. These mean by your life!, suggesting that the person making the surprising or difficult-to-believe statement should swear to its veracity if they wish to be believed.
to a male and בְּחַיַּיִךְ to a female. These mean by your life!, suggesting that the person making the surprising or difficult-to-believe statement should swear to its veracity if they wish to be believed.For example:
אַתָּה אוֹמֵר שֶׁהָיִיתָ בְּווּדְסְטוֹק? בְּחַיֶּיךָ!
You’re (a male) saying that you were at Woodstock? By your life!
3. אני לא מאמין
A third such expression is literally, I don’t believe – אֲנִי לֹא מַאֲמִין when a male is speaking, and אֲנִי לֹא מַאֲמִינָה when a female is speaking.
when a male is speaking, and אֲנִי לֹא מַאֲמִינָה when a female is speaking.
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