how to say “probably” and “sure…” in Hebrew
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/בטח-קרוב-1.m4a” /]בֶּטַח
Israelis do not like to express doubt. So their word for probably… well, there isn’t a single word for probably.
There’s קרוב לוודאי[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/בטח-קרוב-2.m4a” /] – close to certain, as in:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/בטח-קרוב-3.m4a” /]קרוב לוודאי שהלהקה תגיע לארץ בשנה הבאה.
The band will probably (almost certainly) come to Israel next year.
There’s also ככל הנראה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/בטח-קרוב-4.m4a” /] – as much as can be seen, but this is less common.
For example:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/בטח-קרוב-5.m4a” /]ככל הנראה, ישראל תצטרך גיוס חובה למשך הרבה שנים.
Most likely, Israel will need mandatory conscription for many years to come.
But then there’s the simple word that expresses doubt without having to actually say it: בטח[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/בטח-קרוב-1.m4a” /] – literally, sure or surely.
For example:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/בטח-קרוב-6.m4a” /]הם בטח אחים.
They’re surely (well, probably) brothers.
בטח also means I bet, the same way it means probably:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/בטח-קרוב-7.m4a” /]אתם בטח רעבים.
I bet you guys are hungry.
בטח is also the sarcastic sure, as in:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/בטח-קרוב-8.m4a” /]אתם תבואו בזמן? בטח…
You guys will come on time? Sure…