how to say “to make an effort” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להשתדל-1.mp3″ /]לְנַסּוֹת, לְהִשְׁתַּדֵּל, לַעֲשׂוֹת מַאֲמָץ

In English we have to try and to make an effort. Hebrew has one more expression, totaling three, each with its nuances.

First, there’s the active-intensive לנסות[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להשתדל-2.mp3″ /]. It’s the most broadly used, and it means to try in the trial and error sense.

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להשתדל-3.mp3″ /]אני אנסה לתפוס אותה בנייד.

I’ll try catching her on (her) cell.

לנסות is sometimes used for to taste, as in the English I’m going to try this chocolate, but the better term there is לטעום[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להשתדל-4.mp3″ /] – literally, to taste.

Then there’s the reflexive-intensive להשתדל[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להשתדל-5.mp3″ /]. It’s related to the word שידול[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להשתדל-6.mp3″ /], which means lobbying.

להשתדל in context:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להשתדל-7.mp3″ /]אנחנו לא יכולים להבטיח שזה יגיע בזמן, אבל נשתדל.

We can’t promise it will arrive on time, but we’ll try.

There’s also the expression that means literally to make an effort – לעשות מאמץ[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להשתדל-8.mp3″ /]. This is different from the verb להתאמץ[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להשתדל-9.mp3″ /], which usually refers to making a physical, exerted effort.

לעשות מאמץ is often used where להשתדל might be, though לעשות מאמץ highlights the effort more. For example, the sentence above could also read:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/להשתדל-10.mp3″ /]אנחנו לא יכולים להבטיח שזה יגיע בזמן, אבל נעשה מאמץ.

We can’t promise it will arrive on time, but we’ll make an effort.