Intro: Good afternoon…
Israel is a small yet culturally rich and diverse
country located in the Middle East. Known for
its historical and religious significance, it is
home to sites sacred to Judaism, Christianity,
and Islam.
In Israel, the languages used are Hebrew and
Arabic, however Hebrew is the primary and
official language, which is used in the
government, media, and education. It is a
Semitic language with roots tracing back over
3,000 years and is originally the language of
the Bible.
The Hebrew alphabet, known as the Alef-Bet,
consists of 22 letters. It is written from right to left
and does not include capital letters. Hebrew
originally was written without vowels, but vowel
marks, or "Nikkud," were later developed to aid
pronunciation. These marks are placed under,
above, or inside the letters.
Understanding Israel's communication styles
involves exploring its direct, expressive, and
often informal cultural norms.
Israelis are known for their straightforwardness,
high enthusiasm, and emotion. They often use
hand gestures like the pinched fingers and
raised hand which means “wait,” “hang on,”
or “just a minute.”
The eyelid pull is also an ironic way of saying
"Aha, right! As if...".
Israelis do not mind being close to one another
and may lightly touch or tap their counterpart
while speaking. However, they usually avoid
physical contact with the opposite gender.
Shalom everyone, now we are gonna learn
some common phrases that Israelis use in
everyday conversations. Whether you're
planning a trip to Israel, or just curious about
the language, these phrases will give you a
glimpse into the vibrant and expressive
Hebrew language.
1st box
First up, we have "Shalom" ()ָׁשלֹום. This versatile
word means "peace," but it's also used as a
greeting for both hello and goodbye. So,
whether you're arriving or leaving, "Shalom" is
always appropriate.
Another common greeting is "Boker Tov" ( ּבֹוֶקר
)טֹוב, which means "Good morning." It's a warm
and friendly way to greet someone at the start
of the day, setting a positive tone for the hours
ahead.
2nd box
To ask someone their name in Hebrew, you
can say "Ma hashem shelcha?" ()?ָמה ַהֵּׁשם ֶׁשְּלָך
if you're speaking to a man, or "Ma hashem
shelach?" ( )?ָמה ַהֵּׁשם ֶׁשָּלְךif you're speaking to
a woman. This means "What is your name?"
And to introduce yourself, you can say
"Hashem sheli hu..." (ַהֵּׁשם ֶׁשִּלי הּוא...). For
example, "Hashem sheli hu Patrick" means "My
name is Patrick."
3rd box
To ask someone how they are, you can say
"Ma shlomcha?" ( )?ַמה ְּׁשלֹוְמָךfor a man or "Ma
shlomech?" ( )?ַמה ְּׁשלֹוֵמְךfor a woman. This
phrase means "How are you?" and shows that
you care about the other person's well-being.
If someone asks you this, a common response
is "Ani beseder, toda" ( ּתֹוָדה,)ֲאִני ְּבֵסֶדר, which
means "I'm fine, thank you." It's a polite and
straightforward way to let someone know
you're doing well.
4th box
Lastly, let's talk about expressing gratitude. If
you want to say "thank you very much," you
can use "Toda raba leha" ( )ּתֹוָדה ַרָּבה ְלָךwhen
speaking to a man, or "Toda raba lach" ( ּתֹוָדה
)ַרָּבה ָלְךwhen speaking to a woman.
And when someone thanks you, a common
and polite response is "Al lo devar" ()ַעל ֹלא ָּדָבר,
which means "it's nothing" or "you're welcome."
It's a friendly way to acknowledge their thanks.
Now let's explore some of the most popular
and commonly used Israeli slang terms and
phrases.
Let’s start with our first phrase
Chaval al hazman – Its literal meaning is 'waste
of time,' but it’s often used to show
amazement.
Next, we have:
Stam – This short expression means 'just kidding'
or 'just because.
Another common slang term is:
Sababa – Meaning 'cool’, and it can also be
pronounced as *sababi* or *sababush*.
For recognizing good work, Israelis say:
Kol Hakavod – This means 'good job' and is the
Hebrew phrase for applause and recognition.
A versatile word they often use is:
Yalla – which can be used to say 'gotta go,'
'c’mon,' 'you got this,' or 'let’s go.
And lastly, we have:
Chaval – or ‘what a shame’ conveying a sense
of disappointment or regret
In conclusion, our discussion highlighted that
Israel's communication style is direct and
straightforward, deeply influenced by cultural
values and the Hebrew language, which plays
a pivotal role in shaping both personal and
professional interactions.
