Language/Hebrew/Vocabulary/Idiomatic-Expressions

Hebrew Vocabulary - Idiomatic Expressions

Hi Hebrew learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will go over some common Hebrew idiomatic expressions that you might hear in day-to-day conversations. Understanding Hebrew idioms will help you understand native speakers and sound more natural when speaking Hebrew. Plus, they're a fun way to learn more about Hebrew culture and society!

Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Count to 10 & Body.

What are Idiomatic Expressions?

Idiomatic expressions are phrases or sayings that have a meaning that is not clear from the words used. Instead, the meaning is derived from the context and cultural references associated with the expression. In other words, the literal meaning is different from the actual meaning. For example, we say "It's raining cats and dogs" to mean that it's raining heavily.

Hebrew has a rich collection of idiomatic expressions, and they are very commonly used in everyday language. Let's dive in and learn more!

Hebrew Idiomatic Expressions

Here are some of the most common Hebrew idiomatic expressions that you may come across:

Hebrew	Pronunciation	English Translation
לשים עין	lasim ayin	to keep an eye on
אין עשן בלי אש	ein ashan bli esh	there's no smoke without fire
לשבור את הראש	lishbor et harosh	to rack one's brains
דם חם	dam cham	hot blooded
לאכול את הלב	le'echol et halev	to eat one's heart out
לדבר אל הקיר	ledaber el hakir	to talk to a wall
שברתי את השיניים	shavarti et hashinayim	I broke my teeth (struggled a lot)

Let's take a closer look at each of these expressions and see what they mean.

- לשים עין (lasim ayin): to keep an eye on

 This expression means to watch or monitor something or someone closely.

- אין עשן בלי אש (ein ashan bli esh): there's no smoke without fire

 This means that rumors often have some truth behind them.

- לשבור את הראש (lishbor et harosh): to rack one's brains

 This expression means to think very hard or to struggle to find a solution.

- דם חם (dam cham): hot-blooded

 This describes someone who is quick-tempered or passionate.

- לאכול את הלב (le'echol et halev): to eat one's heart out

 This expression means to feel deep regret or sorrow.

- לדבר אל הקיר (ledaber el hakir): to talk to a wall

 This means to talk to someone who isn't listening or responding.

- שברתי את השיניים (shavarti et hashinayim): I broke my teeth (struggled a lot)

 This expression is used to describe a situation where someone had a hard time doing something.

Dialogue

• Person 1: אי אפשר להמשיך ככה, נצטרך לשים עין על כל פרט. (It's impossible to continue like this. We'll have to keep an eye on every detail.)
• Person 2: אני מבין, אבל אני מרגיש שאנחנו מדברים אל הקיר. (I understand, but I feel like we're talking to a wall.)
• Person 1: תגיד, אתה באמת חושב שיש עשן בלי אש? (Do you really think there's smoke without fire?)
• Person 2: כן, ואני כבר שברתי את השיניים על זה. (Yes, and I've already struggled a lot with it.)

Conclusion

Learning idiomatic expressions is an essential part of learning any language, and Hebrew is no exception. We hope that this lesson has helped you understand some of the most common Hebrew idiomatic expressions and their meanings. To improve your Hebrew vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions! Don't forget to check out our Hebrew vocabulary section for more Hebrew words and phrases.

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➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Great work on completing this lesson! Take a moment to investigate these connected pages: Fruits & Clothes.

Other Lessons

• Days of the week
• Seasons
• Clothes
• Transportation
• Health
• At the Post Office
• Computers
• Drinks
• House
• Geography

Sources

• Lost in Translation: 11 Hebrew Idioms Better Left Untranslated ...
• Hebrew Vocabulary - Idiomatic expressions
• Martin Luther's Use of Blended Hebrew and German Idioms in His ...