how to say “not a chance” in Hebrew
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/אין-מצב-1.m4a” /]אֵין סִכּוּי, אֵין מַצָּב
The Hebrew word for chance as in “so you’re saying there’s a chance” is סיכוי[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/אין-מצב-2.m4a” /]. Thus Hebrew speakers do sometimes translate the expression not a chance to אין סיכוי[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/אין-מצב-3.m4a” /], as in:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/אין-מצב-4.m4a” /]אין סיכוי שאני קופץ ממטוס.
Not a chance that I’ll jump out of a plane.
But more often, Israelis will use the expression אין מצב[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/אין-מצב-5.m4a” /] – literally, there’s no situation (in which I would do this).
For example:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/אין-מצב-6.m4a” /]אין מצב שהוא בבית.
Not a chance that he’s home.
On the flipside, יש מצב[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/אין-מצב-7.m4a” /] means there is a situation/there is a chance, or, in other words, a strong maybe or there’s a good chance.
For example:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/אין-מצב-8.m4a” /]יש מצב שאני מגיע למסיבה.
I might actually come (arrive) to the party.