how to say “to take charge” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/לקחת-פיקוד-#.m4a” /]לָקַחַת פִּיקּוּד

The Hebrew word for commander is מפקד[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/לקחת-פיקוד-#.m4a” /] if he’s male and מפקדת[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/לקחת-פיקוד-#.m4a” /] if she’s female.

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/לקחת-פיקוד-#.m4a” /]אסור לצאת הביתה לשבת הקרובה בלי אישור מהמפקד.

It’s forbidden to go home (from the army base) this Shabbat without permission from the (your) commander.

A מפקד or מפקדת is the person in charge, so that charge itself (or command) is פיקוד[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/לקחת-פיקוד-#.m4a” /]. Likewise, Hebrew borrows the English metaphor of taking charge in the expression לקחת פיקוד[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/לקחת-פיקוד-#.m4a” /].

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/לקחת-פיקוד-#.m4a” /]יש פה בלגן – מישהו חייב לקחת פיקוד.

There’s a mess here – someone has to to take charge.