how to say “unexpected” in Hebrew
Suppose you’re sitting on the sofa one stormy evening covered in a warm blanket, reading a book, when suddenly there’s an unexpected knock on the door.
Expected or foreseen in Hebrew is צָפוּי (tsah-FOO-ee), from the root צ.פ.ה (ts.p.h), meaning watching. It’s the same root as in הָר הַצּוֹפִים (hahr hah-tsoh-FEEM) – Mount Scopus – the site of the Hebrew University’s main campus:
Unexpected is בִּלְתִּי צָפוּי (beel-TEE tsah-FOO-ee). Likewise, unforgettable is בלתי נִשְׁכַּח (beel-TEE neesh-KAHKH), and illegal is בלתי חֻקִּי (beel-TEE khoo-KEE).


