how to say “to improve” in Hebrew
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In English it’s one word, but if you pay close attention, you’ll realize that the verb improve is used in two distinct ways: there’s to improve, and there’s to improve something or someone.
In Hebrew, though they employ the same root – שׁ.פ.ר (sh.p.r), meaning beauty – these are two different words.
לְהִשְׁתַּפֵּר (leh-heesh-tah-PEHR), the reflexive-intensive, means to improve, such as to improve oneself. For example, הוּא צָרִיךְ לְהִשְׁתַּפֵּר בַּהִתְנַהֲגוּת – he needs to improve in his (literally, the) behavior (hoo tsah-REEKH leh-heesh-tah-PEHR bah-heet-nah-hah-GOOT). Note that he doesn’t need to do anything to his behavior; rather, he needs to improve in it.
לְשַׁפֵּר (leh-shah-PEHR), the active-intensive verb, means to improve something or someone else. For example, הִיא צְרִיכָה לְשַׁפֵּר אֶת הָעִבְרִית שֶׁלָּה – she needs to improve her Hebrew (hee tseh-ree-KHAH leh-shah-PEHR et hah-eev-REET sheh-LAH).
An improvement is a שִׁפּוּר (shee-POOR).
This word group is related to the name שִׁפְרָה (sheef-RAH), which means, essentially, beautiful.
שַׁפְּרוּ אֶת הָעִבְרִית
Improve your Hebrew
(shahp-ROO et hah-eev-REET)
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