סִפּוּק Hear this word pronounced Yesterday we had the word for supplier or provider, סַפָּק (sah-PAHK). The “ah-AH” vowel scheme of that word is common among professional terms. For example, a carpenter is a נַגָּר (nah-GAHR), one of the words for a butcher is קַצָּב (kah-TSAHV), etc. סַפָּק derives from the פיעל (pee-EHL) verb to provide or to satisfy – לְסַפֵּק…
סַפָּק, סַפָּקִית Hear these words pronounced If you have spent some time in Israel, you likely have come across one of the ways of saying “enough” – מַסְפִּיק (mahs-PEEK). The root of this word is ס.פ.ק (s.p.k). Someone who supplies a product or provides a service fulfills a need or want, so that the recipient can…
מְנַצֵּחַ-מְנַצֵּחַ Hear this phrase pronounced A win-win situation is one in which both (or all parties) involved come out winners. One of the words in Hebrew for to win is לְנַצֵּח (leh-nah-TSEH-ahkh). It’s a פיעל (pee-EHL) verb coming from the root נ.צ.ח (n.ts.kh) meaning eternity. I suppose there’s a feeling of everlasting that accompanies a win……
מְלָאכָה Hear this word pronounced Cyclone in Australia, earthquake in New Zealand, genocide in Libya, rockets on בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע (beh-EHR SHEH-vah) – Beer Sheba… Here’s another song by Ehud Banai about what happens after the storm – that, as is human nature and for good reason, people go back about their business. But the ones who never…
הַעֲרָכָה Hear this word pronounced This one is for Rolene at AACI. Perhaps you know the Hebrew word for value – עֶרֶך (EH-rekh). To value something or someone – or to appreciate – is לְהַעֲרִיך (leh-hah-ah-REEKH). It’s a הפעיל (heef-EEL) verb. Likewise, הַעֲרָכָה (hah-ah-rah-KHAH) is appreciation. Your chance to get talking in Hebrew starts this Sunday. Our state-of-the-art conversational Hebrew courses begin…
גּוֹרָלִי Hear this word pronounced Check out Ulpan La-Inyan demo classes – tonight in Raanana, tomorrow in Jerusalem! In the Book of Esther, the Jewish-Persian queen is faced with a fateful decision: either risk her life by attempting to persuade the king to spare the Jewish people, or sit “pretty” in the palace while her people…
זְכֻיּוֹת Listen to this word pronounced Every human being has rights. זְכֻיּוֹת (zeh-khoo-YOHT) are what you’d call them in Hebrew. The singular is זְכוּת (zeh-KHOOT), coming from the root ז.כ.ה (z.k.h), meaning merit. Some related words are זַכַּאִי (zah-KAH-ee) – innocent or entitled; and לִזְכּוֹת (leez-KOHT) – to win (a prize or a case). Your chance…
אוֹבֶךְ Hear this word pronounced Throughout the country this morning, there was a haze. the Tel Aviv boardwalk on a hazy day Now it’s raining. The Hebrew word for haze is אוֹבֶך (OH-vekh). Your chance to get talking in Hebrew starts on the 27th. Our state-of-the-art conversational Hebrew courses begin next Sunday, February 27 in Jerusalem, Efrat and Raanana. Register now!
לְהַמְחִישׁ Hear this word pronounced This week I introduced some of my students to a song by Ehud Banai called עֵגֶל הַזָּהָב (EH-ghel hah-zah-HAHV) – The Golden Calf, as Jews around the world will be reading its account this Shabbat. I’ll probably play the song with explanation next Wednesday on my radio show. My…
מַגָּשׁ Hear this word pronounced My Tuesday afternoon class inspired me to do this entry – thanks guys! The word for pie in Hebrew is פַּשְׁטִידָה (pahsh-tee-DAH) – borrowed from Italian of the middle ages, or פַּאי (pie) – borrowed from English. But when you’re ordering pizza in Israel, you’ll use a different word. You’d…
מַעֲגָל Hear this word pronounced There’s a circle, meaning the shape – עִגּוּל (ee-GOOL). But what I’m referring to is the type of circle people might sit around and tell stories, such as in this little cartoon: This is called, in Hebrew, a מַעֲגָל (mah-ah-GAHL). Likewise, a traffic circle is called a מעגל תְּנוּעָה (mah-ah-GAHL te-noo-AH). It’s also known…