Hebrew Slang of the Day

[cardboard-moons]

For everyone learning Hebrew

[imshitatlife]

Umm, actually aleph and ain are *not* silent. They do have a sound and people just so naturally say it and some don’t pronounce it, so it looks like they’re silent. Buy many people still use those sounds.

Aleph sounds like it has a short attack(sound design terms) and i imagine it as holding your breath and releasing the air like youre pushing your breathe hold.

Ain sound like you are doing the Kermit the frog voice for a short amount of time in front of the letter.

[hebrewslangoftheday]

You: Babe

Me, an Israeli intellectual: My life, my soul, my atonement

[no-a-one]

מי ידע שיש גם ערכים בעברית…

[sdarotgoyim]

*קלללללללללל

[baal-zvuv]

תייגו את עצמכם, אני Be Ima Shelcha

[sdarotgoyim]

אני נחירה

[hebrewslangoftheday]

I know this isn’t useful to non-native Hebrew speakers, which are the goal audience for this blog, but I thought it was pretty funny that there are Hebrew entries in Urban Dictionary. I went and checked, this is no joke!

[hebrewslangoftheday]

Hebrew slang of the day #36

Soul - Neshama - נֵשַמַה

An endearing term. 

Example:

“Hey Coral, I got rid of the evidence like you’ve asked me to.” “Thanks, Shani, soul! I love you. Now let’s run.”

[hebrewslangoftheday]

Hebrew Slang of the day #47

White night - Laila lavan - לילה לבן

An all nighter.

Example:

“Have you heard the Get Down got cancelled?”

"Yeah, I’m so angry about it - I did a white night in order to watch it all over again.”

“שמעת שדה גט דאון בוטל?”

“כן, אני כל כך כועסת - עשיתי לילה לבן כדי לראות את הכל שוב.”

[hebrewslangoftheday]

Hebrew slang of the day #41

Sababa - Sababa - סַבַּבָּה 

Fine, okay, good. Originated from Arabic. 

Example:

“Quick, tell me, how do I look?” “You look sababa, why?” “ugh Dor don’t ask.” “Sababa.”

[hebrewslangoftheday]

Hebrew slang of the day #46

Did him davka - Asa lo davka - עשה לו דווקא

A phrase meaning that person a did something even though person b would prefer they didn’t, usually against person b’s wishes after person a was told specifically not to do it. Basically, to do something out of spite and spite alone.

Example:

“He asked me to make him coffee, the sexist jerk, so I did him davka and put salt instead of sugar in it.”

“הוא ביקש ממני להכין לו קפה, הסקסיסט המגעיל, אז עשיתי לו דווקא ושמתי לו מלח במקום סוכר בפנים.”

[hebrewslangoftheday]

Hebrew slang of the day #25

Yoram - Yoram - יֹורַם

A common name, but also one of the slang words for “nerd”. See the problem? (Note that it’s currently so old fashioned that people who still use it are “Yorams” themselves. Irony at its best, huh?) 

Example:

“Avatar Aang said he didn’t want to kill the fire lord because that’s not the way of the monks. The guy’s a total Yoram!” “He’s twelve and you should leave him alone.” “You’re also a Yoram.” 

[hebrewslangoftheday]

Hebrew slang of the day #1

Digging - Hofer - חׂופֱר

When someone talks too much, or talks too much without a point, or too much about a specific topic. 

Example:

“…And his hair was so soft oh my god and he said I was-” “Dude. You’re digging.”

[hebrewslangoftheday]

Hi!

Just wanted to make a post introducing myself. I’m Gail, the new admin, and I’m really excited to start posting! So without digging too much, let’s get to work!

[hebrewslangoftheday]

Hebrew slang of the day #45

Your mother’s vagina - Cus ima shelcha - ָכּוּס אִמַא שֵלְך

A curse word, pretty much equal to “fuck you”. Variants include “Your sister’s vagina”, “your grandmother’s vagina” and many more. 

Example:

“Eynat left me here to take care of the chicken alone, her mother’s vagina!”

“עינת השאירה אותי לטפל בתרנגולות לבד, כוס אמא שלה!”

[hebrewslangoftheday]

Hebrew slang of the day #44

Flying on himself - Af al atzmo - עַף עַל עַצְמׂו

thinking too highly about himself, usually when it’s unjustified.  thank you very much @crab-tries-to-art for this one!

Example:

“Jonathan has declared himself king of backflips! omg.” “ah, he’s just flying on himself. He can’t even do one.”

“יונתן הכריז על עצמו כעל מלך הסלטות לאחור! אומייגד.” “אה, הוא סתם עף על עצמו. הוא לא יכול לעשות אפילו אחת.”

[hebrewslangoftheday]

Hebrew slang of the day #43

A dick in the eye - Zayin ba’ayin - זַיִן בַעָיִן

Sort of like a general curse, like “fuck”, or to tell people off.

Example:

“Elya told me to tell you you’re late. She wants her cupcake now or she’ll go after your dog.” “A dick in the eye. there’s no way I’m giving her a whole cupcake.”

“אליה אמרה לי להגיד לך שאתה מאחר. היא רוצה את הקאפקייק שלה עכשיו או שהיא תרדוף את הכלב שלך.” “זין בעין. אין סיכוי שאני נותן לה קאפקייק שלם.”

[hebrewslangoftheday]

Hebrew slang of the day #42

Sababa nuts - Sababa egozim - סַבַּבָּה אֵגֹוזִים

Like Sababa (see day #41), but even more so. The slang version of dad humor, only everyone uses it. Most of my vocabulary is this. 

Example: 

“Hm, do you want to take too long updating your Hebrew slang blog instead of studying for your final test tomorrow?” “Sababa nuts!”

[hebrewslangoftheday]

Hebrew slang of the day #41

Sababa - Sababa - סַבַּבָּה 

Fine, okay, good. Originated from Arabic. 

Example:

“Quick, tell me, how do I look?” “You look sababa, why?” “ugh Dor don’t ask.” “Sababa.”

[hebrewslangoftheday]

Hebrew slang of the day #40

What’s that - Ma ze - מַה זֵה 

So, as in, “I’m so excited”. Very much. 

Example:

“Oh gosh my Hebrew slang blog thing suddenly gained a lot of followers and I’m what’s that not ready for this responsibility.”

[hebrewslangoftheday]

Hebrew slang of the day #39

Peeing against a wall - Mashtin Bakir - מַשְתִין בַקִיר

This is actually a biblical slang word. I haven’t heard it used outside of the bible but I really like it. It’s a derogatory term, replacing calling someone a dog (because dogs pee on walls). It isn’t that relevant to be honest, but it has a rather nice ring to it. 

Example:

“Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall.” (1 Kings 14:10)