A series of articles with colloquial phrases in different languages ​​is gradually replenished. So far, I am writing about those that I myself actively study: English, Italian, Swedish, French. Today it's the turn of basic expressions in Hebrew.

It is very easy to greet an interlocutor in Hebrew. At any time of the day, regardless of who you are talking to, the phrase שלום (shalom). The word "hello" is also used - הַיי (hai).

Word טוב (tov) in Hebrew means "good", "good" and is used in greetings at various times of the day. For example, good morning - בוקר טוב (boker tov), ​​good evening - ערב טוב (erev tov). Good night wishes - לילה טוב (layla tov).

You can ask how a person is doing with the phrase מה שלומך (mah shlomkha? - if you are addressing a man / mah shlomekh? - if you are addressing a woman). In response, you can say הכל בסדר (ha kol beseder) - Okay, thank you. ואתה (ve atah) - How are you?

To find out if there is any news, ask a question מה חדש (mah khadash). There is also a phrase - an analogue of the English What "s up?" - What's new? What do you hear? In Hebrew - מה נשמע (ma nishma), which is pronounced after the greeting and does not require a response.

To get acquainted, a set of the following phrases is useful:

קוראים לי (Kor-im li.) - My name is...
שמי (shmi) - My name is...
איך קוראים לך (eikh kor-im lekha - if you are addressing a man / eikh kor-im lakh - a question for a woman) - What is your name?
נעים מאוד (naim meod). - Nice to meet you.
איפה אתה גר (eifo atah gar? - question to a man) - Where do you live?
איפה את גרה (eifo at garah? - a question to a woman) - Where do you live?
אני מ (ani me) - I'm from...
איפה (eifo) - Where is...?
כן (ken) - yes
לא (lo) - no

To thank a person or respond to gratitude, learn the phrases:

תודה (todah) - Thank you.
תודה על העזרה (todah al ezrah) - Thank you for your help.
תודה רבה (toda rabah) - Thank you very much.

In response to "thank you" it is customary to answer בבקשה (bevakasha). The same phrase is suitable as an equivalent of the words "here", "please" when transferring something, for example, a gift or money for paying for goods.

To apologize if necessary, say סליחה (slikha). A stronger apology אני מצטער (ani mitstaer) if the speaker is a man, and also - אני מצטערת (ani mitstaeret) if a woman is speaking. You can answer like this: אין דבר (ein davar) or לא נורא (lo nora). That is, "it's okay", "it happens", "it happens".

In Hebrew, verbs are conjugated by person and number, just like in Russian. Therefore, the phrase sounds different depending on who is speaking and who is being addressed.

Here are some examples:

לא הבנתי (lo hevanti) - I don't understand.
אני לא מבין (ani lo mevin) - I don't understand (m. rod).
אני לא מבינה (ani lo mevina) - I don't understand (f. gender).
אני לא יודע (ani lo yodeah) - I don't know (m. rod)
אני לא יודעת (ani lo yodaat) - I don't know (female)
אתה מדבר רוסית (atah medaber rusit) - Do you speak Russian? (if referring to a man)
את מדברת רוסית (at medaberet rusit) - Do you speak Russian? (if referring to a woman)
אתה יכול לדבר לאט (atah yakhol ledaber leat) - Can you speak slower? (if referring to a man)
את יכולה לדבר לאט (at yakholah ledaber leat) - Can you speak more slowly? (if referring to a woman)

You can say goodbye in English ביי (bai.) or the phrase - להתראות (le hitra "ot).

If you are interested in learning Hebrew from scratch, register on the Hebrew Pod website. There you will find a huge number of ready-made lessons from simple to complex, cultural notes and exercises to practice the passed phrases. Each lesson includes an audio dialogue, its text and a list of words with examples in a pdf file. With a premium subscription, you will regularly study for several months, receiving feedback from the teacher.

In what languages ​​can you maintain a simple conversation?

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• What should you say in Hebrew when you hear the news of someone's pregnancy?
• How to wish someone happy holidays?
• How to wish someone a good week?

Below are traditional Hebrew phrases and expressions to help answer these questions and more.

Shabbat and new week greetings

Shabbat a-gaddol - Great Saturday

Shabbat Shalom

In Hebrew, literally means a wish for a peaceful Sabbath . This is a unique greeting that can be used at any time in Shabbat, although it is customary to say it at the end of the Sabbath ceremony kabbalat shabbat.

Gut Shabes

This similar expression in Yiddish literally means "good Shabbat". Like the expression " Shabbat Shalom”, it is used when greeting each person in Shabbat. I know from experience that the greeting " Gut Shabes" can be honored in ordinary conversation or when meeting people, while " Shabbat Shalom» more used at the end of a ritual kabbalat shabbat.

Shavua tov

Translated from Hebrew - "good (good) week." Greeting used after the ritual Avdali(ceremony marking the end Shabbat) to wish someone a good week ahead.

holiday greetings

Chag Sameach

It translates from Hebrew as "Happy Holidays!" or "Happy Holidays!" This greeting is pronounced on any holiday, but is especially suitable for holidays in Sukkot, Shavuot And Pesach, traditional religious holidays of pilgrimage, ascent to the Jerusalem Temple - " shalosh regalim” (all the others are also holidays, but not like these).

GutYom tov

In Yiddish - "good holidays." This greeting is used for any holiday, not necessarily religious.

Leshana tova

Literally translated from Hebrew "for a good year." General greeting to Rosh Hashanah and Days of Awe. These days they say Leshana tova tikatev ve-tihatem(May you be inscribed in the Book of Life and sealed for a good year).

Tsom kal - easy fasting for you

Tsom kal is the best expression to greet people in Yom Kippur. Please do not wish on this day: "Happy (joyful) Yom Kippur»; this is not at all the holiday to which such a greeting is suitable.

Other expressions

Shalom

In Hebrew - "peace", "peace". An expression that is pronounced when meeting or saying goodbye.

From Hebrew and Yiddish they translate as "peace be with you" or "peace be with your house." This is a traditional greeting. In America usually use the Yiddish variant. The expression is similar to the Arabic greeting "as-salamu alaikum" (don't be surprised: Hebrew and Arabic come from the same Semitic family).

Sholom Aleichem is the name of a famous Jewish writer, known for his wonderful novels and stories, some of which were the basis of the famous musical "Fiddler on the Roof".

Reply to a greeting Shalom Aleichem or Sholem Aleichem"can be words" Aleichem Shalom", that is," and you (I wish) peace.

Mazal tov

This expression can be translated from Hebrew and Yiddish as a wish for a "good fate." This is the traditional way to express your greetings. " Mazal tov!» - correct and traditional answer if you heard that a person is to be engaged or married (marriage); that someone has a child or a child becomes a teenager at 12 or 13: age.

You can also congratulate someone on getting a new job, graduating from school (college, university, etc.), or some other joyful event.

Keep in mind that this expression it is forbidden use for any occasion; as, for example, “I wish you good luck” in the future, on the contrary, this expression conveys happiness and pleasure from an event that has already happened in a person's life.

Yeshar koach

It is translated from Hebrew as “[so that you continue to use] power directly [for its intended purpose].” This is a great way to congratulate someone for their performance. mitzvah or some other good deed. In fact, with these words you wish someone continued do good deeds steadily and you will respectfully acknowledge the effort he puts into his work. Most often we use this wish in the synagogue to congratulate someone who has accepted successful participation in the performance mitzvot. Strictly speaking, this is a form of address corresponding to the masculine gender. Some use the feminine form of this expression when showing feelings for a woman, but this does not seem typical.

Le Chaim

This expression is translated as "to life" or "for life." This is the traditional toast you offer before raising a glass of wine or other alcoholic beverages.

It can be compared with the traditional toast "For health!" in Russian.

Gesundheit

In Yiddish "Be healthy! To health." This is a good response to a sneezing person. The same expression is also used in German (Yiddish is based on German) and is very common among non-Jews. I think it's worth noting that some non-Jews have told me that they are afraid of offending Jews by wishing them "bless you" (bless you), and therefore use the expression from the Yiddish language - gesundheit.

Leida kala

It is customary for a pregnant woman to wish " leida kala“, which in Hebrew means: “easy childbirth”

To get the most out of a Hebrew phrasebook, you need to know how to use it. A few simple tips will help you with this

Use the phrasebook for reference

For example, you can sort of explain yourself in a store. But you don’t know how the “seller” or “exchange the purchase” will be. You find the topic “Shopping” in the phrasebook and look through all the words on the topic. Perhaps you will find something else new!

Expand your vocabulary

You can significantly enrich your vocabulary if you work through one of the phrasebook topics every week. Topics can be taken in any order.

Learn the words correctly

1. Each new word or concept must be repeated many times.
2. If possible, listen to how the new word sounds
3. Say the word out loud
4. Write down the word. Write many times, saying each time out loud
5. Make 10 simple sentences with a new word
6. Read these sentences aloud
7. Try to hear a new word in life - on TV, on the radio, in the store
8. If you are not in Israel, then translate all the actions and objects that surround you and call them in Hebrew. Talk to yourself.
9. Watch and listen in Hebrew everything you can find online
10. Force yourself to remember a Hebrew word every time that object or concept occurs in life.

For example, you learn the word door - delet .

דלת

Every time you come to the door think delet . As you open the door, say delet , ani potEah et-a-delet . Every time you close the door say anI sogEr at-a-delete.

אני פותח את הדלת

אני פותחת את הדלת

אני סוגר את הדלת

אני סוגרת את הדלת

This is necessary in order to associate a particular concept with its name in Hebrew. Very soon you will notice how easily and quickly you memorize new words.

Better less is better

More is not always better. Do not take too many topics at once.
It is much more useful to take a few words, but try to come up with as many sentences and phrases as possible with them. Having well remembered these words, it is possible to go further.

Combine words into a story

I will share with you a simple Very an effective exercise that I give my students. It's time to move from separate words and concepts to a coherent story.
Try write a simple story about how your day went. What did you do, where did you go, what did you eat, who did you meet.

Make it a habit. Describe your day in simple Hebrew sentences each day.

Don't be afraid to make a mistake

Even nouns alone can describe the situation. Use the words you know. You will definitely succeed!!!

Hebrew (עִבְרִית) is the official language in Israel. However, in most cities, local residents speak Russian and English. Hebrew is written and read from right to left.

Thank you very much	Toda slave
Please	Bewakasha
Sorry
Hello
Goodbye	Leitraot
I don't understand	Ani lo mavin/a (male/female)
What is your name?	Eh Korim lah? (female) Eykh korim lekha? (husband.)
How are you?	Ma nishma?
What is the price?	Kama the ole?
How much to pay before...	Kama the ole le…
Bon appetit!	Beteavon!
I do not speak Hebrew	Ani lo medaber beivrit
Only in Russian	Cancer Russ
Bus stop	Takhanat otobus
Hotel	beit malon
Cash	Mezumanim
What is the price?	Kama ole?
I will buy it	Eni ikne et ze
Too expensive
I'm lost	Ani alyahti leibud
I live in a hotel...	Ani gar be malon...
Ambulance	Ambulance
Hospital	Beit Holim
	beit mirqahat
	beit tafrit
Check please (bill)	Hashbonite, bevakasha

Language of Israel

What is the language in Israel

In the Israeli state, Hebrew is spoken. It is the state language of Israel, revived in the 20th century. Worldwide, over 8 million people speak Hebrew. In the period from 113 to 7 centuries BC, it was strengthened as an independent language of the Semites.

One of the features that the language of Israel has is the use of a conjugate construction to form new nouns: beit-sefer (school) comes from the words bayit (house) and sefer (book).

The Israeli alphabet is represented by a square script (alef-bet), it has 22 letters. The writing also uses Aramaic and Yiddish.

Although the official language of Israel is Hebrew, 20% of the population speaks Russian. Basically, these are immigrants from the countries of the USSR and modern Russia. It is worth saying that moving to this country under the repatriation program, people first of all begin to learn the language of Israel.