how to say “the best” in Hebrew
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/המיטב-1.m4a” /]הֲכִי טוֹב, הַטּוֹב בְּיוֹתֵר, הַמֵּיטָב
If you look closely at the three expressions above for the best, you’ll find the word טוב[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/המיטב-2.m4a” /] – good – in all of them, in some form.
Each of these expressions is useful in different contexts:
הכי טוב[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/המיטב-3.m4a” /] is an everyday expression, for example:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/המיטב-4.m4a” /]היא החברה הכי טובה שלי.
She’s my best friend.
הטוב ביותר[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/המיטב-5.m4a” /] is more formal, as in:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/המיטב-6.m4a” /]הם גייסו את העובדים הטובים ביותר.
They recruited the best workers.
And המיטב[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/המיטב-7.m4a” /] is reserved for the crème de la crème – or as to put on a music album label. Usually it appears in an of phrase (סמיכות[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/המיטב-8.m4a” /]), such as מיטב השירים[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/המיטב-9.m4a” /] – the best of the songs.
For example:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/המיטב-10.m4a” /]באתר הזה תמצאו את מיטב השירים של האמנים הישראלים.
On this website you’ll (plural) find the best songs by Israeli artists.