how to say “really, really dark” in Hebrew

חֹשֶׁךְ מִצְרַיִם[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/חושך-מצרים-1.mp3″ /]

A language’s more colorful expressions often come from the traditions and experiences of its culture.

When Israelis want to say that it’s really, really dark, they don’t just say:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/חושך-מצרים-2.mp3″ /]מְאֹד, מְאֹד חָשׁוּךְ.

Rather, they’ll invoke the ninth plague wrought upon the ancient Egyptians with the expression חֹשֶׁךְ מִצְרַיִם – darkness of Egypt.

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/חושך-מצרים-3.mp3″ /]יָצָאתִי בְּאַרְבַּע לִפְנוֹת בֹּקֶר – הָיָה חֹשֶׁךְ מִצְרַיִם.

I went out at four in the morning – it was really, really dark.