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
לשטוף זהב	lish'tof zahav	to wash gold	-	אין לי בן כרחך	ein li ben k'ruah	I don't have a son against my will	-	לקפוץ על הבוקר עם זרע חדשה	likpotz al haboker im z'ra chadasha	to jump in the morning with a new energy	-	להניח קורות	lehanich kurot	to lay beams	-	אין טעם	ein ta'am	there is no taste	-	לדבר ברור	ledaber barur	speak clearly	-	לשרוף דלעת	le'sarof dela'at	to burn bridges

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

- לשטוף זהב (lish'tof zahav): to wash gold This expression means to make a big effort for something or someone that is considered valuable.

- אין לי בן כרחך (ein li ben k'ruah): I don't have a son against my will This means that something is done willingly, without being forced. This expression comes from a story in the Talmud about a father who didn't want to force his son into marriage against his will.

- לקפוץ על הבוקר עם זרע חדשה (likpotz al haboker im z'ra chadasha): to jump in the morning with a new energy This expression means to start the day with full energy and enthusiasm.

- להניח קורות (lehanich kurot): to lay beams This expression means to start something new, usually a project or a business.

- אין טעם (ein ta'am): there is no taste This expression means that something is boring or uninteresting.

- לדבר ברור (ledaber barur): speak clearly This expression is used to encourage someone to be clear and straightforward when speaking.

- לשרוף דלעת (le'sarof dela'at): to burn bridges This expression means to purposely end a relationship or cut off all ties with someone.

Dialogue

• Person 1: אי אפשר להמשיך ככה, נצטרך לשטוף זהב כדי לסיים את הפרויקט. (It's impossible to continue like this. We'll have to wash gold to finish the project.)
• Person 2: אני מבין, אבל אנחנו לא חייבים לעשות את זה בעזרת ישראל. (I understand, but we don't have to do it with the help of Israel.)
• Person 1: תגיד, אתה באמת רוצה לעשות את זה? אני רואה שאין לך בן כרחך. (Do you really want to do it? I see that you're doing it willingly.)
• Person 2: כן, אני מאוד מתלבט ואני רוצה לקפוץ על הבוקר עם זרע חדשה עם החברה החדשה שלנו. (Yes, I'm very undecided, and I want to jump in the morning with a new energy with our new company.)

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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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ 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 ...