10 Very useful Hebrew phrases you should know

A photo of HaArbaa, Jerusalem, Israel by Deror avi – Wikimedia commons

10 Very useful Hebrew Phrases you should know

Hebrew is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically it is regarded as one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants: the Judeans and the Samaritans.

Hebrew is the only Canaanite language still spoken today. It serves as the only truly successful example of a dead language that has been revived. Why then can’t you at least know some Hebrew phrases, like ten and you’ll be among those who helped revive the language.

Modern Hebrew is the official language of the State of Israel. The pre-revival forms of Hebrew are used for prayer and study in Jewish and Samaritan communities around the world today. There are about 9 million Hebrew speakers worldwide of who 7 million speak Hebrew fluently.

Modern Hebrew pronunciation developed from a mixture of the different Jewish reading traditions. To be general, the reading traditions tend towards simplification. In Sephardi Hebrew pronunciation, for example, emphatic consonants have shifted to their ordinary counterparts. /w/ to /v/, and [ɣ ð θ] are not present.

Hebrew grammar is partly analytic. It expresses forms as dative, ablative, and accusative using prepositional particles rather than grammatical cases. However, inflection plays a decisive role in the formation of verbs and nouns. In the article are ten Hebrew phrases you should know.

1. Lo hevanti

Acre City Hall photo, Acre, Israel by Almog – Wikimedia commons

Lo hevanti in Hebrew means “I didn’t understand”. The phrase is used Say this when you don’t understand something “factual” or when you don’t understand why something is happening. Lo hevanti is pronounced as (loh he-van-Ti)

2. Ata medaber anglit?

Ashdod Marine view photo by Amos Meron – Wikimedia commons

The phrasing of the Ata medaber anglit? is a bit tricky but is a very useful Hebrew phrase that you should know. Ata medaber anglit? means (Do you speak English?) It is pronounced in consideration of whether you are speaking to a man, woman, or a group of people.

When speaking of a woman, the phrase is pronounced as At medaberet anglit? ( at meh-DA-ber-et an-GLEE-teh, for men say Ata medaber anglit? (AH-TA meh-DA-ber an-GLEE-teh), and for a group say Atem medabrim anglit? (AH-tehm meh-DA-brim an-GLEE-teh)

3. Shalom ve lehitraot

Shalom is pronounced as (shah-LOHM). It stands for peace but it means both hello and goodbye. Shalom ve Lehitraot is pronounced as (shah-LOHM leh-hit-rah-OHT). and it means goodbye and sees you later.

We say ‘Goodbye’ to someone when we or they are leaving, or at the end of a phone conversation. When you say your goodbyes, you say something such as ‘Goodbye’ when you leave.

4. Boker tov

A photo f skyline in Tel Aviv-Yafo by Suicasmo – Wikimedia commons

Am very sure that when anyone wakes up in the morning the first words that come out of the mouth are “good morning”. When you say ‘good morning’, you are not only greeting the person but also wishing them well for the day.

When we say good morning it helps to improve communications among people around us. Boker Tov is a Hebrew phrase that means good morning. It is pronounced as (BOH-ker TOHV)

5. Layla tov

Every time we sleep we say good night to either our loved ones or neighbors. Layla tov is a Hebrew phrase that means good night. We say good night because it’s just a kind of wishing as it’s nighttime and time to go to bed. Dreams and sleep are all associated with night.  Layla tov is pronounced as (LIGH-lah TOHV).

6. Slikhah

A photo of Haifa, Israel by Tango7174 – Wikimedia commons

Slikhah means “Excuse me” or “am sorry”. Let’s take for instance when you are boarding a bus in Israel. People happen to be crowded near the door of a crowded bus.

If you want to move to the back of the pass to avoid the commotion of alighting passengers, you will say silkhah,slikhah, slikhah so that the passengers to excuse you. If by mistake you get to push a passenger accidentally, you will still say silkhah to show you are sorry.

7. Na’eem lehakir!

Na’eem lehakir is a phrase that means nice to meet you. However, the phrase is used in consideration of the gender you are conversing with. If you happen to travel to Israel and you are assigned a female guide, you will say na’eem lehakir otakh! If it is a male guide you will sa na’eem lehakir otkha!

8. Efshar bevakasha lekabel…?

Efshar bevakasha lekabel… means “Can I please…? The statement is not complete because it involves other Hebrew words to make it complete and sensible. For instance, when you are thirsty, you can ask water from your guide.

Water in Hebrew is called mayim. So, When you ask for water you’ll just say “Efshar be akasha lekabel mayim?” meaning ” Can I please have some water?” The phrase can be used for both genders.

9. Eifo he’sherutim?

A photo of Netanya, Israel by James Emery – Wikimedia commons

When you visit a place as a tourist, you must book a place where you’ll stay while touring. Eifo he’sherutim? means “Where is the restroom?” This is a very useful Hebrew phrase you should know. Be a jovial tourist who has mastered as many Hebrew phrases as possible.

10. Shavua Tov

You have been touring parts of Israel for a week, you had a good experience which is you think its the best moment that you had in your whole life. I m quite sure that you’ll give positive feedback.

Shavua Tov is a Hebrew phrase that means a good week. If you happen to visit Israel, you’ll have a good week. Shavua Tov is pronounced as (Shah-voo-ah tohv)

As you can see, learning Hebrew is not a hard language as Chinese. All you need is to be keen and have a good mastery. You may have realized that the Hebrew language exhibits a pattern of stems consisting typically of “triliteral” or 3-consonantal roots from which nouns, verbs, and adjectives are formed.